The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-08
SHODDSISM AND EXTRAyA-
GANCE THE TROUBLE.

II is pretty well understood that the
cause of BEIKNAP's fall was the reckless
extravaganza in which he lived, and in
which he INDUCED so that he might keep
up q display equal to that of Weather
officials. He could not bear the idea of
not occupying Il social position equal to
the rest anSas he had not means TO graf
ify his desires, it was necessary to resort
to currupt practices to obtain it.
1t is simply this same spirit of cxtrav-
agance; this desire Of display permeating
all classes, which has worked,,all the dis
honor under which to-day, as a nation,
we suffer.
The war having ended by triumph
of the North over the South, the vctori-
Gus section was at once elated, beyond
all bounds, at the result, and imagined
that 1t had the world in sling. Money
was abundant; everybody felt rich and
happy, the national debt was bsgatelle
soon to be wiped out, and this great and
glorious country was to 60 ahead to the
very summit of prosperity and happiness.
Men, all their lives poor, had grown rich
on fat army contracts, &c, and, as IN all
such cases, desired to make ostentatious
display of wealth. The fashionable
world had but one idea, which was that
each individual should outvie the other
in dressing, fast horses and luxurious
ness. Everything was made subservient
to lucre. Family. talents, education, all
counted as nothing except as
II means Of procuring wealth, The
man who had grown rich
no matter how, was the leader in society,
while the plodding studious, hardwork-
ing, honest man was but CIPHER sort
of necessary evil, but one entirely I'M
worthy of recognition by the creme de la
creme.
Thus tie reign of shoddyism and
noureau yichesss began, and the only
natural result followed. Money-getting
was the only thing to be considered.
Whether obtained by fair means or foul,
it must be had, for since the aristocracy of
wealth had been established, every man
needs must strive TO be an aristocrat,
Hence it followed as thing of course
that the Government should be carried
on with the. same recklessness and shoddy-
ism. Offices high IN the gift of the peo-
pie were desired not for the honor at
tached to them, nor with the object of
serving the country, but simply ms a
means of private gam, and the like spirit
pervaded every department of the Gov
eminent from the highest 10 the lowest,
The President himself grew rich upon
presents, and openly before the world, in
numerous instances, rewarded those who
had made gifts TO him with lucrative APP
pointments. Hence it soon became to be
an understood thing that the office was
only worth what could be made out of it,
and the old idea that the office should
seek the man, was discarded as Bour-
bonism. while everywhere the opposite
idea OF our modern progressive days, that
the man should seek the Office, gained
ground. Therefore. no wonder corrup-
ton stslked abroad; no wonder matters
grew on from bad to worse and no
wonder that they have eliminated in
whisky rings, a9a Cabinet officers lend
ing themselves to swindling the Govern
ment, and dispensing their official favors
for gold to the highest bidder.
1t is needless to say that if the thing
continues, the country is doomed to des-
truction. Ancient Rome was DESTROYED
through the extravaganza and corrup-
tion Of her people. Herculaneum |
and Pompeii were swallowed u