The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-11-11
National Honesty.

private conscience. Conscience is held by
one class of thinkers to be the enlightening
faculty ofthe soul; by another class the IA
Guilty to be enlightened. With one it is the
spirit of God cleaning through direct and
inspired revelation; with another, it is still
the sun OF light, but seated within the soul
itself, and throwing its rays outwardly to
illumine and direct individual and national
conduct. Take either view and we-still
have conscience, guide, light, with
which and by which we walk. Public men
are too apt to elevate reason into the realm
and office of conscience. Reason is light,
and reveals the true from the false; con-
science is light, but separates the right
from the wrong, and whispers in the soul,
follow the former and shun the latter. Rea-
son presides over the intellectual, conscience
over the moral nature of man. The public
men of our day are not deficient in intelec-
tual culture. Intellectually, the average
man stands higher than at any formerperiod
in the worlds history; morally, there is
some question as to his exact status. Indi-
viduals and communities are constantly ask
ing what can be done, not what ought to be
done; whether certain proposed lines of
public action are expedient, not whether
they are right. Expediency looks at the
means, and not unfrequently exalts the
means above the ends to be accomplished.
Right is or should be the end expediency,
the handmade to assist in reaching it.
Questions of pure right and wrong, for a
long time have been looming upin our State
and national legislation. The average con-
science is being appealed to, tested, and the
stuff of which it is made fully exposed to
view. For decades of years, the professed
instructors of conscience and the moral ma
ture of man, have been at work upon the
people of this nation. The result of that
work can be seen in the national life and ac-
tion, viewed as whole. The Congress of
the United States reflect it. The Supreme
Court brings to bear upon the questions be-
fore it, not only rules of law but principles
of ethics No executive can escape the SOL
emn duty to act according to the highest
lights of reason and conscience.
Several great questions purely moral in
their nature are now before the people of
this country. Tho average conscience, in
few days, will be known. One of these
questions the Democratic party has already
settled as Satan would have settled his ex-
pulsion from Heaven had its justice been left
to him. 1t repudidates its solemn promise
to pay, and in that reputation we all know
its idea of conscience. On the contrary, the
Republican party looks upon the question
with clearer moral vision.
The government in its sorest need bor-
rowed vast sums of money to carry on
great war; The money was loaned toachieve
success, and it achieved it. The nation
promised to pay back that money within
given period of time, together with certain
rate of interest for the use of it. Is the debt
to be paid in what the government shall de-
clare to be lawful money Shall the worlds
standard of money be taken, or shall the
arbitrary standard of the borrower be the
law to govern the case9 Is gold mentioned
in the letter of the bond, or is it implied
What is the nature of the obligation? If it
is ascertained and established, will the Gov
ernment adhere religiously to it, put aside
all questions of expediency, and do that
which is right, although it may have to pay
millions which it might under strained and
technical law evade paying2 In this ques-
ton, the moral dignity and greatness of the
nation is at stake 1t cannot afford to repu-
diate one cent of its debt, whether that debt
be held on the continent of Europe or is
scattered throughout the prairies of the
West. The material interests of the country,
to very great extent, depend upon the rep
utation for honesty and fair dealing it can
maintain in the moneyed centers ofthe world.
Millions are needed now, and will continue to
be needed for the construction of Railroads,
canals, and the development of our vast
natural resources. Much, if not the greater
portion, of this money will come from Eu-
rope, if, as nation, We prove to be honest
in the settlement of our debts.
A national reputation for honesty is a
shield for and an endorsement of individual
honesty. fa nation repudiates, individuals
win soon learn to repudiate; ifa nation is
dishonest in its highest legislative body, the
natural presumption is that the individuals
who compose it are dishonest also. Let the
Supreme Court settle the nature of our
moneyed obligations, and let the nation
stand by the decision faithfully, eonscien-
tiously, religiously, believing that it also has
q conscience which will either accuse or ex-
cuse on the exercise of every moral act.
Merited Compliment to Gen. Miles.
His Excellency Governor Holden tele-
graphed to Gen. Grant yesterday that the
State had gone overwhelmingly for the Re-
publican ticket. He also made honorable
mention of the efficient services of Major
General Nelson A. Miles for his prudent, able
and successful management of the troops un-
der his command. His recent order dispos-
ing of the soldiers, and his instructions to the
officers to assist the civil authorities in pre-
serving the order and harmony of our good
old State, the spirit of this order, its wise
suggestions, its manly tone, and its generous