The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-03-02
The Age of Corruption.

We copy the following article which
we highly appreciate and recommend
to the careful perusal of our readers,
from Hitchcock's Monthly Magazine:
With the present stringency of the
money market we hear much COM
plant of dizziness in trade and oonse :.
gent inability of those engaged in mer-
camille persnits as well as in mechani-
cal avocations to make ends meet, and
to fulfill obligations entered into a
short time since when times were bet
ter, and which are now maturing.
Honest men seem to find themselves
going rapidly into the background,
while the brazen faces of rosuery and
downright rascality wear radiant
smiles, and their owners "tare sumptu-
Ously every day."
The doctrine of future rewards and
punishment is only fable Of the past,
scarcely remembered by the oldest in
habltant-at least it would seem 40 by
the lives of thousands in our city. who
entirely igaore it and live but for them
selves.
| In short, a season of decentralization,
general in its character, appears to
have become inaugurated, affecting
alike the Pulpit, the Press and tile
| Bar,
Minister'S of the Gospel, Editors and
Authors, Judges and Lawyers, aban-
don their high and honorable caillings
to assist in the carnival of crime and
rascality. Where the greatest conf.
dence should be reposed is found the
secret and dangerous enemy that be-
| trays us;-where we should look for
moral instruction we find the gilded
brand of infamy held up for our admir-
alton, as the stamp ofsvirtue
Authors sell the falsehoods of their
feverish imaginations to gain wealth,
while publishers can be found base
enough to demoralize a whole commu-
| nifty for a share in the venture.
The Press cries "Corruption" with a
loud voice while it's editors enrich
themselves by praising and endorsing
the scheming scoundrels who make a
trade of public robbery. Jobs of gi-
gant'c proportions are jagged through
Legislative Bodies to be "quo warran-
top" and blackmailed by the Attornies
and the outside associates of our honOra-
Die Judiciary, after which processes
they are legitimate burdens for the
public Ia. groan under.
Kings and political combinations
made up of the worst class of society
ruin nil of our interests, and Integrity
and industry hang their heads in sor.
row if not in despair.
we are not OF that worcestershire ma
ture, which is easily appalled, by the
tares among the wheat in human life,
for we know that the world is full of
beauty. and much for us to love and
admire.
But we confess to a feeling of indig-
nation at the broad sway of crime is
having, and to blush of shame that
manhood can became so debas.d, so
false, to its truest interests in the well
be-; ing OF society, and we have been led
to IT. feet upon the causes which have
produced these sad results.
We fine, two prominent evils which
attract our attention the most. First,
the thirst for notoriety and sclt-ag-
grandisement amo.n'g the Instructors of
the people, and secondly. the fondness
for extravaganza and foolish display
among nearly all classes OF the commn-
nifty. To these two sources we think
can be clearly traced nearly all CT the
evils of our day.
In olden times Ministers of the Cos
pei led their focks through yirtuous
and holy paths the meekness and hu-
mility of a suffering Savior were the
doctrines taught to pround humanity
and ''to sell all that one had and give
to the poor" was the only road to fol-
low Jesus.
In the House of Worship He was the
centre of thought and adoration-not
the marble palace with stained win
dows, nor the veleted pew nor even
the political or sensational orator, if
any there were who officated as min
utes ir those days. Men attended
church with their families to listen to
the reading of the scriptures and the
holy advice explained to them by their
pastors. Truth and wisdom were
deemed superior to political harangues
and good sense and sound logic were
more esteemed than rhetorical -four
isles and attempts at blasphemous
witticisms. Men were taught to live
nationally and happily, Vice did not
become Virtue when INDUCED in by
church members, nor did pastors con-
slider it their duty to gloss over the
sins of their congregation in order to
assist the cause of Christianity.
In those days authors and public
writer's won golden regulations by clu-
cidating facts and truths, by writing
| words of instruction and beautiful po-
etc and prose effusions for the edifica-
| ton and enlightenment of the masses
many of which works will live for ever.
Theirs was not the task to demor-
alize society, to create a demand for
obscene literature or slanderous
reading which should make angels
weep-theirs not the baneful trash that
destroys the youthful mind and praises
guilt in the first chapter of a periodical,
that the second may have still larger
sale-that robs the dead to enrich the
living.
Youthful minds fed with moral
truths became the giant intellects en-
cased III robust bodies, protected by
good habits, which led our country on
to greatness and honorable esteem
among all the nations of the civilized
world.
Justice, sat on her bench and meted
our rihgt to all who came, irrespective
of party or of monied power.
| But in an evil hour came the dred
scourge of internecine War, brother
rose AGAINST brother NPtacr on earth