Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-03-21

times. It has led people to believe
in a general decadence Of virtue, and |
It obviously threatens the wreck OF re- |
publican institutions. But this
Astounding evil is absolutely
no evidence of decay of
virtue, but rather of multi
plication of those conditions that
by providing opportunity increase the
ternptations of men. The commercial
and political frauds now SO common,
are both products of the developed
relations of men; they are outgrowths
of immensely multiplied business and
social interchanges, of which ancient
times have no conception. The rail-
roads. which in less than half century
have become SO powerful IN commerce
and formidable in politics, alone &C
! count for great proportion OF recent
! Legislative corruption. Their MAN.
ayers besiege the doors of Congress;
| they employ vast wealth, great lngenu-
| ity. and continually obtain their ends
| by bribery and corruption so subtle
| that their tools scarcely understand
the success with which they have been
bought and sold AS time progresses
! this interest will immensely increase,
| and ii is obvious that, unless some
check is imposed, it will fairly own
and control all our governments, gen
eral and local. In time it will not
simply purchase Legislatures; it will
90 to the source, and secure the cleo
ton of Legislators to suit its ends; as,
indeed. this has already been done IN
n few instances. In our railway sys.
ten. as it stands related to govern
ment. we have a foreshadowing of
what .ue future will be in many other
things. Interests of other kinds will
fcombine to secure their ends,
and government viii be convert
ed into an instrument for the
furtherance of private purposes.
Even official matters continually null
tiply in details, and enlarge in trans
action, as the postoffice notably bears
, witness; and, if to this necessary ex-
| pansion of duties, Government essays
to keep paternal relations to the I'M
mensely differentiated interests OF So
ciety if it hopes, in addition to the
/ care of the army and the navy, to the
L protection Of the border, to the collec-
ton of revenues, to Look after educa-
| ton, build colleges, foster science, en-
L courage art, adjust the interests OF
y Thousand trades, regulate telegraphs,
y railways and steamboats,, it will IN
tllltt DttCiiie o'SA "AASAN~
= with details, b,1t its relations to al
) these interests VIII lead to the organi
o zation Of powerful ciiques, looking te
:, its manipulation. Already the powe1
!, Of the lobby is immense; it is almos
our master now, and soon viii rule tl'
Il coantry despotical'y and resistiessly.
. This IS IN ugly enough outlook. i
= INST he admitted, but it is wise t.
, l21ts the naked fac. III the face and b.
" prenared to a,ticipate it, rather thai
: indulge the Gelnsion than the prospec
IS exaggerated. As the Journal say
;, the tendency caG3ot be arrested 10y
- simple change OF rulers or Of -7alne=
to "a, List be laid ct the root. 1t
remedy IL to t,cat methods rather tbs
- persons, by narrowing and si1npli
= fling the functions Of government 3
Withdrawing altogether from leSislS
) ton these matters or u VII spring
- prevalent corruption.