The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-31

1
result the next Presidential election was
expected to hinge in o great measure, and
| the next Presidential election 10 regarded
by many as q crisis in our national malady.
II the party Of theft can be then overthrow
there may be q reaction in the moral force
Of the country and something like tone Of
general honesty may be restored. II, on
the contrary, the vast conspiracy of rob-
berry shall succeed, it will, in the opinion
Of many, be the death blow of our national
system. That election will certainly
measnrably control the fate of the country
for four years, and it may be the Rubicon
of our entire future.
Rome not only lost her republican form of
government under C@sar's usurpation, but
from that moment the reign of luxury and
| extravaganza, of corruption and pecula-
ton, of private and public dishonesty, was
open and recognized. Money was all pow
erful, and money is not a scrupulous G cd.
Its votaries stand not on points of honor or
modesty. When venality sets the fashion
in high places, virtue among the masses
soon gets into the market. Shame is laugh
ed at and effrontery fauDts its vices as
reputable customs.
! We know well that Caesars success was
not the cause, but only q symptom, of this
decentralization among the Romans. If
public virtue had folrished then as in
former days, his treason would have died
of public horror and disgust. Now, in
tbis country, the universal federation of
official dishonesty and private dishonor,
and the universal boldness with which well
known malefsctors are forcing themselves
on the public as reputable persons, indicate
. tone of general morals as low as that of
pagan Rome in the days of Julius Cesar.
All this liberation and open recognition
of vice has come into vogue under the
auspices of Grant and his faction. The
Democratic party as such can not be held
responsible for it, and, therefore, the hopes
of conservative people for a reaction, are
centered in the success of that party. And it
is not question of honesty in the distribu-
ton of school funds alone, but of the abso-
lute, triumphant dominion of vice in all
things.
| Under such circumstances il would be
suicidal in any section of the Conservative
party to introduce special questions which
might cause dissension in its ranks. In
less such questions are RENTED to calmer
times for settlement, the ship of Con-
servatism may 60 down in the storm. If
Radicalism is to control, Catholics will find
the school-tax a minor grievance. If rob
berry and venality are to be permanently
recognized as respectable and polite ele-
1 - aS~k-- kha TokH oIs
have an ocean of slime through which to
bring her children unpolluted, with in
fnitely greater peril than that found in the
hardship of double school tax.
It is evident that the Grant faction ia
endeavoring to create a new Know Moth
ing furor, on which to ride into third
term. Would it be wise in Catholics to
select this very moment to redress their
existing grievances Is it not wiser to
fortify and hold the ground which they now
occupyR Catholics ought to avoid at such
q time as this, when it can be lawfully
done, all demonstrations that will give a
| handle for lies and Misrepresentation. Just
as here in the South, where the same Radi-
cal faction is always on the watch to fabri-
cate stories of violence and oppression,
citizens have to guard against even appear
ances and shadows.
| 1t is said that the Catholic question, that
is the school question, defeated the Demo-
cratic party in Ohio. We do not believe it.
We have seen no evidence that the Catho-
lie population forced any issue upon the late
elective contest in that State, and we must
therefore refer the defeat there to causes
which, to many, seem ample, without any
religious ENHANCEMENT. We hope that no
sudden access of zeal will any where cause
Catholics to risk all the interests of morali-
ty and decency on an issue which ought,
indeed, to be pushed with all energy at a
proper time, but eau honorably be post
poned for the present.
All SaintS-All Souls.