The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-04-19
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

from war and misgovcrnment there are
none more pcrnicious than the corrup-
ton of public sentiment, which for the
past ten years has manifested itself In
this country. IN the tolcration or indi-
yiduals who. from any decent moral
standpoint. must be regarded Us un-
worthy Of esteem. That men may coin
NIT oironses against all laws. human
and divine. and still maintain their po-
aitionH In the communities IN which
they live. surrounded by the same out
ward evidences of respect which arc
accorded to the purest and the noblcst.
cannot be otherwise than disastrous
10 tho public veal, and although there
are indications that justify the hope that
the tide may soon turn. 1t cannot be do
nicd for tho past. or even for tho pres
ent. that no one can say how far down
into the depths of crime and degradation
a plummet shall be dropped to reach
that man. not actually In the uniform OF
% convict. whose olTensea. however
lagrant, have obtained for him the con-
demnation due from a healthy public
sentiment. The difficulty seems to
have been to find plane OF de-
pravity too low for tolerance. Dishonest
failures occur among business men. the
debtor pays twenty-five cents upon the
dollar of his debts. or promises ~ do SO.
and continues his business and his ao-
eustomed style of living upon what he
reserves. and yet men buy from him
-, 4, Il vA,nfsnisN hin,
the streets. in the clubs aud elsewhere
with the same respectful consideration
that would be accorded to tho man who
beggars himself and his family to pay
the last cent that he owes. The sour
mashes of the country, whose acoumu-
lated wealth. is the notorious result Of
continuous fraud aud perjury. are
prominent in all those institu-
tions which money controls. they
are men of power and influence, and the
rising generation see In them brilliant
examples of commercial prosperity. ox-
amples as much more attractive in the
briliancy of their success than that OF
an honest man. rs the palace OF u Ma
bob Is than the hut Of Diogencs Tho
question of the hereafter is u matter
with which we have little concern 1t Is
a matter between the individual and his
Maker. What does concern us. how
ever. is the offense which man com
mits against society. and which the laws
fail TO reach the grave oiiense OF pros
pering by notorious violations OF those
principles OF honor and deeency which
alone should entitle him to position and
influence. an ofIense in which the pub
lie or the individual who may tolerate or
recognize such man, must be oonsid-
cred purticeps c,'iminis.
These are matters worthy Of serious
consideration at oil times. for they lie at
| the very foundation Of that for which
society is organized and law Is made the
good Of the many. But there are some
reasons why tho people Of Louisiana
and of the city of New Orleans should
| give their particular attention to this
subject now more than ever. We nre
upon the eve of political campaign of
vital importance. in which the oharac-
tcrs OF those who become candidates for
! litSltltuS VI l'oNtt thu tltHiA Aihe' -
closely scrutinised, and the right OF
those who put themselves forward as
advisors of the people. to the influence
and the right which they claim. must be
closely inquired into We need
proper leaders and proper candi
dates, and we need a public senti-
ment which will hold to strict
accountability any individual who will
dare from interested motives to attempt
to impose upon the people in either ca
pacity any man whose example rs n
politician or rs a man is not worthy OF
emulation. We have had example. and
moro than enough. Of unworthysmen in
high places and unless the patriots Of
tho revolution. and such men as Lee
and Jackson, have lived in vain, unless
honor Is a fiction and honesty a mere
obsolete term. il is time that they
should be elevated TO a somewhat
higher place in pablic estimation, and
the practical differences between an
honest man and rogue somewhat more
clearly defined.