Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-04
rEs RATIONAL wz1L.ggIsa.

With the growth of national Importance,
the augmented wealth of the country, the
Increase of official holdings. the multiph-
cation OF the machinery necessary TO the
carrying on Of the governmental depart.
ments, there has been an increase Of cor
ruption in Office, and the trusts Of the
nation have been more and more frequently
betrayed. These facts, however they may
gloomily impress some earnest friends Of
the republic, do not, after all, indicate
that there has been greatly undue in
crease Of official criminality. With the
opportunities for wrong,doing enlarged.
there always is growth Of wrong doing it.
self. Il does not indicate, necessarily,
thRt there ia rational decadence and
still it must be admitted that, with the
augmented Importance Of the nation, we
have not proporsionately risen superior to
evils, as we might have done had cur moral
growth been equal to onr physical advances.
ment. On the occasion OF the celebration
Of the natal day anniversary of che repub.
lie, the thoughtful citizen is inclined to
reflect upon the question whether or not
we have reason TO rejoice in increased
age. Il is popular to dscry the
present and to descant upon the
dangers, social and political, to which, it is
assumed, the nstion is exposed. 1t is true
that We might have done better it is true
that our polidcsl career has not been what
the bess friends of republican institutions
wished it Is true that we have been and
are exposed TO dangers; that sentiments
are uttered and doctrines advanced which,
if put into practice, will imperil the ma
tional life bat notwithstanding all these
things it is true that the patriotic sense
has not been duiled. The love of coun.
try is strong in the hearts of the people.
and equal to the dangers that environ the
nation. We are people of fifty millions,
but without the injection into our social
system of foreign elements we would not
now number thirty millions. It cannot be
expected that in so short space of time
perfect assimilation should take place; it
is, on the contrary, national marvel that
we have been able, without disruption, to
take unto ourselves so vast . number of
people who hsve been born aad raised 30
the traditions and prejudices of other lands
and forms of civilization. That under such
circumstances we exist ss 3 nation at all
is one of the best evidences of the correct
ness of our system. Wehave but to Danish
bypersistent efforts the spirit of clannishness
and crush ont all attempts to plant the So
cislistio elements amongst us, and half the
battle OF reform is accomplished. Polit.
ical improvement must result from the ad.
vanced faith which the masses OF the peo-
pie now hold as to the relation of party
to the country, ami the enlightened views
now entertained regarding Government
patronage and the civil service. Infu.
ences that have fostered evils in the past
are losing their power for i'll in the nation.
We have shown our capacity to expose
shameless corruption and punish those " no
violate sacred trusts, and the force of this
fact is not lessenei because Jury here and
there has shown incapacitY. By free
press. venality, fzaud, corruption and off.
cisl pseulaEion are arraigned st the bar of
public opinion, and the tribunals of justice
are invoked to make crime IN office and
against the nation hideous. All the tend.
encies of the day are toward refo-m,
snd the sentiment of the people
evidences Tie fact thst the ma.
tionsl heart 81 the core is sound.
Ous of the turmoil aad conflict of the pres.
emf, consequent upon the effort to
adjust the various psrta Of cur aystem to
operstiop with the minimam Of friction.