Smyrna times., 1876-12-27
The Moral State of the Country.


article, recently published, considered the
alleged prevalence of corruption, immor-
allty and dishonesty in our time and coun-
try, and by comparing the facts of the
present with those of the past, arrived at
a very encouraging conclusion with the re-
spect to our present condition and future
prospect. We extract passage or two
from the article:
I'VE wish to state, in the most distinct
and positive manner, that careful exami-
nation of the case does not Justify the com.
mon and reiterated charges of universal
degeneracy. Instead of this being the
worst age of history, we are pursuaded that
1t Is the best. A few specimen facts will be
sufficient to vindicate this opinion.
First. We must remember that we are
on the heels of, perhaps, the greatest war
OF all time. We must, therefore expect ir-
regularities. War is an evil-often neces-
sary evil, yet an evil. 1t is most difficult
underany pressure ofwrongs to Justify itand
make 1t conform to the teaching ofthe Prince
OF Peace. 1t suspends the ordinary and
established principles of morals. When
plunder and destruction and SLAUGHTER
becomes virtues, we must not expect ordi-
nary virtues to thrive A crop of corruptionis
only the natural growth of thistles and
nettles and nightshade from the neglected
soil.
'War is social smallpox that drives all
the poisons of the system to the surface.
Instead of trembling we ought rather to
take courage when the pustules fill and
scale Off
Again the conversion Of $3,O00,OOO,OOO
of fixed capital into floating or ready capital
must engcnder extravagancc. When men
sell their real estate for ready money they
are far more likely to spend it than they
were before it was converted. The nation
realized on its domain, and went out to the
eyer-memOrable wake over the corpse of
slavery. Now we must not be surprised if
the next day we have the headache, and
are called upon to pay the undertaken.
I'VE notice with great satisfaction that
the frauds arc found principally in connec-
tlon with the liquor traffic. 1t is not sign
OF general corruption because men dealing
in liquor cheat, lie, and steal, and periure
their souls. Nothing better could be ex.
pected OF them. The Dutch have taken
Holland That is all that has happened.
;, 1--WE have great reason to hope
Tor We are going in the right direction.
Slavery is not defended, but dead. Alcohol
Is no longer imbibed in the pulpit, but de.
nounced. Corruption is not concealed and
apologized for, but denied and condemned;
the cry against it is demanded by the public
conscience. The churches were never more
vigorous in their evangelizing work. The
credit OF the nation has been so established
that its paper has advanced from thirty. five
to ninety cents on the dollar The losses
on disbursements by corruption and fraud
were never so small in the entire history of
the country as at present. =
The country never had so careful and
honest registration of voters, nor so fair n
vote, as she has had in this campaign.
Abuses have occurred in some localities.
but that is no new thing, and the abuses
now elevated into the gaze of the whole
nation are sure to be corrected, and are
hardly worth mentioning compared with
the stupendous outrages of earlier davs. We
are going in the right direction. The virtue
OF the people will carry the country over
tho triumph of either party. 1t is only i'm.
portant that the law should be honored and
enforced. While we await the result. anx.
ious to know who will be the next Presi.
dent, let us remember that the integrity of
the people will secure the integrity of the
Republic. The Republic is safe in any
event. Mark the demagogues thct threaten
the peace and seek to break down the
public faith. We are bad enough, but we
are better than ever in the past"
The early riser who is in the habit of
saying a pleasant word about the lark. NAV
as we'll bear in mind the melancholy fate Of