Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-12-05
CAUSES OF NATIONAL PROS
pERITY.

10Y tf'L
The principles that epntrol the dssti-
MES Of men and nations are so uniform
in their action and results, that all Of
US, while closely studying the past, can
greatly anticipate the future. History
is thus not only a picture of the past,
but a mirror that shows tho probable
future, so that those who look back
with wisdom may move forward with
corresponding discretion. One chief
law Of history is, that, other things be-
ing equal, the prosperity of nations will
ever be in proportion to their virtues,
while their vices, IL persisted in, will
bring decline, ~decrepitude and dsstruc-
ton. It belongs to the very nature of
things that vice should sink and virtues
raise nations, as well ~ individuals.
This is written With q pen Of iron upon
all the monuments Of history. Gibbon
has shown that the Roman Empire fell
into decay not so much by its faulty
Government, or its1rmy OF mercenaries,
or the hordes Of barbarians that be-
siegOd it, as by luxury and vice, which,
like q slow poison, consumed its vitsls.
It has been remarked that tho history OF
tho world needs rewritingiu a kindlier
spirit to free institutions. No less true
is it that this should be done also in o
more religious spirit, tracing out the
effects upon national prosperity of high
moral principle. No one q success
fully write or study history without OBJ
serving the fundamental law, that tho
| truest national success is ever proper
tionate to moral greatness.
Other causes Of prosperity need not
to be overlooked. We know that in our
own country, the extent and fertility OF
its lands, the enterprise and education
of its early settlers, the ability, integ-
ri,y, valor and genius of its revolution
airy patriots, and o Constitution which
combined the wisdom Of the English
law and of the ancient Republics, with
many lessons unfolded by experience,
have all contributed largely to produce
tho prosperity we now enjoy. But
greatly as we are indebted to these ex-
c~ellencies of our ancestors, we owe oven
more to their virtues.
1t is common in prosperity to extol
and worship our education, our laws,
our enterprise, our liberties, all the seq
ond causes, while the first great cause
is overlooked. . Education is q power,
but may be a power of evil to the bad.
| Who would wish to see every tyrant be-
come a giant, or who would put a po-
tent patent weapon in tue hands OF a
madmau? Yet such may knowledge
become I q people without virtue.
Laws, to be a true mean Of good, need
| good men to frame, good officers to adj
minister them, and q good community
to support them. Even those forms OF
Government which are best, where the
majority are %virtuous, might be the
worst, when the majority are vicious.
Nor q enterprise raise an unprincipled
people. None are more bold in their
enterprises than the Spectator, the
gambler, the pirate. Liberty itself,
with all its sweets, is to tho reckless and
the vile the veriest bubble that ever
child blew. Not all those combined,
without virtue in the people, can insure
a nations prosperity.
The moral character Of individuals is
the germ of enduring national life. The
latter must ever be dependent on the
former, and the virtue of n nations
public acts will bear q direct proportion
to tina. of the majority Of individual
citizens. So intimate is the connection
between individual virtue and perma-
neut national prosperity, between neral
and political rectitude, that ouly as we
possess the one can we long continue to
enjoy the other. Every citizen, how
ever humble his means, or limited his
education, may thus be convinced OF
the true dignity and value to his u
try of leading a correct life, simply rs
an honest, Industrious, private citizen,
and of bringing up a family in virtue
and goodness. In every walk these are
the grand preservativs, Of this republic,
while one piece Of bribery or fraud, q
political or business lie, is an injury
done to the vitals Of the community
that NO misfortune can atone for and no
success justify. The most exact prin-
| ciples of equity and honor, in every
conceivable case, are those which sub
serve the best interests of the people ;
and if our public laws and private acts
are founded on these principles, our
country must rise above all temporary
embarrsssments to unbounded perma-
uent prosperity, and bequeath to future
generations the blessings of the
Almighty.