New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-02
MORE EVIDENCE OF NEEDED REFORM

| MORE EVIDENCE OF NEEDED REFORM
The manner in which Thanksgiving
Day was observed in New Orleans is the
best evidence that can be adduced tina,
needed reforms are required as much d
more among our people and the public
press as among government officials. I,
has long been customary in this repub.
lican country to have national holy day
observed once year, to render unto God
thanksgiving for the many blessings he
has vouchsafed to the human family. The
custom was inaugurated by men devoted
to freedom and the perpetuation of free
institutions very men who pledged
life, fortune and sacred honor in defense
Of the principles contained in the Amer.
lean declaration of independence. The
custom heretofore has been relisiously
observed by the great body Of our people,
without regard to party
No matter what party happened to be
temporarily in power, the President OF
the United States and the Governors
thereof have kept up this custom, and
wherever the people are moved by a
proper spirit, the day is duly observed.
And the matter of observance must be
taken as fair test of the existence Of a
refined civilization in communities where
the day is pro- erly observed, and where
it is not the contrary may be inferred.
We have much good society in New Or
leans, and many churches devoted to the
worship of God and yet, we regret to
say, the day set apart by the President Of
this State as day Of public Thanksgiving
and praise was but poorly observed by the
great body Of the people Of this city.
The business places of our city We're
not generally closed, nor were the places
of divine worship generally thrown open,
and but two of our newspapers suspended
publication in observance of the day.
And while the great mass of our people
thus refused to join in the observance Of
the day, there was portion of them that
actually desecrated the day by attending
a brutal prize fight, and two, of what We
regarded our leading papers-the Times
and Picayune-e2 erted themselves in get
ting out extras during the day detail
ing the disreputable, disgraceful and
savage scene that was being enacted with
in a few miles Of our city. The Times Of
yesterday morning contained six COL
umns of matter describing the prize
fight; and it devoted hut little over
twenty lines to the religious ohservances
of the day. 1t is true there was Lack Of
performance Of duty devolving upon
many OF our best people, and among
them those who have the management of
our places OF worship: but there We're
those who did not neglect the proper OBJ
Of the day. The Rev. Mr.. Hart
zell delivered sermon at the little church
on the corner of Prytania and Calliope
streets, that should have appeared IN the
Times instead of the debasing account it
has given of fight between two brrisers.
Mr.. Hartzell's eloquent sermon would
have had humanizing effect on the very
class Of men who eagerly sought the
Times Yesterday to read its extended and |
graphic account of the fight, and if il
could not forego the pleasure Of prospec-
tive profit from the sale Of its prize ring
literature, it should have published the I
as an antidote to the poisonous
fleets Of efforts to make heroes of prize
lighters.
The REPUBLICAN asserted, some time
since, that reform was needed in the con-
luct Of the press and among the people
It large as we'll as among those who Lad
been called to fill official positions. We
re aware that men are too apt to do wrong
Who are clothed with little brief author
ty, but the inclination to do wrong is not
onfined to them. And We believe no
,reater wrong can be inflicted upon
,eople than to teach them to be irrev-
rent and neglected. Of a proper feeling
oward God. No political or other con-
liberation should have prevented any
'ortion Of our people from complying
With the recommendations Of President
irant and Governor Warmoth in regard
0 the proper observance Of Thanks
living Day; and, we venture to
ay, no good reason can be given for
ot complying with custom that origi-
ated with the best men Of the country
nd is continued wherever the light of
stined civilization shines brightest. 1t
unpleasant to have to censure an intelli-
ent people even for q palpable wrong;
ut as reform is the order Of the day, all
no are sincere in their demands that way
i'll be willing to have the work applied
herever it is needed. Let the people
urify themselves. When they have done
lis our religious demonstrations will be-
ome more catholic in feeling and action,
i'd more ready to comply with good
lstom of the country. The politics Of
Re President or the Governor will
ot then interfere with proper dis
large Of their duties as good citi-
ms and Christians. This being the case
lie press will be more particular in its
'nduct-that portion.of it that is always
irving to be on the popular side, little
garding whether right or wrong. The /
immers Of the press are infinitely worse {