The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-11
Why We Need Change.

The French traveller in the United
states is not apt to record observations
which display diligent study OF our civili-
cation or philosophic insight into the
workings OF our institutions, and the ef-
feet of our social peculiarities on the ma
tional character. DE TocoUEvILLE, how
ever was an exception, and his ex-
animation of ourselves and our political
system is one of the profoundest books that
has yet been written on the United States.
But we cannot call the Marquis DE Tall
LEYRAND-P ERIGoRD a traveller of this sort.
The Marquis has published volume on
the United States. which takes an extrav-
agautlv pessmi-tic view of our cond-
ton, political and social. This French
man finds no good III us. We are going to
the dogs hcadlong. We lack honesty,
probity. all the gentler virtues, and all
the finer tastes. Literature Is mere
name here, and men OF letters OF no nc-
count. while our art is scarcely worth
speaking about. In morals we are wofully
deficient, aud the dollar is our god.
We all know this is not true, that
makes out, that civilization has not taken
u
in such hopeless case rs he fancies. Yet
we can understand the manifestations of
national character and purpose which IN
duced in the Marquis, surveying a people
dwelling under different conditions from
those to which he Is accustomed, speaking
a strange language, and following their
ends in ways different from those rod by
the European peoples, IA feeling OF de-
spondency regarding our future. But
we who know our society more thor
ouehly and Intimately are well aware
that it 10 not the sOrdid, pulseess, aud
utterly material thing it may seem to
Gallo observer. Passions and enthu-
siasms which have no relation TO material
gain or personal advantage, and tastes
which are refined aud delicate, sway and
mould our people rs well rs those older
communities from which our forcfathers
came. The future ia not so gloomy for us
II may he full OF hope and promise.
But there Is sort of moral obtuseness
here which does indeed pre-nge Ill for us,
and indicates u present depression Of tone
which may well provoke anxiety. 1t Is
not easy to stir tho conscience of the peo-
pie and to arouse their wrath against Ill
doing, rs every public teacher knows by
experience. The popular standards of
success are low, and the popular judgments
OF conduct frequently debased. What
shall we say when man like BEECHER
Is able to preach and to get the support
OF great religious denomination, and is
held up TO the students of one OF our old
est colleges rs u Christian knight without
reproacl, and sustained bv a great con-
gregation calling itself and believing itself
bulwark OF religion and moIahty2 What
shall we say when BLAINE though CON
| deInnod by ms own handwriting as venal
| legislator, is yet able to so dominate vast
| party that he comes within SCORE OF votes
| Of getting ita nomination for the Prosi-
| dcncy, aud is aftcrward selected M its
| leading speaker In Presidential canvass
| What shall we say when SCHUYLER COL
FAX, also proved guilty Of venality and for
| very shame retired from public life, is
| called from his obscurity to lecture before
| Christian associations, and now to mount
the stump for the Republican partyf
Meanwhile SHEPHERD at Washington
presides at banquets aud gives grand
entertainments, frequented by men high
| IN political ana social position, though IL is
well understood that his wealth was made
| by plundering the people while in place
Of public trust; BAnCOCK, though guilty
| ~ Grimes against the revenue and against
private rights and liberty, ana II known
REGULATOR, still wears his uniform rs
an officer OF the army; ItoBEsoN, though
rotten with venality, remains in the
n
the society OF the capital; KEMBLE,
II partner in fraud, corrupt politl-
cinn. and putter-up of iobs, maintains
ms party standing, such IA II IL, undis
turbed; Fish, our Secretary Of State, sees
no disgrace in admitting to his confidence
n son-in-law who grows rich as counsel OF
a power with which our diplomatic reia-
lions are the most delicate and involved /;
and in mercantile life we see men still