New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-03
Communicated
REFORM.

hEFOHMe
How exceedingly prone are mankind j
general to loll back comfortably in the
several armchairs and preach reform, r.
form" to the balance Of the world Reform
like charity, might well begin at home, an
still accomplish vast amount of good i
the world.
But since no power will the "giftie gle III
to see Oursels as ithers see u.s." we leisurel
take survey of the habits, principles an
lives of our feilOw-mortals, find out thei
faults and weaknesses, and cry reform
scarce seeking to know our own peccadi
loes
Vanity is SO largely predominant in tn
disposition of most of u.s. that we can nc
see wherein we may improve. The minister
viewing the world through the medium Q
his own Faith and doctrine, sees much i
ether churches which might be bettered
the physician attaches himself to some pal
ticular school Of medicine, adapts it's theor
to bis practice, and cries out to dissentin
schools: "You must reform" And the poll
tician, too looks at State and governmental
|
his own particular party; if it be beneficial
to that. then it is a good measure; but let i
be detrimental, and he mounts the stun,
and begins forthwith to cry, reform. re
form - at the top Of his lungs Thus it il
with US all.
We pull on pair of prejudicial spectacle
and would have all the world turn aaG
twist itself, until it looks right in our eyes
through the distorted medium of self-con
ceit, prejudice and vanity.
The North has been crying to the South
all the YEARS since the termination of the
war, to do better. to cease wrangling, do
! away with kuklux. and live in peace She
would pull the mote out of her sisters eve.
While the beam is projecting boldly from
her own Ignoring murder lynch law.
fraudulent dealing. suicide, theft and all
the crimes in her category of sins. she looks
over and beyond them to point the finger
of indignation to each trivial misdemeanor
on the part OF Southern people, and breaches
sermon after sermon. lecture after lecture
to our bedeafened ears, the burden of which
IS the ancient war-cry, reform
1t is true charity does begin at home. but
tor Gods sake, do not let 1t stop there too.
1t 1t be charity in our Northern sister States
to neglect their own reformation and spend
their time and energies in doing missionary
work il the South, which we can hardly be-
lieve-if it be charity, then pray seek to
extend a little of it to U.s.
,1ar fhof -,
Iueror to exercise torbearance and generous
feelings than for the conquered to possess
them.
We have had much to embtter us, to
sour our dispositions, for nations much re-
semble individuals in their feelings and ex-
hibitions of these feelings, and if we are a
bit cranky while undergoing the process of
getting straight in the beaten track again.
don't preach to us SO loudly, and scold and
punish SO vigorously, but try what little
discreet silence on the subject of our faults
may do toward accomplishing reform
Perhaps We may see our sins without
their being pointed out, and seek to remedy
them ourselves. Many of our papers that
seem actuated onl Y by a spirit of opposition
may cease to be contrary when they find
that nobody notices their little, malicious,
spiteful observations, and from being blind |
leaders of the blind" become lights of re-
form.
While pointing out a subject of reforma-
ton to the North, we in nowise forget that
we might make far greater strides in that
lnuch-to- be-desired direction ourselves.
II, when the war closed, we showed a
very laudable desire to undo the mischief
we had done. and set about getting things
back in the old routine, yet at the first
We were called upon to make we
,ung fire, baked and stood doggedly in our
racks and said ''since we may not do
hinss after our style, We will not help
'thers to do them any other way" then if
lught was accomplished we contributed but
mite, indeed, toward it. We stand in our
'wn light.
Regarding Southern people as degree
'etter than the rest of the world, we have
us up in mantle of pride SO stiff
hat it cha4es and frets the spirits in en-
elops and prevents the near approach Of
AA"SC VAO VouiA, OCSpilC OuI OUSlLudCy, |
end helping hand. In more homely
words, "wc cut off our noses to spite our
aces"
Is 1t possible that our eyes are never to be
pened wide enough to see this thing!
Are Southern people to go on year after
ear, clothed in this invincible pride and
s attendant obstinacy, sturdily retarding
heir own progress2 Because the rens of
overnmeIt have passed from their weak
ned grasp are they they to warn the world
I words of seeming TRUTH that it is a God
srsaken land, down trodden and oppressed,
i'll man had as well sink to the lowest
epths of Hades as seek to live in it! Are
ich the words of patriotisml Can you not
,rget personal aggrievances and have a
park of unselfish feeling for your countryl I
Once you were willing to sacrifice earthly
ossessions, and life even, for what you
onceived to be the good of the South, now.
an you not give up the smaller item of
ride?
Vanity and pride! These two combined
re to ruin the fairest work of creation. to
reck your hopes and strand you on the
'ef Of irremediable evil, unless you hearkeu
the. voice Of reform. !