The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-11-12
INTEGRITY.


which, we are sorry to say, 10 not generally
cultivated. The press may thunder against
corruption in high places and petty thieviDl
among lower officials, bat it has no effect il
purifs ing the State. One official who has
been detected in fraudulent dealings OF
downright stealing is removed, but only to
make way for another, who, empty handed
on entering office, has a greater gra b to make
into the public treasury. Detection and ex
posture may stop for a short time systematic
plunder, bat in q short while it is found to
be as great as ever. What is the cause of
this state of affairs, which even the heav-
lest penalties of the law and the Indignation
of all righteous men are unable TO reform,
and which threatens the very safety of the
Republic 1t must be that we look for it
in the general culture which the youn e M en-
of our age receive, not alone in the schools
for instruction in letters. but also 10 that
greater school of the world.
Public opinion has been corrupted. The
petty thief is held in indignation ard ia re-
garded as deserving the full penalties of the
law, while the great criniDal who by trick
cry or q flaw in the law is enabled to rob
his country of millions is looked upon by
the mass of. the people as a shrewd man of
business Trade has OF late years in many
cases ceased to be an honest means of &C
curing a competence. 1t has become de-
PRAYED, and in many cases a gentemanly
means for gambling. Boards of trade and
similar Institutions, have become to q Ger
tain extent the occasions for men, by sharp
manipulations, to acquire fortunes which
are no more honestly acquired than those
obtained at the faro bank. The young man
is taught to look upon these business ex-
ploits of spectators as honest; they are
held up to him as things worthy of imita-
ton. The stock gambler, the gold. gam
bier and the grain gambler is regarded as
the most respectable man of the town, and
all fall down to worship him. The man
who by trickery and frand acquires wealth,
at the same time acquires respectability
and the reputation of b. ing shrewd bust
ness man. Is it any wonder, then, that the
official WHO sees the dishonest business
man succeed, is tempted to be dishonest
and initiate their acts in his dealings with
the public treasury
In order thai the people of orr country
may return to the path of honesty which
for the last sixteen years they have desert
ed, 1t Is necessary to have corruption, fraud
and trickery in all business transactions
frowned down; TO have young men educa.
ted to look upon the man of integrity, and
net the man of success, as his model; to
hold up the Fisks, the Jay Goulds and
Jay Cookies as men unworthy the admira-
ton Of their fellow citizens; to educate
them up to a high moral standard which
can brook nothing that savors of trickery
or fraud to make them understand that
money is not the sole thing worthy mans
struggle for in this world, but that coed
honest name ia far above ''all the wealth
of Ormus or of Ind" To stem the tide OF
corruption it is necessary that the people
recognize those high principles of morality
which the Church demands of all men, and
to follow them. -