The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-22
rrsTryyIAI CONSIDERATIONS.


IN order to cast a retrospective glance
over those portions Of the route when
he has accomplished. 50 our young
Republic. In its journey toward the goai
OF its destiny, may well pause in this It's
centennial year, and cast calm ard
reflective glance upon its past, cneck-
cred and full Of interest, although OF
short duration. And. as 1t gazes, 1t VIII
not suffice to dwell alone upon the
glories OF its passing century, to remem-
Der alone the mighty works il has accom-
plished. 1t will not do to recount
alone that il b as taken possession OF u
lind. almost wilderness, and finds 1t
now d mighty nation. it will not be
sufficient to compare with complacency
the few scattered pioneers and their
wandering tribes OF thriftless Indians
with the millions Of entcrprising mer-
chants. successful farmers and thrifty
mechanics who have replaced them.
In its time much has been accom-
plisbed. The bustling cities, thriving
farms and smoking factories. which
have replaced the spreading forests, or
the noxious swamps. or given life to
the lifeless prairies, all these are works
of which we may be justly proud. We
may look with complacency upon tho
ships which traverse our seas, the steam
ers which vex our internal waters. the
railroads which span and traverse on
all sides our mighty continent, but this
is not all. SO may the indulgent father
contemplate with complacency the stall
wart proportions and manly form OF
some favored child But it would In
deed be wretched parent who would
be satisfied with this alone. There is as
well the moral and intellectual condi-
ton Of the boy which should claim his
attention. A fine physique would fur
nish but poor compensation for cor
rupted soul. or an intellect untitled for
the tasks which aftor-lifc will impose
SO with the country and the people
who inhabit 1t. There is to every nation,
as there is to every individual moral and
an intellectual as we'll as material or
physical nature. And the retrospect
which, commencing with the first day
Of Independence, should extend through
all the years until our present time,
would be but partial and insufficient if
it did not turn to these as well. And,
indeed, 1t will be found that such con
temptation will be far from yielding
satisfaction, unalloyed by just cause
for serious apprehension.
1t cannot be doubted that the moral
"a, ~ hn hnc faa Pal n
rated. more especially during the course
OF the last decade. The sterling integ-
rity, which characterized the actions of
our forefathers, has almost entirely
departed. Wherever we turn our eyes,
they are met by the brazon front OF open
fraud and unblushing corruption. The
calendars Of our bankrupt courts have
upon them vast numbers Of fraudulent
bankruptcies. Our banks and business
houses live in constant dread OF the
forger and the defaulter. Our papers
TEEN with accounts of numberless
swindles and rascalities. Ships are
blown up or destroyed, with cargo and
passengers, either at sea or in harbor
Houses are burnt ut dead of night over
their sleeping occupants, in order to
obtain insurance. Men are robbed or
assassinated in the streets. or in their
houses, IN every city OF the Union.
Trains are cast from the track. regard
less Of human suffering, for vengeance
or blackmail Fraud and SNUG
Cling are practised to such an
extent, by the most responsible firms. as
to bar out legitimate manufacture and
importation, In many large and import
ant branches OF business. The witness
stands Of our courts, civil and criminal,
have been made familiar with the pol
luting contact Of the porjurer. And 80
we might extend the gloomy catalogue
indefinitely
And passing from private to public
life, the prospect is no more cheering.
Justice is. to great extent. made
matter OF merchandise, purchasable ut
the hands Of corrupted judiciary.
Thieves occupy many of tho highest
places in the land. and number among
them governors, legislators, congress
mon and senators. From all sides come
The Cabinet of the Executive is even
thinned, by the self-conviction Of some
OF its members. and the undeniable ex-
posture Of the rascality of others. And
worse than all, the broad and shining
trail of corruption is traced into the
very halls Of the Executive mansion It, |
self.
Nor does all this bear an unimportant
relation to the destinies Of the Republic. |
Our institutions Deepen for their preser-
walton upon the support of the people. |
They defend them in war, and uphold |
them by their ballots in peace Unless
the people be pure and unseliish they
cannot be patriotic, for patriotism
means the sacrifice of self for the good |
OF country. A nation OF corrupt |
and selfish men can never furnish an
army OF devoted soldiers, or a body of
voters.
There can be no doubt that unless
this flood Of crime and corruption, pub
lie and private, is checked and turned |
back, that this Republic must disinto-
CRATE. or alter its character and degen-
crate into despotism. And then the