The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-11-27
Corruption n the Age.

1t Is un00nl0Oio Cn0C C0Et&1u cSoo oOSAA
in the history of nations when corruption
of manners and morals is far more general
than at others. Nearly every people has
it's heroic and its degenerate phase OF ex-
istence; at one time scorning vices which
afterwards become quite popular and re-
spectacle. Luxury and thirst for wealth.
are the besetting sins of advanced civillza-
ton. In it's warlike age every nation has
a contempt for luxury, its aspirations tenn
to military prOwess, while money-maklng
is left to usurers and trades-people. Bnt
when war gives place to dominion, wealth
flows in and luxury displaces the ancient
simplicity. The thirst for wealth then ac-
quires strength and quickly supplants the
former noble ambition for honor and glory.
Then valor is discredited, patriotism loses
it's fervor and even honesty grows much
rarer. Whenever a nation thus fal Is into
the vortex of luxury, effeminacy and deg
radiation almost invariably succeed, and the
nation lapses into insigniticance and worth
lessness, from which it seems almost I'M
possible that it should be regenerated. We
all know by what steps the ancient nations
of Greece and Rome passed from weakness
to strength, from strength to conquest, and
from conquest to decay. We have heard
of the glory of modern Italy, the grandeur
of Spain and we see their present decrepi-
tude and lifelessness.
The era then which precedes this stage
of inertia is precisely the one of the great
est self-complacency and boastfulness it
is the age of wealth and expansion, of
luxury and display. 1t is the age Of cor
ruption. 1t is the age which must natural
ly be followed by the era of humiliation
and insignificance. When from any cause
a flow of unusual prosperity comes upon a
people, when, more than their neig Ibors,
they are filed with riches and possessions
and power, the reaction may be soon ex-
pected in the loss of manly energy and
fortitude. In the natural world as in the
spiritual, it is only by the Cross, by the
Christening influence of adversely and
struggle, that perfection may be attained
and kept. In hoe signo rinces.
When we look at the political and moral
COL Lion of our own country, We cannot
but remark the widespread corruption
and decentralization that exist everywhere.
From the highest officials in the land to the
lowest, few there are who are not loudly
accused of being principally engaged in
the effort to feather their own nests, ire
spcctive Of the country and its wants. At
the same time our daily papers TEEN with
descriptions of the luxury and extravagant
excuses which form SO striking feature
in American society of this day. The So
cial world in this country seems to be run
ming a race in foolish expenditures and ar
rogant display.
1t is evident that since the inception of
our recent war there has been an inordi-
nate accumulation of wealth in the United
States. Such state of things must natu-
rally breed habits Of luxury, these again
react in an exaggerated desire for riches,
which equally as naturally creates corrup-
ton and dishonesty. Fortunately the
great and sudden increase of wealth
noticeable in the American community
was rather fictitious than real. 1t consisted
in the issue of flood of paper money and
credits to the amount of thousands OF mil
HONS VI uoilaTS. Ills oeluS SCI duoat WIN
the sanction of law, necessarily enhanced
the value of products enormously, and
gave an appearance of general and unpre-
cedented prosperity. Hence we may expect
reaction. Money is coming back to its
normal standard, and the country has an
immense debt tospay, the interest ofwhich
will be Il heavy burden upon its resources.
People will find themselves not near SO
rich as they thought they were, and ex
travagance will be curtaied.
1t is to be hoped that this will dry up, to
a great extent, the sources of that torrent
of corruption which is at present so over
whelming. The spirit of speculation, al
ways rendered so active by superabund-
ance of money, will be restrained, and the
vice of official peculation, now SO preva-
lent, is pretty much the same thing.
Gambling and roguery are of close kin.
Frugality of habits is very conducive to
honesty, and that frugality is much unset
tied by an inflated idea of ones wealth and
means. When the people come down to
the level of q natural and real prosperity,
economy will commend itself more urgent
ly to their consideration both in private
and in public affairs. When that
time comes, the popular feeling will
require that offices shall be filed