The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-02-03
From the Lancaster LntelIigeneer.
Political Degradation and Decline.


rs it should Re. Our people have been
trained to take too narrow view of life
aud put too low an estimate upon its du-
ties. In all things We have looked too
exclusively to the material advantages to
be secured. The children of this land
have been educated, not SO much with a
view of forming complete and well devel-
oped men and women, in the highest and
best sense of the term, but rather with
a view to their getting forward in the
world. We are and have been too much
a nation of sharp traders. Our unva-
ryipg question in regard to every pro-
ject presented has been, "will it pay ?''-
We have estimated every scheme by the
amount Of money in it. The thirst for
gold has been wide spread and all-perva-
ding, aud an ihordinatc desire for veal h
has been the prevailing aud distinguish
ing characteristic of our pc, pie. Nor
have we been at all scrupulous as to the
means by which riches were to be gained.
Tricks, too sharp to be honest, have been
the subject rather of approval than of
honest indignation and proper scorn.
We have failed as individuals, aud as
nation, 10 cultivate the highest style of
manhood. Our model merchant has been
the man who has succeeded in amassing
the largest fortune. If man could only
succeed in retiring from pork packing or
stock dealing millionaire, it mattered lit
lie what else he had been or was. He
mis- ht be a low bred, vul gar man, but hi,
wealth caused him to be envied, and gave
him influence aud social importance, while
Il brown stone front in fashionable part
of the city, and a splendid turnout on
the street, gave his wife and daughters
admttance to our most fashionable circles
of society. The almighty dollar has been
too much our God. The practical teach
ing of society to the children of the land
has been too much like the reported dy-
ing advice of the old Quaker to his son !:
"Get money, John ! Honestly if thee can,
John; but, John, get money The get
ting of money has been regarded as the
chief and most worthy object of ambition
The inordinate desire for riches has per-
vaded every class of society, and the haste
to be wealthy has led to more than ordi-
nary bluntness of moral perception. 1t
has certainly corrupted many OF our pub
lie men, and caused Offices to be eagerly
sought, more for the emoluments to be de-
rived from them than from a pardonable
desire for distinction, or the more elevated
and ennobling ambition of serving the pub
lie chiefly for the public good. Thus
have our legislative bodies, both State
and National, been crowded by political
tricksters; men who scrupled at nothing,
who made their public position subser-
Went to their private interests, who
were always ready to sell their votes to
the highest and best bidder True they
stood by their party, as a general thing,
when question was up which was regar-
ded as a party test, but on all ordinary
subjects of legislation-they were ready,
with etching palms, to sell and mart their
offices for gold"
1t is notorious that the meagre salary of
a member of the Legislature of Pennsylva-
MIA has for years possessed the peculiar
property of expanding itself to such Won
dertul proportions, that a few successive
winters at Harrisburg have been regarded
as sufficient TO secure an ample fortune TO
any man who was sharp enough to man
age the matter adroitly. 1t is sad to think
how very low the standard of political
honor and honesty has come to be among
us. The day when suspicion of taking "a
bride was well deserved political damna-
ton to any man mas passed away, we fear,
forever. The moral sense of the people
has been blunted by the teachings of So
ciety. Dishonesty is only disrepuIahle
now when practised by obscure parties, or
in little things. The poor scamp who
fails 10 pay his tailor is despised, the mis-
cradle wretch who is guilty Of petty lar
ceny is tried and condemned as felon {;
but the men who are delaulters to the gov
eminent for large sums. those who plum
der the public treasury Of many ,hous-
ands, and those who take brides from day
to day, are regarded as virtuous individu-
ais, and recognized as honorable and dis
tinguished members of our modern Anne
rican society. We are shamed and dis
gtaced by such occurrences almost daily.
Official stealing has got to be the rule
rather than exception.
Not only does corruption of this kind
stalk abroad bare faced and unblushing in
the light of day, but it is no longer regar-
ded as the slightest ban TO success in pub
lie life 1t has become so common that it
no longer exciles remark and no longer
arouses indignation. When such is the
political atmosphere in which people
live, public virtue necessarily dies out
among them, and the great and good of
the land shrink from the wreched strug-
gle by which alone public position is to
be gained. 1t is not strange, in view of
this state of affairs, that our Legislatures,
both National and State, present such de-
cided contrast to those which marked the
earlier and purer days of the republic
Our political degradation and decline has
been most rapid, most marked, and is one of
the saddest possible subjects which can be
contemplated by the man who is solicit