Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-11-06
: .raIIC yIRruE pECLININc,

The assumed degeneracy Of our times
;s a favorite theme with many gloomy
writer's. On the part Of some it is pure
10 political artifice without sincerity or
csnior; on the part Of others it seems to
he real delusion. They draw dark
nieture in which general deterioration
Of public morals, widespread decade of
healthy public spirit and a rapid growth
of corruption and eYtravagance make MP
the melancholy shades. 1t is not merely
in public places that they effect to find
tbs generalization. They fancy sad
loss of tone and signal decline of the
stout old virtue even among the people
themselves.
It would not have been strange if such
effects had, indeed, been perceptible. The
country has passed through scenes and
events well calculated to put its best
qualities to severe test.
A period of war is often followed by an
epoch of Generalization, and both its
heightened passions and its e1traordi-
nary exertions frequently leave seams
and scars in the temper of the public
mind as well as in the face of society.
The Government has come to handle I'M
mense sums. The people have been
made familiar with vast figures. The
inflated prices of the war and the sudden
accumulation of colossal fortunes, rising
up in day like Aladdin's palace, have
tended to create. fever of speculation
and rage for wealth. Under these cir
cun.stances, aud with these changed con-
ditions it would not, we say, be strange
n ~, IA ,obr;af1, NJ ,nJ Jrvn a,k o,l g..
of conscience and elevation of tone suf-
iered some decay. No other nation has
passed through such period without
lapse of public morality, and we may
count ourselves remarkably fortunate if
We altogether escape the pernicious infu-
ence of such causes.
And yet while recognizing all this, we
10 not share the morose apprehensions
which find expression in some quarters.
We believe the heart of the people is
sound. Nay, more, it would be safe to
say that considering the amount of rev.
enues and disbursements now handled,
there has never been less missappropria-
ton than at the present time. The hon
esty Of the general service is indisputa-
Bile. Here and there subordinate NAV
prove faithless, as happens in every pri-
7ats business; but the integrity OF the
service as whole stands unimpeached,
and in proportion to the magnitude of
It's trusts, no Administration in our his
tory has been as stainless as that of
President Grant. So far as the people
are concerned, the evidence that they
have not lost their moral vitality is con-
elusive. 1t is shown in the vigor with
which they rose up against the Tamma-
ny ring. 1t is, perhaps, even more strik-
lngly shown in the unsparing condem-
nation which they visit upon the salary
grab and all its participants-more strik-
lngy because the wrong was less fla
grant and outrageous. There had been
similar transactions before without ex-
citing any deep public reprobation. The
salary of Congressman had several times
been increased, always carrying back
pay with it. 1t had never before reused
any such storm OF popular indignation,
md the deep, determined and unquench-
able feeling in the present case is an un-
mistakable testimony to the strong NOR
al sense Of the people
Another evidence in the same direc-
ton is the defeat of General Butler
against the most extraordinary applian-
ces. That was pre-eminently a triumph
ofpublic morality and conscience, and it
proved that the moral sentiment of the
people is as alert and powerful now rs
ever. We might refer to many other
facts proving the same thing, but these
different and striking instances will suf-
fce. Their character is unmistakable;
and in the face of such illustrations there
Is no reason for saying that there is any
general Generalization of the public
mind or any lowering Of its tone.-[Al-
bany n, " Journal.