The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-09
The Evils Of the Times.

4 The address Of ex. Governor Dix is M
impressive warning from n man who
has filled great place in the politics oI
the country, and enjoys ut ripe age q
degree OF public respect which few pol
itioians earn. His warming Is impressive
not because 1t paints tho condition ol
tho times In lurid cOlUrs, but because II
comes from one who has made d long
and close study Of public affairs, and
has commended himself TO the popular
regard by his good sense as well as his
upright life. He only points out, with spo-
cial emphasis and clearness, the dangers
which a. hundred prophets have indi.
c1ted before him, and which nearly oil
OF us are ready to acknowledge. The
dsmoralizatiqQ OF the public service by
the abuse OF patronage. the inevitable
debasement OF partisan judiciary. the
corruption OF society by the looseniDg
or family ties. the prevalence OF flnan-
eial dishonesty, the Indifference OF the
better class of citizens TO the exercise
OF the franchise = these are serious
symptoms, which have mnny u time mr..
rested attention, and will demand II
again and again until wo find q cure.
Gen. Dix does not point out the evil
without suggesting the remedy. 10
check the shocking system Of public
appointments which distributes offices
among the adherehts Of the Adminstra-
ton like prize money among pri-
yateersnen after u successful cruise. !"
no proposes that the President should
be ELECTED. for six years, and be mado
ineligible Tor q second term. IL to this
the General had only added a provision
for retiring the President. ut the end OF
his term. as United States Senator at
Large for life. we believe he would have
made the best possible disposition OF
the case. To raise the character Of
the Bench he would submit again to the
people an amendment To the State
constitution giving tho appointment of
judges to the Governor. The over.
whelming majority under which this
proposition was buried when last sub.
mitted we believe to have been
delusiye. Many politicians expected
the constitutional amendments to be-
defeated by an equal vote year
ago, whereas active exertion. through
non-partisans sources, secured their
triumph by majority as great as
that which defeated judicial reform.
Similar exertions would doubtless
secure for the latter similar success,
To call out the ''brown stone voter"
the General would enact that every man
who neglects to exercise the right of
voting for two years shall lose it, The
Iest VI bIle WOTk OI REFORM ne would have
done by the gradual diffusion Of educa-
ton and religion. Gen. Dix does not
believe our school system to be in don.
ger. but he would neglect no reasonable
means to. secure 1t, aud he intimates
that he thinks the demands Of the Cath
olics ought to be resisted not only be.
cause sectarian teaehing is inconsistent
with the prosperity of the schools, but
because the political dogmas' OF Rome
are "subversive OF the liberty OF the
press and tho freedom of opinion y
And yet we doubt whether Cen. Dix
would sanction the Presidents proposal
to forbid the teaching OF "all religious,
atheistlc, or pagan tenets." Our civili-
Astiot Is based upon Christianity. '"The
two altars Of our religious and political
faith should stand side by side. We
may fairly conclude, therefore, that he
would have the schools recognise ut
least an unsectariap Biblical Cbistian-
ity, aud SO become the source Of that
modifying influence upon which we
must depend after oil for the removal
OF the gfavost evils of our time. ..f