Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-08-12
PUBLIC. MORALS

the one through which our country
has recently passed, is always pro.
\ ductive of train Of evils requiring
time and patience and the practical
teachings of wisdom and experience
to correct. Where SO much has oc'
Cured to derange the elements Of
society, and open the doors to an in
fux Of depraysd passions, it cannot
be expected that a return to the "nor-
NAL condition can be otherwise than
by slow, tedious and gradual pro-
:cess. The seething caldron OF war,
after pouring out upon the land its
Internal compounds of havoc and
destruction, exhibits the poisonous
dregs Of decentralization, which, on
being diffused, like the multitude OF
evils contained in the box given by
Jupiter to Pandora, breed innumera-
BILE woes, sorrows and misfortunes.
It is in the order of Providence
that nations like individuals, should
be made to feel the Christening rod
| of affection, yet there are humanizing
/ influences placed within their reach
which if properly exercised, tend to
mitigate the intensity of misfortune,
and where coupled with genuine
christian spirit, seem almost capable
Of averting the Judgments Of Heaven.
In opposition to the widespread de-
moralization now infesting the land,
and Weighing with such pernicious
effects upon the well being Of society,
every counteracting agency should
be employed. Every mernber'of the
community, holding sacred his moral
obligations to himself and to society,
has an equal and abiding interest ut
stake in this matter, and should set
his face firmly and persistently
against all attempts to set at naught
the wholesome laws of God and man.
A bad immoral man is an enemy to
society, the world over, and should
be marked as such and held amena-
BILE to public opinion and the law for
his wrong-doings. How often is it the
case that single individual of this
class makes himself the greatest curse
to be found in a community. His
conduct and example are perpetual
warfare against the best interests of
society--a stumbling block in the
paths of social order and happiness.
The corrective penalties in such cases
are Inf the hands Of the people, and
can never be applied too soon. An
early and determined application of
them will tend to arrest the develop
ment or multiplication of other evils
Of the sort, by nipping them in the
bud. In times like the present, ow-
ing to the absence Of q complete re-
organization Of the civil laws and
authority in the South, we have to
look to military cooperation in order
to carry out efficiently the admins
ton of the laws against all breaches
affecting the "peace and dignity of
the State" This system of CO.
operation, we are glad to say, is
attended with beneficial results, thus
far, in our own midst. The police
regulations In our city, we Will ven
ture to say, were never better, as the
quiet and order which generally pre-
vail in our streets and thoroughfares
will testify. A wholesome restraint
is kept up and whatever disposition
there may be to turbulence, is kept
down. The "ounce Of prevention"
that ais worth a pound Of eure,' is
by such means fully demonstrated,
and our good people feel and ac-
knowledge the force Of the principle.
Speaking in behalf Of the cause of
public morality, we may well express
the hope that the peace and quiet of
our community may ever be as well
cared for as they are now by the Gus
todians who are charged with their