The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-12-09
Decentralization of Southern Societ,

Decentralization of Southern Society.
In a recent sermon ut Plymouth Church,
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher favored his
congregation with the following picture OF
Northern society, as Mt present constitut-
ed 1t will be perceived that the remarks
OF Mr.. Beecher fully justify all that has
been uttered on the subject by the South
ern press :l'Eaie ~ ,gs..u2 .go-5e7 ta o
Corruption holds direct influence
throughout the land, while the state of the
community is demoraiized in the extreme.
Gigantic dishonestystruts'f forth unrebuked.
And to what may this be attributed !?
The money power of the country Then
pillage and piunder, yet the stern voice Of
justice, the frank expression of honesty
never reach their ears. Counterfs;ters and
polished swindlers are received with smiles
on oil sides. Their friends meet them
with kindness and tokens of esteem. Men
are ashamed to mention their ideas OF give
utterance 70 their indignation, and, thus to
q degree acquiesce in their ,yillainy by. their
reticence, Their friends know that those
public plunderers are committing stipend
Qua frauds. They, will rot be allowed to
be sunk and Frustrated, and thus crime
rides triumphant, But there should be
honest men in the community to Yet these
plunderers know that they are watched
and scrutipized, They should be singled
out and denounced, and held. mp to public,
degradation. Alas !! It was Otherwise.
Those very villains were received with
smiles, and honest men. with; whom they
sometimes mingled, thanked them for com
ing to see them, and felt bonored in, their
presence. Whyt Because the plunderers
bad money enough to so through the whole
calendar Of transgressions. We, are not
accustomed e. honestly or boldly express
ing our convictions or applying such cpl
thets as would finally crush the public rob
bers Of the time. Instead of which they
ore .applauded Tor their dishonesty. IL
honest est men did their duty there would DO
20 q. plunderers, e. Amen cried an old la
dy, emphatically,) s,,.a. .,f.as:saaa- !,
IN This government, like new boat, was
built on qnicksand, and could not stand SO
long as the corruption Of the present day
was so glazing. The eyentswithin the last
fourteen days bad aroused 2 worthy indig
patton and given, to sober-minded men
causes for anxiety. No man was true to
God who would conceal such fraudulent
doipgs o. fail to upset them. He was sor-
~ to say that those persons were led as
sheep to the slaughter. Their. engineers
were native born men, It was NOT the igl|
norant man who was guilty and snnbbed
besides, but it was he who sat ia, his, en-
bellished. house and planned, who, had
hordes, ofagents to scout and skirmish and
carry out designs-he, was guilty. and
should be encountered, wrestledr With and
knocked down, TAX about patriotism
While men were mouthing large words,
while men proclaimed, sentiments that at
tracted APPLAUSE, they were cutting the |
Of justice and taking away the |
grind foundation Of everything that vas |
patriotic. Then there was another stage of
corruption in the legislative halls. He did |
not think he slandered when he said that
the general rule, to-day in the. Legislature |
was buying and selling. Money was the
Try and men were undisguisedly bought
md sold. Men formed plans, cliques or
1ngs, in which the great public interests
we're bought and sold amid bribery and
Of the most ntrocious and ap.
,alling character. Those men were not
denounced. Corruption triumphed. Ev-
NY man who went to Albany in the capac-
" Of representative was dissolved in the
,reat cauIdron aof dishonesty, and If an
lonest one did proceed there his voice was
% feeble as to be uhheard in the mighty
oar ofpiunder. After dilating at length
N the necessity Of constituents .inquiring
igidly into the conduct of their 'represen-
asives, the speaker proceeded to demon.
trate the fact that all men sending forth
. asscmblyman should be thoroughly nc
tainted with his character Tor where the
nown recipient ola bribe was allowed to
ass UNDECIDED, those conceaiiug the fact
'ere participants in the crime. When q
orrupt villain was sent to Albany it mist
Q taken that he represented his constitu-
nts. Advertising to the judicial system,
r. Beecher proceeded to say: Corruption
oes not dwell only in Albany; it travels
!, another direction. It desecrntes the
'st refuge Of justice--the courts. Yet 80
orrupt are the courts Of law that the name
judge stinks. (LAughter.]
/ say there is nothing arouses my indig-
alton nothing SO far beyond the pale of
'rgivencss as d corrupt judge. Strike /.
i'm down. The judges plumber and arc
nown to plumber. They make decisions {
I'd hold them up for sale. They auction ,
stice and grow fat on brides. Our courtsd, 4
e becoming more aud more corrupt, and +,
1ri judges more and more infamous.
Olne fine aOO was writ o., n lie, =.