, 1876-03-12
re organized, representation was reformed,
and host of rotten boroughs were abolished.

re organized, representation was reformed
and q host Of rotten boroughs were abolished.
Gradually the moral improvement extended
to trade. to the administration Of the laws,
nnd to all the affairs of Government, nation.
al as well IS local. The improvement in pub
lie and private morals brought enlightenment
in political matters. The exclusive policy of
| trnde was abandoned, and England became
! the storehouso Of the surplus products of all
nations, and the banker and commercial
agent Of the worlds commerce. Her wealth
has grown with her intelligence, and she has
reached that point Of prosperity where her
people are only taxed on their vices
As with England, so with the United
States, the correction Of the existing evils
NUT come from within. Society must re-
form itself. Men must draw line between
crime and honesty, and act On it. Honesty
must be appreciated, and, if possible, 1nale
fashionable. s'Fasty', people, and "fast"
living, and s*fast " morality must be discoun-
tenanced. Impeached integrity, whether in
men or women, must cease to be regarded IS
entitled to On increased interest and favor
from the society in which it appears Per
sonal extravaganza must be visited with loss
Of commercial credit, and reckless expendi-
ture must be accepted as the certain prelude
to moral and financial ruin. The defaulter
and the corrupt official must be placed by
society in their proper places as criminals.
Corruption and bribe-taking must rank with
a1lotherforms Of stealing. The public service
must be reorganized Personal integrity and
capacity must be substituted for party scrr-
ice as the Communications for Office and Us
the tenure Of Office. The tide Of social de-
s!1ucton must DO arrested, anl this work
must begin with the people and be carried
out by the people. The corruption which
has cropped ont in the national service is but
in keeping with that which rules in all local
Governments and. extends through all the
ramifcations of business and society.
The work must begin with the people, and,
once begun, they will find aids On every side.
i reform, great reform, wes accomplished
in New York City; more will be accomplished
ct Washington; and the battle will be half
won when crime is exposed and punished be-
cause it is crime, and not because it may hurt |
some political party. When parties unite to
punish official dishonesty, without reference
to party advantages, then much will be &C
complshed. A great agent in this work Of |
moral regeneration is the Church,-n it's
energies were SO directed. But has the |
Church been true to its duty? Has wealth
acquired any power as such in the churches: t
Does the man who can pay tie highest price
hold higher seat than others? Do extra7- {
agance and display appear in the churches,
and has it ever happened that an inability to
lress as e1pensiVely as others has kept per-
sons away from the temple Of religion?
If the people hare not virtue enough to
oegin this work Of social and political regen-
,ration, and We must go on from bad to
worse, then, indeed, is hope for botter days
} delusior, aud the reorganization that will
:ome will be that which follows national ruin |
nd dismemberment, anarchy, md dcsola-
inn |