, 1873-03-06
THE EVILS OF THE DAY.

| 1b tho Editor Of 1'hs Chicago Tribune:
Sm: Thore aro Lessons in tho recent astound-
Ing revelations Of political corruption that havo
alternately nhamod mud angered us, that should
hardly DO allowed to pass unnotlccd. Men who
have stood before tho nation for yoars, filing
positions Of trust ably md acknowledgement
who have boon looked up to and admired by all,
-havo boon proved wanting, and are to-day
known and dospiaod by honest mon as false to
thoir namo, thoir country, and thoir God.
From oycry heart goos up tho. cry Of oxecrn-
tion against these creatures who have smirched
tho pagos Of our history as people with stninB
TINT our children yot unborn must over blush to
SOC or hear Of. Already tho storm Of indigna-
tion. gathering strcngth ench day aa 1t ia fed by
fresh disclosures, sounds a note Of warning to
all unworthy Congressmen. Away with all who
have 80 lowered tho onco Ligh character OF
American statesmen! =
Arc wo mover to understand that NO must
hayo mono to represent uB, either In tho sonato
or the House, on whom the worry faintest auapi-
oion Of evil rests Z Aro tho dreams Of "molol
Republic" auoh ms are dear to all who yot re-
momber how blood waa freely slcd In order
to proservo tho form Of Union, mover to DO rcal-
izod7 Arc ,se to rest tamely under theso In
6ults to our prido7 Are we indeed givon over,
| beyond hopo Of redemption, to tho vile gang Of
bribe-talors who crowd tho halls rnado Hacrcd by
| our vivid reco11ections Of other days, when pa-
triota Btudioa how to servo ua? Would to God
thcso FREQ United States would but rouse from
their lethnrgy, and Eend back such shout Of
"No" as would onco moro confounl our ene-
mics.
Meantime tho deadly inluoncoa of wealth and
vulgar display, OF intidolity md adultory, OF
tide Of crime, and the equally dcplorable aentf-
| ment which makes murderer IN object Of
otb y FnhoE 5,vsa than Of ea
the laxity Of morals In communities
tho most Btraight-lacod and orthodox the foar-
fu1 roll Of BhnIno, infantice, and suicitlo which
| our daily papcra 30 regularly chronicle, ,--aro
working in our private as we'll as public lifo, pro-
| parlng mon for q futuro moro shameless than
| tho present, whom yirtuo and honor will bo as
obsolete in name as IN rca1ity, and our dcgrada-
| ton will DO complete.
| But while at times nc aro disposed to envy
| awArd Of Southern battlc-flo1dB nre gpnred the
| pain of seeing tho land In suoh plight, TIC,
Young Amorcnns." arc willing to meet and
! fight these later dnngors that monaco us In
/ spirit worthy Of our bTothrcn. Wo hope yot to
sec our country rescued from the evil hands into
| which Hho has fallen; but tho "new orr :"
| will neyer dawn unlosa public sentiment is
stimulated to, such n degree than an honest
how long will American gentlemen sit quietly at
| home, and 800 themselves supplanted in post
| ttonB for which their talantB and abilities tit
| amiats, adultorera, and bribe-takors arc aont to
legslate for them and their childron, by tho In
tuonce Of gangs that are STRONGEST ut our ballot
boxes as at our grogBerles7 shame on the indo-
IN the name of tho American Congreasl :
Where is the leader OF tho future, who will so
| rouse his countrynen to nome Henao Of their
responsibilities as citizens, who will 80 lash the
| crowd If shameless thieves with tho scorn aud
loathing Of whole nation, that thcy may, like
1scariot, 80 and hung themselves 2
Wo can only wait and hope That tho day will
! como whom we ahnll ho ablo to hold our hoads up
| once again.
| Perhaps tho bitterly humiliatinE experience OF
this winter may teach 11a great truths, tllat wo
| will do we'll to hood. But we cannot cleanse q
stream tho source of which is foul. .Eo cam
not havo honest Congressman without no first
havo honest votcra. Wo cannot haye either
without honest and enorgotio citzons do thoir
| duty. CANTERBURY.
CH1oAuo, March 8, 1879.