The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-11-06

After an absence of OWE month from TIE
post Of editorial duty We are. again a, home
prepared to do and suffer for the Queen Of
Central Nevada.
In our wandering in the West We have seen
and heard much III the social, maternal. imam
cial and political status Of the risiny empire
en- The Pacific Coast, whose sunny cline. sol-
den sands and silSer-storsd mountain chains
are theme Of perpetual wonder TO the way
fArins dead beats" from the East, Ii Is not
our purpose. however, at this time, to aooi
our patient readers with deluse Of startling
truths, distilled in the alembic Of a teerinc
brain from the world Of new and astounding
facts garnered amid the festive scenes and cid
dy whirl of fashionable life into which we
were thrown during our pereSrinations in the
West; but from time to time, as occasion may
demand, wewin open the tioodsa,es OF ptnt-up
thought and startle the busy, thouchtless
world with new facts and truths that villism-
onstrate 20 the most incredulous mind tina;
we, as people, are treading on the fiery verge
Of social volcano, tina; financial earthGuakss
at any moment may Srnite the rotund face of
THIS terrestrial orb on whose rugged surface
conyuise the State at any moment, light
ing the smouldering torch Of war and turning
the crystal waters into crimson foods of hu-
man gore. That the horizon Of the near fu-
ture is pregnant with fearful portents, that
PreSage the coming Of social disorders and
dark calamities, none will doubt who have stud
led the signs OF the times in which We live:
but whether the happening Of these events
shall be to-day or tomorrow, this year orne1t.
matters but little, as they are certain to come,
and the wise man should haze his house al.
ways in order, that he may not De caught IN
AvaIes- The nation is diving with progress
on the brain and the idolatrous Worship Of
gold. Conscience Is dead. and moral re,ti
tude is unknown in the common intercourse
Of men Brains, cold and unscrupulous.
rule modern civilization with an imperious
hand. The brain has subjugated the heart,
and every generous impulse or tender emp
ton Of mans nature has been stiAed and ex-
tnguished in the mad struggle for gold which
now Ahsorbs the whole energies Of the people.
From the cradle TO the grave, but one thought.
one paramount idea, rules the minds and &C.
lions of men, and this is called progress
That MAmmon is the presiding deity il the
organism Of American society as al present
constituted, should not be a subject of wonder
when IL is remembered that wealth is the only
passport to social preferment Distinctions
founded on caste or blood are unknown The
African. the Aslatic, the Hott=Hto: or the In
dian, is the peer In native rights and privileges
Of the gentlest blood in the land, which intsn.
slhes the fierce and fatal struggle for the ac-
QUESTION OF gold IS it stands in American So
clety IN the place Of noble birth and proud
lineage IN other countries Of the civilized
world. Pre-eminent talent, il is true in this
country commands a certain degree Of RESPECT
If coupled with positions OF honor and trust;
but as only one in ten thousand can rise
through intellectual endowments, il is not
counted by tho multitude as one OF the paths
that lead TO distinction among men. The
goal OF American ambition is wealth; the
young and old are alike stricken with the dead
ly virus which serves as the handspring and
motive power of all human action. Race and
blood are sacrificed with heartless indifference
upon the altar of A1Ammoh and the STRUGGLE
between poverty and wealth between A palace
or crust of bread, grows fiercer and more in
tense with each passing day and each political
change that enlarges the surging tide Of citi-
Zenship, or adds new races Of pauper laborers.
who in turn will become citizens, but intep-
sifes the eager race for wealth which is the
only badge of distinction known and recor.
nized among the living of to-day II any
there are who doubt the statement that our
nation is launched on a full tide Of moral de-
cay and social death, they have only to look
at the vast purchasing power of wealth among
men holding exalted stations, and the willing
ness TO lean friendly ear to the seductive
music of thinking gold, to be convinced be-
yond a reasonable doubt. These are solemn
and earnest truths, and each advance made in
what is heralded as moral reform" and $50.
cial progress" only brings us day by day more
rapidly into the giddy whirl that waits upon
the power of gold The nation, though young
and fair to look upon, is dying with a cancer
at its heart.