Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-12-20
The Present VS.. the Past.

Near One-thlrd OF the inhabitants OF
this country, says Bancroft, are of Pur-
itan descent. We learn also, from this
author, and other writer's, that they
were distinguished for purity of charac-
ter, comparatively, simplicity of man
ners, temperance and strict observance
of law-elements, as shown by other
historians, that strongly permeated all
great nations, in their early existence.
Reference is made to the Roman En-
pire as being composed partly Of iron
and partly of clay The iron having be-
come corroded by the clay, the nation
dissolved; its iron strength having be-
come weakened by luxury and conse-
quent imbecility and intestine conflicts,
it failed May not the same calamity
overtake professed Christian nation
unless it closely adheres to the rock up
on which it assumes to be founded?
1t is admitted that correct constitu-
ton, or just rule, should be the test
of comparison; but cotemporary con-
trasts, or present contrasted with the
past, are often usefully suggestive.
The primitive Puritans, including the
pilgrims, and perhaps the Huguenots of
some Of the Southern States, the Dutch
Of Delaware and Eastern New York, aud
the Quakers of Pennsylvania, were no.
ted for scrupulous adherence to the
dictates of conscience, enlightened, as
they supposed, by revealed truth. But
it seems as if 10Th century progress. so
called to no inconsiderablc an extent,
has substituted for principle, based on
natural and revealed truth, ethics that
make sclf-interest the center of effort;
sensual pleasure, the prime object, be-
ing governed by popular sentiment, and
not by fixed law, and influenced by the
idea of expediency and policy. To Illus
trate: An officer in the army of our
revolution feasted al officer of the same
rank in the British army, on roasted po-
tatoes, in the forest, where our army
was camped, having a log for table, to
impress an idea of democracy; degener-
ated principle of the present era ex-
pends thirty thousand dollars on single
dance, to honor an heir to monarchial
crown At an early day music was per-
formed as an act of worship, and more
effectually to impress truths; in later
years, for sensual entertainment, or for
pecuniary profit. Ten thousand dollars,
more or less, will be donated by Jenny
Lind or a Barnum, to prepossess the
benevolent public, to fill his own purse
Early settlers and government were
guided by the motto, ''owe no man any
thing modern policy, that "a National
debt is National blessing In imita-
ton, the church incurs a heavy debt in
erecting house of worship of imposing
appearance; the farmer, that he may
not suffer by contrast with his neighbor,
mortgages his farm, and the would-be
gentleman or lady, on the plea that con-
formity to custom or fashion secures
position, scruples not to sponge on the
merchant. In speaking of Prof. Seelye
elected member of Congress from Mass,
the Phrenologicol Journal says the po-
sition sought the man, and not he the
office. The popular sentiment seems to
be: man is undeserving an Office who
will not electioneer for it, setting aside
rule of higher authority, :" in honor
preferring one another. Honesty is
the best policy" is principle once hon
ored; now, high officials take advantage
of their position and means to swindle
naturally the low and intermediate fol
low suit.
Our forefathers thought it good econ
omy to throw their tea beverage over
board. Now, if we equal our mother
country in its use, We tax ourselves
about thirty thousand pounds yearly by
the indulgence. The officers OF sea
port town in Connecticut, on the arriva
of a vessel having on board a barrel OF
rum. forbade its being landed or sold tc
the inhabitants; now, according to DR.
Traer's lecture, the use of Intoxicating
spirits extracts billions from our pock-
cts. President Grant and Secretary
Seward, by their example, gave curren
cy to the use OF a poisonous narcotic
ergo, the young man cant be nobody
unless he conforms to practice which
common sense universally condemns as
being worse than useless. Once games
+ and other sensual amusements were ig
nored by. those whose sources OF amuse
ment were of celestial nature and origin
now, these, so to speak, are not only
National, but household gods, and large
ly objects of regard and affection in The
church. Early society was noted fo
hospitality and mutual helping, late
customs for self-aggrandizement an(
self-appropriation The writer was once
told by Mr.. Atwater, a Western pioneer
and an author of history of the Stat
of Ohio, that, after enjoying the hospi
tality of one of the early Presidents o
the United States, his wife, on his leav
ing, kindly furnished his traveling-ba|
with provisions for his journey through
the Western wilds; now, a backwoods
man considers it special favor to speal
word to the President, OF to take tn
hand of Washington city dignitary
They have their expensive levees, an,
we must have something of the kind
they have their balls and costly ball at
tires; parrot-like, we must do the same
They are the sovereigns, and not we
they rule, and not the people. Reaso
and established correct principles ar
not the basis of ife's doings, but Gus
tom. which. by some hook or crook,