The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-25

ia Eurland, Francs, Germany, or The United.
states and examine the Characters OF
its individual members. D. you not ind
men eyerywbefs continually HnanifestlDg
want of self.eontrelr "a prop Rsity 70 act -ua.
wisely, and with unjust partially, while TOO
frequently prejudice, fanaticisHl, and VIC.
FIenee rule the hour? Do they not subord1-
nate dutyto self PA ire they act simperfeet
In their knowledge OF right? And is MOI MOI
their right doing even less to, be relied on!
When wrong, is is consistent with expert
ence to say,that they return to- the proper
course, as the highest wisdom and safety :
On the contrary, does not pride induce them e !
TO Justify obstinately what they have Done,
throwing the blame. on any innocent shoul.
ders rather than confess their own want OF
discretion and rectitude2 Itmay be replied1,
eor the idea has been again and again ad-
yanced. that though this is, true OF
man as individuals, &c is not true OF commu-)
IiIies. But, is such reply either loglcat or )!
fact? Pray, who compose those communl:
Ties but those same individual mem ana
how will you contrive Ito erect sounq,
strong edifce, out OF weak and rotten male
rails = If men are corrupt individually tney
will constitute corrupt communities. ihe
example of Rome may be cited, since the
period of it's worst public government is
well known to have been likewise the period
Of its most degraded private morals. Even,
tfis Ia not ali ~ deem it o by no means
proved truth that men collectively, so far
from being better, are as good as men lndl-
yidually. There are some reasons Tor thlnk-
ing otherwise. I presume none Will deny
the existence Of multitudes who are honest
and upright for!the sake of appearances-for
the sake of their reputation; who, in short,
are kept in the straight path by fear Of
bringing on themselves the odium OF thelr
fellows. There are Others who take
their complexion almost exclusively from
their associates for the time being-good
with the good, bad with the bad. These
two classes taken together (aud rarely
man is found belonging to both form sig.
nificant and--in q republic, where every
ones vote tells, thanks to universal suf-
frage--an important element to be consi-
dered. But such influences as those just
adyerted to do not operate on communities
to. anything like the same extent; and
popular body will do with serene indiffer-
ence to consequent censure What the most
darinoly unprinciped Of its members could
not be induced to do sipgy. Moreover, no
inconsiderable number in every country are
restrained from excess by the dread of ply.
steal punishment, such as cannot be visited
on nation or State. In our own country
there have been of later years many glaring
instances of dishonesty and corruption
among public officials, these same men man
ifesting as far as can be seen, honesty and
integrity in private life. Of course the lat
ter is only seeming, as true man is true al
WAYS and everywhere. But such officials
would not dare to act as they have acted
we're they, not certain of having congenial
companions around them. individuals since
The war have-expressed the most atrocious'
sentiments and advocated their adoption,
which they would have repealed with lin
quail indignation il they had not known the
strong backing-up they would receive at the
hands of vicious neighbors, ia ne sense bet.
ter than themselves. But need not dwell
on this topic. s-l".4 -..,. - ''' Viz. "
Sew H I'd" I'D. . to-