The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-24
DEMoRAL1zIHe EXAMPLES.

DEM0RALIZIEG EXAMPLES.
: 81 am constrained to say that their plunde
|. of the State, monstrous as it has been, is tn
d least of their offenses, because it is grave
9 crime to debauch and demoralize State tia,
/ to steal"
. Such are the forcible terms in which care
full and close observer, Mr.. Charles Nordhof
writes of political aff.irs in the State of South
Carolina, and his remarks will apply with
. equal significance and aptitude 20 the State Of
Louisiana.
During the past fifteen months Mr.. Nord-
!, hoff has journeyed leisurely through the
Southern States with the special purpose of
noting the moral, physical, political and
financial condition of people but a
few years emerged from long and
destructive war, with two-thirds of their
property annihilated and their labor sys-
tenn of two centuries growth utterly
overthrow. What he saw he has told in
calm. thoughtful and philosophic way. which
marks him as close observer and patient
!
sions in terms which we can accept without
| qualification, but in the main liberal, correct
and fair. ....5.
What he says of the debauching and de-
moralizing influence of malfeasance in Office
is eminently and painfully true. The pilfer-
fering Of ordinary thieves and the depreda-
tions of burglars excite little other feeling
than contempt. Even the successful achiev-
ments of the bold highwayman OF the skilled
counterfeiter are not calculated to excite
young men of balanced minds to an imitation
of their exploits. But when men who occupy
honorable elective or appointive positions
are seen to grow suddenly and marvel
lousy rich without exertion and without
risks upon the spoils and perquisites
Of their offices, or out Of the patronage which
they can bestow, or out of the use they can
make of official information, it is a sore
temptation to young men of strong ambition
and limited moral powers. The Example of
shrewd and successful gamester is hundred
fold more pernicio1s than that of one who
gains large sums by fslonious practices, and
the example Of the politician or ofice-holder
is still more damaging. Where it is under
stood that money can be gathered rapidly in |
office, from that moment the Office will be- |
come an article of merchandise, and men of
loose notions and of easy political virtue will
buy their way into Office for the sake of the
profit Where money is offered for legisla-
tive votes its acceptance by ten members will
have tendency to corrupt twenty others.
Open market, in which mems honor and
principles are bought for money, and the
sellers will multiply with exceeding great
rapidity.
This is what the Radicals have done in the
Southern States. They have made money
the dominant influence in legislatures, in
public offices and in courts They have enor-
mously increased the number of offices and
their salaries They have studiously multi
piled the ways in which money can be drawn
rom the treasures of States and cities They
have contrived many corporate privileges to
'ell to the highest bidder They have created ,,
tupendous debts and have grown rich in
pecula.ing upon them. They have made .
of most vital importance the SUBJ
,ct of barter and sale as notorious as if
'ended by licensed auctioneer. They have -.
looded our cities with scrip money certfi-
ates and bonds, in which they have specu-
ated continually, to the damage of all lawful :
BUSINESS.
They have commingled just debts with the !.
MUST, valid bonds with the questionable, and
ecessary obligations with the unnecessary, ;.
ntil they have impaired the before whole ;,
ONE sense of duty to pay all public debts in .
God faith. They have impaired and almost .
estroyed the sense Of official responsibility,
eprived official oaths of their solemn mean :,
1g, established the practice of violating the
opular will, abused all public confidence,
nd substituted for all high and honorable
lotive base and mercenary spirit which aims =
My at money. They have pushed honesty :,
nd patriotism aside with rude contempt, :.
nd entered upon the scramble for money
18th all their might, forgetful even Of ordi- 20
airy decency of concealment
These numerous examples of successful :
official swindling, these many fortunes that :.
ave been boldly and remorselessly won from = =
le public, and this mercenary character that y
as been given to politics and office-holding, =.
ave had debauching effect that must out y =,
We Radical ascendency and long faint the y.
olitical morals of the country. ~
EFT Us ALL JOIN IN THE PROTEST! = :,
1t is common to hear the opponents of the o,
,honl ord fho e