The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-04-29
The9ailgAerald


over u nunurtu Thousand OF htr boils
enrolled as soldiers In u bloody civll
war--that our cause was lost, aud tens
Of thousands of families reduced from
comfort 10 comparative poverty, ANA
that for nearly nine years succeeding
the mighty contest IN the field OF blood,
we were denied thc rights OF ireemen
--conslderlng these facts, and now re-
ullzlng, for the first time, that our slls'
pended liberties are restored, accompn-
nied by every prospect OF prosperity,
aud with rush of emigration TO our
borders heretofore unprecedented
considering NIL these strange things,
thoughtful men realize that grave
duty Is imposed upon our people as
members Of sucha commonwealth
The hourof prosperity always, but
especially when preceded by years OF
depression, Is n dangerous ordeal TO
any people. Our natures are 70 con-
stituted that we are prone to bound
from one extreme to another. The
lessons Of adversely IRE soon forgotten,
even when the hand of deity Is mani
fest In the chasllsoment, rs evidenced
in the inspired history of the chosen
people of God. From great reversos
In fortune men are prone to relax
moral principles in the desire of rocu-
peratlon. The love of sudden gain Is
liable to become epidemic, and when
this occurs, the people are In danger of
decentralization. At such time, and, TO
some extent, such time isnow abroad
in the land, men who appreciate the
responsibilities Of good citizenship,
should fortliy themselves against
alluring temptations, and endeavor
to maIutaln in healthy equ
polse proper. principles for the govern
ment Of individual and aggregated
action In all the business transactions
Of life. Parental influence should be
exerted to restrain their sons within
Just limits, from high moral incentives,
in their business matters, and spare no
persuasive to guard them against temp
tations to acquire wealth illicitly aud
dishonesty. All Observing men know
that during and since the war thou
sands of fortunes have been corruptly
acquired, and sometimes by men who
stood well before the tempter came.
Yet, it is solemn but gratifying fact,
requiring no stretch OF pious faith to
he received MS providential, that great
numbers of such fortunes have rs sud
denly slipped from their possessors.
Many such now live in prison walls,
whittier others are tending, and all are
looked upon rs foul blots upon the
country. Fisk, Tweed, Genet, Pome-
roy, Caldwell, Sanborn and hosts OF
Others no longer parade the streets in
coaches of SIX, with liveried drivers.
Our nation stands disgraced in the eyes
of the world from the unparalleled
number of public men who have bar
tered away official character in an
ilordinate greed for money. The
whole country has been awakened by
the revelations substantiatlng these
facts, and ahealthy reaction is purging
the public service of such men.
Yet, while there is much to cheer the
good citizen, let 1t be borne in mind
that the war sowed broadcast in the
land the seeds of loose morals in trans
actions between men, and that ma
jority of the voters Of to-day have
arrived at voting age since the war be-
gan. While ardently desiring the
prosperity of our state and rapid in
fiux of population, let it be our aim, as
u people, to act upon andinculcate
honest and virtuous principles in husi-
ness as well as all other matters. Let
not the young conclude, by the silence
of the old, that trickery in business is
right or defensible. On the contrary,
let them know people given to such
habits are on the sure road to democrat
ization and ultimate degradation. In
n country like Texas, where industry
willalways secure a competency, there
can be no plea put forth to justify dis
honesty, as In some countries where a
favored few own all the lands and the
tolling multitude are little else than de-
pendent menials. To be great people,
breathing a proper self-respect, our
principles of daily intercourse must be
honorable one toward another. The
young and the newcomer will imbibe
such sentiments and n mutual conf.
dencc among men, almost holy in
character, will be diffused in the land.
Such was once oar. condition. That
condition can be restored If good men
will it. Mothers, in minety-nine cases
in hundred, will lend their charming
influence to render general such a tone
in the country. a
In this time of rapid transition,
with thousands of young men out of
permanent employment--owning no
land-having no trade-and depend
ing upon precarious employments for
support-with the towns overstocked,
while agricultural labor is scarce+-we
have thought of our situation with
more pain than pleasure, IN so far as
we referred to the state Of society and
Its temptations inthese few remarks.
Honest industry and fair dealing
command respect In every country
where men possess political rights