New-York tribune., 1878-11-09
public life as the Southern wing OF the party
takes the management into its own hands.
IN Oh LESSON RNTlCGRT.

After all. there il such thing as "A National
conscience. And in setting forth the varied
lessons taught by the late election 1t Will not
answer to disregard the encouraging truth
that once more the existence of popular
sense of honor and of justice has been demon
stratcd. 1t has been demonstrated, too, that this
is not merely y sentiment, tlimsy ana IRONY,
but an efficient and commanding force. IL
may be well enough to argue that honesty Is
the best policy and that sOllinG nations
good name aud tamperng with its credit VIII
entail material and pecunlary loss. But the
discussion Of these questions IN the forum
of morals is always tho most effective,
and arguments based on moral grounds and
arpcalS addressed to the nUbler passious are
ALWAYS the most telling. The development
of correct ideas among TN masses OF mon III
regard to finance aud currency must ot ne
ces,ity be difficult sk. The proper dls-
cussion of economical subjects requires
power of abstraction which many people do not
possess, and an effort of CONTINUOUS thought
winch many others have neither the time nor
inclination 10 bcstow Hence many intelligent
people are led captive Ivy the taking sopnlStries
of the designing, and are convinced by the
muddled violence of loose reasoncrs. Besides
this, sufferers from the depression oi nara
times are more ready to accept any nostrum
offered by quack currency doctors, and when
their passions have been Cunmng,y mflamed
against some imaginary OppressOr, they are
surrounded by conditions which make dellD-
ate and unbiased reflection impossible.
But while an honest man may 60 astray IN
his intellectual judgments, it Is always sale 10
appeal To his sense of justice. And the people,
rs whole are honest. They recognize the
claims OF absolute ght as paramount TO every
other consideration. Hence, those political
teachers in the late canvass did the State the
most successful service who constantly en-
forced the moral side Of the question involved,
instead of resting their argument solely
on the lower ground OF eXpediency. The
people have not sunk to such depth
of moral deDasement that they are
willing to be dishonest They do not want to
repudiate the debt. They are not eager to
drive a hard bargain with the Nations cred
itors because they have the power 10 do so.
Ouly let il be shown that all these patent
plans for getting rid of obligations by making
new ones, or of paying deOts by contracting
Others, are thin DISCUSSES for transactions essen-
tally dishonorabe, and the greenOack disease
will be completely cured. We certainly have
not yet descended to that depth when the
only incentive to fair-dealiug on the part OF
the people is the fear that cheating may not
pay 4; and even it we had political economy
would not save us. Righteousness exalteth
Nation, and only righteousness. And
jd,t as soon as appeals TO the popular con-
science cease 10 be the strongest appea.s
which can be addressed to the people, We may
be sure that there Is llt,le left OF what we
call our country worth voting Tor or working
for, much less worth dying for.