Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-08-13
Books and Periodicals.

The NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW for July
completes the hundred and eighth volume OF
this uuriyalled American Review It's con-
tents are Hereditary Insanity; A Chapter on
Erie; The Religion Of Ancient Greece: The
Poverty of England Open Air Grape Culs
ture; Hungary and Roumania The Laws of
History; Volcanoes and Critical Notices.
a Chapter on Erie by Charles Francis
Adams, jr., is perhaps the most striking
articlein the number. 1t recites faithfully and
at considerable length the history Of the Erie
Railroad controversy. 1t is a sad CONNER
tary on the morals Of Railroad Oficers and
New York Judges and is calculated to make
one stop and ask, where shall these things
stop? Freebooters and pirates once skulked
upon the high seas and challenged admira
ton by their dar ing, but when caught they
paid the penalty Of their crimes With their
lives Public sentiment demanded prompt
and vigorous punishment. To day men strut
upon our streets, sit in our courts, are busy
in the great marts Of commerce and control
great railroads, beside whose crimes the
exploits and crimes Of Dick Tupin and
Captain Kidd are but as child's play. Yet
community like New York City submits to be
robbed with impunity. Such men as Drew,
Vanderbilt and FISK are daily guilty of deeds
that would disgrace the lowest gambling hell,
but their gold enables them to 60 scot free
where smaller thieves would find their way to
the TOmbs. After reciting the sickening tale
be closes as follows:
Comment would only weaken the force of
this narrative. 1t sufficiently suggests its
own moral. The facts which have been set
forth cannot but have revealed to every ob-
servant eye the deep decay which has eaten
into every part OF our social edifce. No por
ton of our system was left untested. and no
portion showed itself to be sound. The stock
exchange revealed itself as a haunt of gamb.
iers and den of thieves; the Offices OF our
great corporations appeared as the secret
chambers in which trustees plotted the spoli.
alton Of their wards the law become a ready
engine for the furtherancs Of wrong, and the
ermine of the judge did not conceal the
eagerness of the partisan the halls of legisla.
ton we're transformed into mart in which
the price of votes was higgled over, and laws,
made to order, were bought and sold while
under all, and through all, the voice of pub.
nc opinion was silent or was disregarded.
IL is not however, IN connection with the
present that all this has its chief significance.
Il speaks ominously for the future. Ii NAV
be that our society is only passing through q
period of ugly transition, but the present evil
has It's root deep down in the social orpani
zatlon, and springs from a diseased nublic
OPINION Failure seems to be regarded as
the one objectionable crime, success as the
all-redeemIng virtue, the acquisition Of wealth
q & the single yuOrfbv aiD, If i,fa
ago such revelations as these of the Erie
Railway affairs would have sent a shudder
through the community, and would have
placed stigma on every man who had had
to do with them. Now they merely incite
others to surpass them by vet holder outrages
and more corrupt combinations.
Any person desiring to know the depth of
moral degradation to which our money kings
have fallen, and The lamentable lsthargy of
the public morals would do well to give this
article careful reading. We cannot help
congratuiating the North American upon the
frankness and holiness with which il has
taken up the discussion Of this class Of ones-
tons. The country sadly needs many more
journals ofthe same kind. The North Ameri.
can Review is published BY Fields, oseood &
Co., Boston. Terms, six dollars year.
TnE RoAD Law or PENNSYLVANIA. We
have just received from the publisher copy
Of small book by Z. c. Hooton, Esq, Of
West Chester entitled 'The General and
SPECIAL Road Laws of Pennsylvania. It sets
forth briefly the duties Of supervisors and
other township officers in plain but brief
Language, gives the power and authority Of
road viewers, contractors &c Il will be
found mos! useful book in the hands Of the
people The book will be sent postage paid
to any person sending 81 cents to George F.
WaFrall book seller and publisher, West Ches.
ter Pa.