The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-06-10
The Vice of the Times.

1t the beginning of a new century of
our national life should be marked by q
revival of the early virtues of the people,
such as simplicity, frugality, and econo-
my, in place OF luxury extravaganza and
prodigality, we might reasonably believe
that the next hundred years will witness
our growth in prosperity and power such
as the present state of things gives us no
right to anticipate.
1t will hardly besdenied that ostenta-
tious display is one of the great vices of
our time and country The haste to be
rich and to make show of what riches
can buy, are the canker of our social sys-
tenn, and will eat out the solid and endu-
ring strength of any people. The facts
on which this statement is made, are ap-
parent Indeed they are thrust upon
our observation as the grand object of
life and we are compelled to see them,
whether they disgust or delight US. 1t
is in city and country alike. Everywhere
the lust of the eye and the pride of life,
flare themselves in the sight of men,
This is so much the fashion of the day
that it has ceased to receive censure, and
it rather commands admiration, as the
thing to be done and desired. The strug-
gle of those who nave not the means to
make the display, is to get them, and
the more they get the more they want
This is human nature. 1t always was So
Perhaps it always will be so. But it nev-
er did mark the upward progress of a
people. 1t is the sign OF elimination
and decline. 1t betokens those views
of life-luxury, effeminacy, tinsel, gilt
ter, veneering. shams, show, froth, folly,
vanity and vice-that cannot coexist with
the sterling honesty, simplicity, purity.
sobriety, and religious principle, on
which true greatness and permanent
prosperity are built.
To draw the line between the right
and wrong in this matter is not for us;
our fathers, the founders of the republic,
drew it. There is but one of the distin-
guished men of the revolution to whom
extravaganza is imputed, and he was
Benedict Arnold. His greed was the in
centive to his treason.
We know how silly seems the attempt
to say word against the extravaganza
of the times: as indicated in the style of
living, the equipage, the furniture, the
entertainments, in which the rich, and
those who wish to be considered rich,
but are not, indulge.
We are laughed at for our pains and
regarded as croaking when the world is
singing for Joy. But the day of reckon
ing comes, to nations as well as individ-
nails, and then "whose shall all these
things be2' Who, of all those that pride
themselves on costly displays, contribute
anything of wisdom and power to the re-
public? How few of them leave children
whose example is of any service to the
country2 The sons OF men who waste
their substance in luxurious living,
amount TO nothing. Such families soon
run out Those who endure, perpetual
ing their names and their influence
through successive generations, are the
sober, frugal, steady, conservative peo-
ple whose highest ambition is to do
their duty to God and their country.
We shall see those truths brought to
the front in the discourses which the
centennial will produce, and well will it
be for the country, and so for the world,
If the truth be so sent home to the un-