The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-05-30
Generalization.

| There is universal 'complaint tlfat tile
people of this great Republic are democrat
lied The simple habits ; Of our fathers
have changed into those of extreme luxury.
The longing for an honorable position in
the respect and confidence of ones fellow
men has changed into q thirst for display
and spfendor. Magnificent palaces, splen-
did eqnipages, horses of fabulous price,
glittering jeweiry, costly dressing, even
extravaganza in the style of the fashions,
every thing, betokens in our young Repub
lie that the era of luxury already
dawned.
This is in itself a decentralization from
that sterner simplicity which subjects all
luxury to the laws of utility and confines
/ all display within the limits of refined
taste. But it is more. 1t is the gorgeous
portal opening softly on golden hinges, but
through which n flood of evil pours in.
1t is the fashion to be-rich and to be Iuxu-
rious. Every one then ust sport his lux
uries, though ut the expense of some one
else, and every one must get rich, no mat
ter by what means. Hence, presidents OF
banks or railroads are a quarter or n half
million short. cashiers run away, CUSTOM
house officers emigtate, and the internal
revenue department. throws the whole ma
ton into despair.
This is all quite bad, but it is only the
beginning. Luxury which is satisfied with
liyeried servants to-day, viii pine after
dncal semblazonry tomorrow. A nation
I which is harassed to death with peeulation
in every office of every department., will
! in some feverish spasm throw off the costly
liberty and hire master plunderer, called
Emperor; in hopes that he will break up
tthe gang of lesser plunderers. History
=, does not promise that the change will avail
much, but suffering people like change fol
( its own sake. % JAS 70. -sl-.f
4 Shall we, then, gradually go down the
i track once lurid with the splendid ruin OF
the Roman Empire. An old man often
K doubles his possessions after the seeds o.
7 death are in his frame. An empire may
/ send it's triumphantle gions to many n Won
dtrful conquest after the wild spirit of an.
archy has attacked its ritals. Our armie:
7 North America, while the vital power o.
nationality is waning and dying. If pub
4 lie corruption runs its natural course, how
many cmperors will buy the throne O.
/ America, aud how many lose it by assas
sinatiop, ere our race shall pass away be-
fore n fresher and moro vigorous oneq
We say if public corruption runs its ma
tural course. This, we are happy to reflect
however, is not probable. Christianity
does not permit the awful ruins and tota
extinctions witnessed in the pagan wOfld
When nature commences to decay, it hui
no element of renovation to arrest it's pro
erAss to death. Grace has immortal youth
and can imparU it to n perishing society
Evil counsels, have led the young Prod
igal America astray from the houseoo
it, father and of this living grace. Whel
those evil coRnsels have wrought SO mucl
ruin that they can no longer deceive; th
true Church viii step in and assume th
influence it ought to have always had.
Professionalism, has led this country int,
the paroxysin Of worldliness Which nov
possesses It. The few remaining princi
pies of Christianity which it has no
thought fit to discard are so disfgured Will
tne garments OF Iuiltanlsn IN winch inc,
are decked, that the people turn from then
with disgust. Vice grows upon vice. Di
vorce, fraud, peculation, forgery, fiji tn,
+ Entt-teEntz.,,r
society shrugs its shoulders in hopeless in
difference.
But these things viii bring their Owl
scourge. The people will fall into sucl
despair, the imminence of destruction viii
become so great, that they will be glad tt
receive any assistance. They will BE will
ing to dismiss the quacks who have de
ceived them SO long and to call in the onl!
doctor that understerds the malady. Ca
tholicity can and will save the patient.
ST. JoHN's NEW CHUEoH.-An immens,