Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-11-22

so much as the people tho officials. The
men who plundered the city of New
York of many millions could not have
done SO if there had not been state of
public morals, of wild speculative ex-
elements, greed for gold no matter
how gained, which suggested and favored
all their schemes. They were made bold
by seeing tr, n actions in all the walks Of
life, in personal and business circles and
in all departments of State and National
government, which were akin to their
own. They had no business skill ,sagac-
ity or experience. They did not make
corruption corruption made them. The
causes existing all over the country pro-
duced the like results. Citizens here
and elsewhere did not do their hone
duties they did not use their special
intelligence to check wrong in their own
neighborhood. We were all swept away
by the spirit of speculation, extravaganza
and indulgence. Bad governments are
the results, the punishments, and, we
hope, the remedies for this widespread
Generalization. They impose the penal
ties for neglect. God, in his goodness,
does not permit nations to be happy and
prosperous when governments are cor
rupt and citizens are Indifferent. Indif-
ference on the part of the public makes
corruption in officials. Slight changes
in public morals act with intensified force
at political capitals, as slight contrac-
tons or expansions in the bulb of the
thermometer make great changes in the
rise and fall of the mercury which
marks the temperature. For a like rea-
son any loss or gain in the morals of a
people is potent for good or evil in the
conduct of public affairs.
SO completely does the state of the
public mind shape legislation and official
action, that it is more correct to say that
laws are passed through Congress or
State Legislatures than to say by them.
them. They are conduts rather than
agencies. The opinions which suggest,
the minds which shape. the wills which
demand their passage are outside of leg
islative halls. The great business in-
terests of the country, the sentiments of
the people, the tone of public morality
give form and hue to public action
Hence all acts of political corruption are
justly looked upon by the world as stains
upon the American character, every
committal of crime an indictment of the
American people. Hard times and gem
eral distress are the remedies which cure
public ills. They teach that neglect of
duties and disregard of obligations to
society are expensive, and thwart our
very schemes for gain or self-indulgence.
The influences of such distribution, and
of the use of special intelligence in the
performance of official work, beyond the
lines marked out by statute-books. They
educate us to do many things which else
where are thought to be the work Of
government. To get clear views of the
genius Of our political institutions, we
must look not only at written constitu-
tons and laws, but also at the unwrittcn
laws of usage which grew out of them.
The condition of our country is favor
BILE to reform. All honest teachings tell
upon the public mind. Argument is
now enforced by suffering The springs
and sources Of governmental power are
under our control. The virtues Of ecoho-
my or of integrity which we practice our
selves we will require Of our representa-
tives. They will feel and respond to
our demands. Reforms are not to be
gained by railing at political parties
while ncglecting our invividual duties.
This is device by which we blind our
selves to the truth. 1t is inconsistent
with an honest self-respect. Neglect Of
political duty is but shade better than
violation Of official duty. 1t grows out
OF lack of true manhood. want Of
sense and virtue, and feeling that per-
sonal and social position do not make
men equal to the work Of battling with
wrong The strength Of Britain in no
small degree is owing to the fact that
the peers of the realm meet in manly ways
the rough duties Of political struggles.
Political purties are, in public affairs,
what John Doe and Richard Roe used to
be in legal proceedings, fictitious names
to conceal the real actors. We are too
apt to satisfy our consciences and blind
ourselves to our own neglect by railing
at them. As parties embrace the whole
population, why not say that the Ameri-
can people have been corrupted, or made
extfavagant or Indifferent to their obli-
cations as citizens Z? This is what the
future historian will say Of this period
Shall VIC not also make him say that this
sad condition was followed by revival
of National virtues, and that the begin
ming of the second century Of our cxis-
tcncc as people was marked by
return Of tho integrity and patriotism
which inspired our fathers one hundred
years ago'Y
The social, political and business evils
which affect our country arc not 10 be
cured by political strategy nor by any
tricks Of craftsmanship. No country can
be legisatcd out Of distress, crime or
poverty. No laws in civilized countries /
arc potent for good which do not cmanate
from the sentiments. habits and virtues
Of the people. They demand personal,
Preside and local reforms. They cannot
be made by others for us. They must
be wrought out by each man in the use
Of his special intelligence aud personal
power. 10 Office aud out Of IL, in all
forms Of unsclfsh work for the general
welfare. in convention, upon tho plat
form, in the pulpit aud through the
press. The immigrants Of varied line
.gea and croada who conn 10 onr ahoros