The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-03
REFORM.

The present certainly offers a most
favorable opportunity for persons hav-
ing genius in that line, to bring for
ward their peculiar and individual views
upon the subject of reform. And from the
doleful and persistent outery of these
would-be reformers, we would suppose
our entire system-social, political and
religious-to be in q condition deplorably
bad, rapidly descending to worse, and the
worst only to be averted by their untir-
ing and disinterested zeal in behalf Of
degenerate humanity.
It is not little amusing to note the
fact that those who prate most loudly Of
the evil times upon which we have
fallen, are the same who have for years
connived at, aided and abetted this
corruption in high places" which they
now feign to have for the first time dis
covered, while with a well-assumed
expression of holy horror they de-
scant upon the bribery and political
trickery which have for years placed
themselves in Office, and bountifully fed
them there. Let them labor with what
zeal they will, render more ''stale, fiat
and Improbable, Z" Gf that were possible),
the leading reform newspapers, vex
with speech-making the ''drowsy ear of
night" continue to beat and beat the
'beaten track" to the manifest disgust
of all true reformers and sensible per-
SONS, and they will yet surely fail to con-
vince any considerable number of the
people that they are actuated by disin-
terested benevolence.
On the contrary, perverse humanity
will persist in the belief, that this noisy
demonstration is naught but an escape
valve for the petty grievances and sur
plus spite whereby these disappointed
oflice-seekers hope to revenge them
selves upon some political party or op-
ponent for personal injuries, real or fan
cied.
The advocates of temperance reform,
though not less noisy and conspicuous,
"nor or Of renown less eager" still pos
sess, to a much greater degree, the sym
pathies and confidence of the people, as
they certainly should.
An endless array Of figures are
brought forward to prove the undisputed
ravages of intempennce, and the theo-
ries, fine-spun and long drawn out,
whereby the country may be rescued
from the blighting effects Of this giant
evil, are only limited by the number of
theorists, each morally certain that his
plan only is to be relied upon.
Many of this class of reformers excel
in the very solemn manner in which
they assert an undisputed thing. And
while we hail with pleasure any and
every auxiliary that can be made ef-
fective in this war upon intemperance,
we yet feel and know that many Of these
ideas brought forward are Utopian, and
very many OF the theories impractica-
BILE, albeit those who advance them are
honest in purpose, correct in principle,
and untiring in zeal. We are not oi
those who would discourage true re.
form; and while we do not believe thai
original sin and natural depravity ar,
more frightfully prevalent than at any
former period of our national history
we yet are assured that there is, as therl
has ever been, ample room for improve
ment. And when these bogus reformer
have had their day, and in the progres
of events are remembered no more, an,
the better element shall overcome thei
fast diminishing prejudices and admi
women to the councils of the State an,
nation, then will the abuses now 8
loudly proclaimed be swept away; thel
will the reformation have begun.