The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-01-04

Nothing marks the decadence Of the
Republic o than the ~degeneracy o.
the men whom the people elect their
rulers and place in high public station
How mighty is the descent from the
statesmen of the Washington and JEFF
ferson era-and we may make the
comparison much latter-down to
those who are playing at present their
remarkable pranks upon the theater Of
political action. The contrast is nearly
as great as it wat between the Rome Of
Cato and Cicero and Ceasaran Angus.
tus, audthe Rome when a drunken and
idiotic Emperor installed his horse as
Consul, and when tho Empire was
struck off to the highest bidder, and
and when the Pretorian Guards were
really the rulers of the State. Once in
our annals the chief controllers of pub
lie affairs were gentlemen posed OF
learning and refinement, versed in his
tory, acquainted with philosophy--who
had studied politics and government as
y science, and who had knowledge even
of thepolite arts. What are they now?
Look at Washington and our State
Legislatures, and wesee men IN impor.
tant executive and Legislative positions
who know no more of the volumes OF
ancient and modern learningthan they
do about the lost arts, or Of the build
ing of the Egyptian pyramids-to
whom history is q sealed book and
philosophy an unheard Of word. Once
the affairs of the country were directed
with skill, and national troubles and
commissions were avoided by smoothing
down the asperities between conflicting
sections and parties, and by mutual
compromises of feeling and interest,
Now the only agent and instrumental
ity of power relied upon is the force OF
the brute and the malignancyof the de-
mon. Once the political questions Of
the country wero discussed and exam
ined with good temper and spirit, and
with the desire 10 elicit the truth in
volved IN them. Once, in our high de-
bates, a food oflight was let upon all
controvsrted topics ofpublic light.
Now, in general, our so-called de.
bates are as unworthy Of the name as
our so-called Legislators are of the de-
signatlon Of statesmen. They are
characterized by a vehemence of pas.
sion, by explosives of wrath, by ex-
pressions Of prejudice, by o display Of
ignorance and by "sound and fury
signifying but little moro than the
froth Of the idiot. AS in the turbulent
and d~isgraccful periods Of the French
Revolution, when such mighty ques
tions as the adjustment of monarchy
and tho establishment of tho republic
tho overthrow of the Catholic relig
non throughout the country and th,
installation Of new deities in its place
were put through almost in a singl,
sitting Of tho Convention, and with bu'
little debate; so nov are the importan
and radical changesin our Governmen
decreed literally without discussion o,
examination, save such as had beer
given in some midnight cabal or coun
Gil of concealed political partisans
Political moderation was once the pass
port to public honor. 1t 10 now frenzi
cd violence and passion. Once it wa
q merit to calm the waves of politics
excitement. Nowthe encomium is upol
those who can increase their violenc
and momentum by adding tothefanati
ical fury Of the seaof commotlon. One
We had public and individual hon OF
butnow there's everywhere prevailing
the faint Of immortality and vice, Il
our early days the r~estraits ofthe Con
stitution wers regarded, and the oat.
to support it considered sacred. NOV
no more attention is paid to it by thos
who are sworn TO obey it than there i
to the last years almanac, 1t has be
come honorable toseek to fold it uSan
lay it carefully away in some pigeon
hole of a department, Now no NOR
restriction is placed upon the objects c
party or personal desire than the wan
of physical power to obtain it, eithe
by force or fraud. Once tho Natio
Was considered in legislation; it is mo-
only a party or a faction whoar cour
ted at all or whose sentiment are in tn