The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-20
The Developments

The uncoVering of frauds has astonished q
great many good people. But of many de-
yelopynents we have but the ends OF the
threads which threaten TO lead through
,abyrinths which have no limits. Men are
desperate; and such are the disclosures tbat,
the inquiry presses Itself upon us: Who
shall next be involved, and where Is this
sort OF national scandal to terminates
Cer,siniy the people of the United States
have the greatest cause for disturbance aud
apprehension. But In their case history IS
only repeating itself. With wealth ana
power come all the worst passions Of men 10
their NEST exaggerated forms. Devotion 10
all the ,vices-display o! finery, Indulgence
In sill luxuries and pleasures, and a sacrifice
of all honor and virtue In the employment of
the means to procure these luxnries and
pleasures-are but the c0ncomitsnts Of the
condition of national opuience to which this
nation has come. -. 49, III, .g.; .si
We see the general tendency on every
hand. ItappesHs In the local economy as 1t
does in tie national. Everywhere power
and money are employed to the same end
the corruption of virtue and the subornation
Of talents, influence, votes, and all to the
purposes OF strengthening the positions Of
vice and proiobgipg the reign of corruption.
Everyb body sees this; everybody knows It..
The rising youth Of the country, rushing OF
in the generous spirit of their time of life,
meet the fearful rebuff that all must en-
counter at ,ime like this, and dnd with sad
ness and despair that neither honor, patriot
ism, nor heroism will command the posi-
tiors of distinction and trust; but that they
must ally themselves with some corrupt Or
gapiza,iou-some establishment that IS MIN
isteripe to the individual advantage of the
persons who control it. Disappointed and
mortified at their mistaken estimate OF the
rev ards of true ambition, they relapse into
A state of apathy or 20 over and enlist In the
army of corruption.
This ia what is destroying public virtue
and crushing the noblest impulses OF hu.
manity. That there is phase Of life IN this
country unprecedented that adds much to
the complication as we'll as the demoraliZa-
Vi
tics and society is true. And this it is which
makes the public corruption Of this country
more marked and deplorable than that of
any other land Of which we have any knowi.
edge-i. e., taking time and conditions -the
advantages OF country, the grand lessons we
had 10 start With, and the warnings of his.
tory which we had before us-into consider
alton. ..., ..... s.s...... ..9 . -r,.
With all this before us, we may we'll take
to. ourselves the notifying reflection that
this so.cslled "model republic has put
upon ciyil,z ,tion the most disgraceful stigma
that has been known in history.
That The 0stion may recover from its great
fall cannot be denied-if 1t has the recupe.
rative yirtues-for SO great an achievement.
But such recovery is not the ordinary lot
of nations. 1t is too much TO- be feared that
we shall continue in the career that has been
begun. The end of this is arbitrary power
The riot OF vice and corruption is sure to be
attended by the enhancement of wrong and
the destruction of justice. Arbitrary power
is the logical consequence. The emperor
enters at the opposite door from that by
which public virtue and honesty have taken
their departure. .H< =
Perhaps Ibis very year has the decision OF
the fate Tor long time to come of this re-
public. II the people by common consent
and agreement unite to put down corrupt
Admioistra'ion, and inits place to inaugurate
one that is honest and sincere, and to restore
the sectional good feeling and harmony of
the land, We may long, long enjoy the peace
which always comes from justice and good
government. But otherwise, the career of
this nation in its union and power and COD.
fentment must be short. Its wonderful
agencies of greatness and thrift are but
stmulators OF the rapidily and the esrly ter
mination Of it's career. The present signs
are the very 5worst. .., ...J-. ..a-egr