The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-10-31
Material Progress and Moral Gain.


their ground year after year aud genera
ton after generation, in the face of the
boasied progress of the age and the dsz-
cling triumphs Of material civilization.
the spectacle we behold seems to Justify
doubt whether there is any substantial
and permanent gain to humanity in the
kind of progress referred to. History
repeats itself, and it has constantly re-
iterated in different ages and countries
the lesson that the increase ofpopulation
does not make or even tend to make a
people virtuous or na,ion truly great
Indeed. the story of the rise. decline and
fall of the great Assyrian cities. and of
those that once fourished on the shores
of the Mediterranean, whose ruins still
attest most splendid material civiiza-
ton, might be cited in support of the
doctrine that mere material civilization
tends to inevitable decay.
There is mere than one chapter of
modern history that seems to lend strong
confirmation to the same theory. So far
rs the vital conservative forces Of patri-
otism and public and private virtue in
the United States are concerned, il i
safe to maintain that they have been
fostertd by the immense development Of
the varied resources of the country since
the days of the early administration
The progress of agriculture, manufac-
tnres and the Industrial interests, the
rapid construction of railroads. lines of
telegraph. and all manner of public i'm
provenents, the prodiginus multiplied
ton Of valuable discoveries and useful
inventions, the sudden rise of great
cities, and the unprecedented increase of
population. have been truly marvellous.
But is the Government more wisely and
honestly administered than it was under
the first Presidents Is justice more
impartially dispensed. are the Courts
more pure. the Judges more learned, the
Bar more respected for character and
ability than when Washington was Chief
Executive, John Adams Vice President,
Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State,
Alexander Hamilton of the Treasury,
Timothy Pickering of War, Edmund
Randolph Attorney General. and when
men like John Jay. Robert r. Living
ston. Chief Justice Marshall. and WIN
Writ adorned the Bench and Par of the
United States? These men belonged to-
generation to which the steamboat, the
railroad and the telegraph were unknown
The region west of the Mississippi was
almost uninhabited, aud that west of the
Rocky Mountains unexplored; but can
it be affirmed that the breed of great men
has improved with 1.-THE growth of the
country!" The interests of wealth and
knowledge has been prodigious; has
there been any corresponding increase
in official integrity or private morals?
On the contrary, has not the wall over
the prevalent corruption of the times
frightful increase of crime, the general
laxity of morals, become monotonou,
even TO wearinessi In what then. does
the boasted material progress of modern
nations consist beyond the enumeration
Of capital and the multiplication of the
mean of gratifying the tastes Of the rich
by novel excitements and new modes and
appliances Of luxurious or ostentatious
living! Does not this kind of progress,
unless accompanied by corresponding
progress oe quite another kind, tend to
debauch nation by making frugality a
lost virtue and by destroying the capac-
ity of the people to derive pleasure from
simple enjoyments. or from anything but
the grossest and most stimulating excite
ments!
The truth is that reason and observa-
ton confirm the verdict of history that
the development of mere material civil
ization may go on have in hand with the
steady deterioration of morals and the
decay of public and private Virtue. 1t
contains scarcely an element that has not
existed in the old pagan civilizations
that persisted of their own accumulated
corruptions. 1t does not add to the ag-
gregate happiness and well-being of the
people among whom it hourishes. The
masses of great mod ari city like Lon
don. New York, Chicago, or San Fran
cisco are, in the average, no better,
wiser. or happier, than the population
of rural communities, where the exciting
hustle of business and pleasure is un-
heard, and where there are no railroad
termini, no telegraphic communication
and no Italian opera.
The explanation of all this is simple.
1t is found in the fact that a purely ma
terial civilization is essentially pagan
and soulless. 1t sets up false gods for
the worship of the people. and teaches
them to regard wealth. power, success, as
the noblest objects Of human pursuit
What wonder that men grow venal in
politics, dishonest in office, and sharpers
IN business in the midst of a public opin-
ion which tolerates all sins that culmin-
ates in success. and holds poverty and
failure the only sins past pardon. What
wonder that frugality. faithfulness. SEN
sitive honor, and disinterested patriot
ism should die out when they are des-