The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-12
MA, w,rm. a HEAD or ms own.

York and Hon. Charles Frnn'ia Auhihs.
Of Massachusetts, on The political sit''a-
tiop In those interviews Mr.. Seymour
attributed the deplotable condition oi
tho country to tho decay of virtue
among the people. and Mr.. Adams To
the Inck or head and vigor on the part
| ~ tho President. There is - great deal
Of truth in what both of these eminent
mon have said. and. In SO clearly point
ing ont the evils which arc Mt the bot
tom Of our troubles. they have made tho
path we should follow palmer to our
Wow. Tho decentralization of society
| incident 10 ~ great civil war m'gh' nay"
been checked to u certain eStont had
| tho Government fallen into tho hands
of wise and good mcn. But. untor
tunately. n stubborn. selfish nnd hfhl-
trary soldicr. without experience IN
civil nfTaira. and with no comprehension
of tho high duties ~ tho Presidency.
| wos cnrried into power on tho tido ~
war enthusiasm. and under tho admin
| is,ratipn OF Grant ali tho vultures and
! iackplla of the Republican party gath
orcd nt the capital and filiod hl' the
Offices Of the Government. The Notth
had absolute sway over tho country.
and for more than ton ycatH there has
boon no public crime recognized ny the
North except participation IN tho fo-
bollion, and no public virtue except
l,vnlty to the Republican party.
And thus II camo about that. while tho
loynl people Of tho North woto m"rci-
lessly peraccuting their follow citizens
Of the South. the government and MI 'ts
departments fcll into the hands oi loya'
thieves. Rings were organized ~ every
city and neighhorhood. nnd loullshed
under the imheoile administration ot
Grant until thcy reached every circle ~
soriety. and government and people.
blind or Indifferent to the corruption OF
loyal officials. together sank lower ana
lower into the slough Of moral degrade
lion where thcynow lie wallowing in its
mi,e, inEcneihie To their shame ana
seemingly unconscious Of the miserable
spocincle they arc presenting f. the
world
Mr.. Seymour wna right when he SAID
chat the dcplorahle condition Of the
country l. duo 10 the decay OF virtue
among Tho people and Mr. Adams IN
licatod tho hert hope for the restoration
of tho Republic whom he snid that, what
the country requires Is n man with
a head of his own on his
shoulders. The politicians and news
papcrs Of easy virtue will tell The
people that IL Il the part of wisdom it
accept tho situation disclosed by Nr
Seymour aud make the most Of II, ant
that to attempt to make II campaign
upon high political grounds is aenti
mcntaIiam. But tho highcst wisdom
aud the lessons of history ndmonsh VI
:, that. ii 4 time like this the only safe
, sure and true policy Is to light upon IN
very highest grounds. to select th'
: plrcst aud hest men for leaders and L
, make no political bargains. based i
, corruption ur COMPROMISES oI pfinCipin
Human nature. in the aggregate. In
: never Vet become absolutely degraded
. and however widespread dcmornlizatiol
! in nny ago may be. there IL always
+, in the depths ol the popular heart
J, sense or tight. an undying patriotism
mn unaucnchnho lnvC of truth, nn'
when somc man comes TO the front
brave AMI true ana strong enough Il
i reach those incraiicahle sentiments
i, tho roal forces Of civilization the gene
:, ration. ns one man, riscs up out OF tn
mirc and asserts its true dignity.
> We have u striking illustration of thi
/, fact in the history Of George II. Ever
, reader Of history Is aware Of tho imbe
cilty which characterized the Govern
mont of England under George H.. an
, Of the prohigacy which prevailed in pol
: tiles. The Dukes Of Newcastle and Dev
, onshirc. Lord Hardwich. the elder Fox
/ and other leading politicians Of tha
age have their couutcrparis in the prof
, ligate. narrow and selfish leaders o
the Republican party. Corruption prc
vailed everywhere: the people had ;
contempt for tho ministry and felt M
| confidence IN Parliament So much
matter Of fact had become the purchase
Of members Of the House of Commons
by tho Government that il was custom
the disposal OF the leader OF the Hous,
for purposes OF bribery. Thus when
Newcastle, the head of the ministry
and Fox were bargaining for combina
tion in which the latter was to be man
ager Of the House. Newcastle refused tt
allow him. as was usual, the use OF tn
secret service fund. when Fox replied
! But how can l lead IN the Commons
without information on this head? How
t can talk to gentlemen when ] do no
know which or them hare received graft
, fcdiions and which Of them have not?'
, Things went from bad to worse, tn,
i English armies and navics were every
where beaten the mercantile and work
ing classes were sulcn and discomfort
, ed, and SO low did tho English peopl,
sink that Macaulay informs us n bool