Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-05-27
The Vice Of the Times
If the beginning Of a new century q
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IT the beginning OF new century OF
our national life should be marked by a
revival Of the carly virtues Of the people,
such as simplicity, frugality, and econo-
my, in place nf luxury, extravaganza and
grodigality, we might reasonable 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. ..~s :.".@+ ~~
twill hardly be- denied that ostenta-
tious display is one Of the great vices of
our time and country The haste TO be
rich and make u show Of what riches
can buy, are the canker of our social sys.
TEN, and will eat out the solid and endur-
ing strength of any people The facts on
which this statement is made, arc appar-
ent :. Indeed they are thrust upon our oh.
! servstion as the. grand object.of life, and
we are compelled to see them, whether
they disgust or delight us, it is in city and
country alike. Everywhere the elust 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
and desired. The struggle of those WHO
have the means to make the display, is to
them, and the more they get the more
they want. This is human nature. It al:
ways SO. Perhaps it always will be SO.
! But it never did mark the upward pro-
gress of g people. 1t is the sign Of cul.
mination and decline. 1t betokcns those
views Of life-luxury, effcminacy, tinsel,
glitter, venccring, shams, shows, froth,
folly, vanity and vice-that cannot coax.
ist with sterling honesty, simplicity, puri
ty, sobricty, and religious principle, on
which true greatness and permanent pros.
perlty arc 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 distinguished
men Of the revolution Of whom extrava.
gancc is imputed, and he was Benedict
Arnold. His greed was the incentive to
his reason.
We know how silly seems tie attempt
to say word against the extravaganza Of
the times; as indicated in the style o1
living, cquipage. the furniture, the enter
tainmcnts, in wLich' the rich, and those
who wish to be cons idered rich, but arr
not, indulge.
We are laughed at for our pains, and re
gardcd as ccoaking, when the world i
singing for joy. But the day of reckon
II ing comes, to nations as we'll az individu
ais, and then ''whosc shall all these thing
bc:" Who, Of all those that pride them
selves on costly displays, contribute any
thing Of wisdom and power to the repuh
lie? How, few Of them leave .childrel
, whose example is of any service to tn
country? The SONS Of men who vast
, their substance in luxurious living, amour
to nothing. Such families soon run ou
Those who endure, perpeuate their name
and their influence through succcssiv
generations, are the sober, frugal, steady
: conservative people. whose highest amb
, tion is to do their duty to God and thei
country.
We shall see these truths brought to th
: front in the discourses which the center
nial will produce. and we'll will it for tn
> country, and so for the world, If the trut
be sent home to the understanding an
conscience Of tle nation, that We shal
: have a revival Of those domestic and 81
cial virtues which indicate solid wortl
and assure the existence and influence {
those public virtues which are essenti;
10 permanent national lifes-New Ior
Observer.