The New York herald., 1873-09-18
THE GENERATION OF FALSE PRETENCE.

from the Montgomery (Alaj Advertiser, Sept. IO]
few years ago and this whole vast land was
blessed with peace and unrivalled prosperity; it
was the abode OF free iand virtuous popul alton.
Its history was filed With the living light OF O
mighty glory. Its honest and active commerce
whtened the seas. 1t could point to its long roll
of statesmen and patriots each with his escutcheon
unstaned by the slightest taint Of personal dis
honor, or by any vile ambitions. There was
genuine spirit OF devotion to the Republic In every
breast Each citizen was conscious of an honor.
able sel-apprectation, and was instinct with the
pride Of citizenship born and nourshed In the in.
dependence aud freedom Of State rights and local
sef-governmentl There was no national debt.
There was an equalization OF taxes among the
States and people, and an uniformity OF taxation
required by the constitution; and withal the taxes
were SO light that no one complained OF oppressive
burdens and they were borne with convenience and
in perfect contentment. The North was rich; the
West increased daily In its irrepresslble strength
not beggar in the streets OF its cities; with no
radicallsm or pestferous isms within its borders:
with its hundreds OF millions OF dollars in
ing and maintaining hundreds OF thousands OF
Northern men, women and children in the manu-.
% Throughout the he country % exercised the @ elective
franchise without interference, and cannon and
bayonets were not used by party leaders to set up
what are called "Our free institutionsp'
All this is now completely altere d. In no part Of
States there is not prosperity but ruin The great
question Tor discussion IS. shall the President OF
the United states sta ne tTss Sna C Grans De
dents of the United states have been proved
guilty OF taking brbes. The Congress itself has
ton and workings OF the credit Mobilier. The peo-
pie themselves are thoroughly demoralized. the
tteIeeranntc columns Of tSe % newspapors are are
crowded with accounts OF thieves or deiaulters in
ONCE, so that an honest man Is almost an excep-
tion The President OF the United states has given
his signature to the basest act OF Congress ever yet
passed. and General Butler. Massachusetts states
man and hero, is triumphantly soliciting (most
probably the sunrages OF the people OF
that State Tor the onice OF Governor, sup
ported by the sympathes and the Official power OF
defends the great theft by color OF law from the
Treasury. All is changed. The land that appeared
to bask in the favor OF Providence is now afflicted
with msiortunes which amount TO deadly curse
The very atmosphere is loaded with crime Law
degns t % ae ,h people are ds hc
future are appalling. II seems TO us that the
Nemesis OF the mighty wrong and the iatal sin of
1861 is at work compelling tue nation towards
catastrophe In which that wrong and sin can only
find It's expiationl
on our first page will be found an article from
the new YORK HERALD OF remarkable power. It's
description OF these times perfectly true Truly
THIS is generation OF "iase pretence" in moral
ana social life, and "medocrityr III politics and
craftsmanship. There Is no false pretence In poll
tics, for scoundreism open and unbushlng is the
rOte! The denunciation OF Coliax is overwhelming
| ana the stab OF Grant would ordinarily take "a
| mans llie. Surely there Is not much to choose
| petwcen the man Grant who signed the salary
stea Dill containing Its dOucelr OF 500 600 TO him.
| sen ana who has endorsed Coliax after his ex-
| posuTe anu condemnation by the country, and the
otueI poor ntte creature who took the Credit Mo-
| piicr stock and Oakes Ames' check The interest
ing question: is, why Is there in politics and states
| mansnp false pretences and medocrity, and
| corruption and lawlessness everywhere The an
swer ls Because the great consprators who inyei.
gled the majority OF the Northern and Western
i people into q dsunion agitation first and actna
| war afterward, first destroyed the conscience OF
| the Northern section and alterward murdered the
South To-day the south does not exist 80 far y
| craftsmanship and true government OF the coun.
| try are concerned. To-day the North and West
have not single statesman outside OF the conser.
vative or rational classes. In the Old slave holding
| days OF Massachusetts,, New England and New
YORK, and In the succeeding generation the North
OF n republic) but OF late they have no statesmen
There cannot be IN the nature OF things radica