The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-22
irllalolld lisl|atcll.,
corruptsons and Revolution.

Corruptions and Revolution.
Isis very imperfect idea OF the political
philosophy Ct this paper which Views It's
logic ~ simply lssding to despair-soa Wall,
SIS II were, where there Is 8 halt Ia condition
the nature Of which we cannot conceive.
Corruption, frand, wrong, and oppression
lead 20 revelation, and revola,ionr generally
brings q better condition Of things. The
process is terrible. The people must pass
through an ordeal more or less trying. But
great public evils and their authors become
so conspicuous that they illuminate the
course Of public resentment and give con.
centrated and effective force 70 public re-
venge. as IS
That there is 10 this country the finest
combination OF Caucasian families for the
production OF power and endurance, We are
satisfied. The ruling type Of men on this
continent cannot BIO conquered and over
run. It will survive and rise to the highest
scale yet attained by man on this globe. No
man, however, will undertake to deny that
from causes peculiar TO this country-its
rapidly. made fortunes, its wonderful national
growth and prosperity, Its temptations and
its rich leads to corruption-there has been a
rapidity of growth in public dishonesty,
social extravaganza, corruption, and luxuri'
business, unprecedented in this world.
These things, all rejecting men know,
lead to political dishonesty, and therefore
poltica, instability. Nothing endures but
Justice. Law and custom have been subordi.
mated to party and personal ambition, and
States and peoples have suffered from the
perversion Of the power Of the Government
3 to the purposes OF the vipdctiveness and
resentmepts OF party and for the aggra ndize'
m ept of individuals. AL this we see, and
we know that when these things become I'M
endurable, in the presidential laws there are
provided ways for men to relieve them
seiyes-to throw of one or a hundred
tyrants-and institute new forms and put In
position new men to carry them out.
/. is but just to this country to say that 1t
has made unparalleled progress in all that Is
evil. It beats all nations in this respect.
We have said that there may be recuperative
energy in the country to enable it to stand
up yet powerfully as fair republic and in
stitute the reforms necessary to save it from
. radical change of it's political system.
We even hope this much; but we
coufess that this is hoping against the les.
sons of history. 1t is In all human proba-
biiity only In the rigid and summary power OF
arbitrary rule that it is possible to maintain
that order and personal security and right
that are necessary to the peace and progress
o. civilized people. Nearly all the exam.
pies yet afforded by the world are against
what is triumphantly called "self-goyern-
ment." #&
Assuredly this nation is a6ording multi.
plieity of arguments in behalf of The Deces
sity of different kind of political admins
tration Of public affairs. II the nation can
BY its own manhood, independence, and
honesty put down political dishonesty and
Danish official infdelty, happy indeed will
be the land. But if it does not show this
power it will be proof that it does not pos
sess 1t, or that its social elements are too dis
cordant for its exercise.
We confess that we feel in our inniost
heart an irrepressible longing for govern
ment that shall be good all oyer-or bad all
over. We need not say how infinitely we pre-
fer the former to the latter, but indeed we
you'd prefer even the latter to land halt
prosecuted and half favored-half the PEG.
pie regarded as the proper victims OF pun
ishment, and half IS the legitimate recipients
of favors and Prerequisites, with the liberty
to plumber the public treasure and fatten on
all the media Of public expenditure aad dis
bursemeRt.
For young nation we have proved unex'
ampled aptitude for acquisition by sharpness,
fraud, and unsurpassed activity. II the
rapid speed we are making upon the railway
of pronigacy docs not wind up in grant
revolutionary smash, we shall be sayedas b!
q miracle. Providence is too impartial, to-
ylgilant, and ever.operative, to neglect thi
nation 30 far as to make 1t an exception t
the logical consequences of its own vices
IT has got to pass through an ordesl-a
i through fre-and we have the faith that
q will be improved and yet become the mos
/ remarkable nation for Its achievements AM
powers that has ever been known.