New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-15

| S""S 0oue steamship, 1relSnteO WIN pas
sengers, has foundered at sea or been
wrecked through the incapacity of officers
and crew. Thus we live in America Life
hangs by the slightest thread; it may snap
asunder at any moment and we make a
hurried exit into the unknown realms be-
yond. One could almost imagine, from
the careiessness with which we guard our
lives, that reckless curiosity to know
what lies in those unknown realms urged
US on to throw off the impeding flesh,
that the freed soul may find a solution of
the mystery.
IN other countries, railroad disaster
| or steamboat calamity calls for search
ing INQUIRY and just punishment, so that
they may be saved from repetition of
those horrors, and men may stand some
slight chance of dying in their BEDS but
not SO here. If neglect or reckless daring
be proved to have caused the accident,
the offender but rarely gets any punish
ment beyond reprimand, short i'm
prlsonment or fine, and the latter never
comes out Of his pocket, being almost in:
varlably paid by the company owning
the road. The few days on which We
nave no wholesale slaughter are sure to
chronicle some butchery in small way
An angry boy strikes playmate, the
playmate retaliates, and the consequence
is dead child to be borne home to loving
parents, who saw him but moment ago,
bright and healthy. young and buoyant
The youth Of the murderer pleads elo-
quently for his pardon, and he goes scot
free, to get angry and kill again when
ever ne chooses. A man gets drunk
when inlamed by drink he takes that
which he can never restore, the life of
another man-launches a soul unbidden
by its Maker into His great presence-is
tried for his crime and cleared, because
"he knew not what ne did He is
guilty Of double crime.
No man is free from guilt who 'willfully
puts himself in condition which de-
prlves him of the knowledge of what
he Is doing. Totally regardless of our
own lives, we place them at the mercy of
reckless men and unsafe conveyances,
knowing them to be such, and yet we do
these things to gain the means of making
these risked lives comfortable and lux
urious.
What inconsistency Since We can
take nothing with US, why risk the capt.
tai to get the interest? Millions avail US
taught when life ceases. Then why risk
ife for smaller sums? There was time
when caution was virtue, when exer-
Used in behalf of our lives: now it is
'owardice, except in pecuniary matters:
here it is commendable in the highest
lesree. Once men were prudent where
PERSONAL welfare was concerned now we
re led to believe that personal welfare is
leSenerated into pecuniary welfare from
be actions of enlightened citizens Of
america.
Not many years ago. suicide was almost p,
Unknown in our land: to-day hundreds
eek death because of trivial disappoint- ,
lents and for a thousand frivolous cir
umstances that cross their path. Why ,
ave We grown to be such a reckless
alton: Can science tell US why? Has ,
allure changed, or does the force of cir I
override nature and make us f
hat We are? If We continue to grow more
nd more regardless Of life and callous to (
anger, what will we become in the d
purse of a century? If there is ever to be p
stop in the downward course, why t.
N it not be now As the wheel rolling 4
own hill gets increased velocity with il
cry turn. SO do we grow worse. more d
'customed to violent and terrible deaths
oh year, and the desire to take precau- a
ons against it grows less and less until tt
me day in the future We shall awake to p
Id that human life is of less value than
pins head. ii
American carelessness American reck- L
'sness is freely spoken of in every n
reign land, and many think visit to
nerica, to ride on her cars, travel on o.
r boats, is bold venture into the lions Sc
n and tempting of Providence almost d.
lpable. st
This thing has continued long enough, RI