The Hartford herald., 1885-07-15

Some Facts, Historic and Othsrwise.
Editor Herald.
The past, narrated on the historic
page, furnishes abundant food for
thought; but the present, in which We
live, move and think, is the time to
observe, to investigate and to arrive at
conclusions. Now, in all researches in
the past, history performs the Office of
a guide-board to show the way, and it
is only by the aid of history, iIlumi-
mating the present, that We can see our
way as it leads and il leading into the
future.
The "Divine right Of kings is rele-
gated to the dead past, the Roman
system of civilization perished, not by
barbarian inroads so much as by an
inherent rottenness and falsity, and
FeudaIism has withered away till the
very name itself has become hateful.
Where now are the nations of An
tiqnity? Naught remains but crumb-
ling ruins. Dead is Babylon and
Nineveh and Palmyra-cities of the
past Perished IL the ancient Asyrian
Monarchy-Greece. Rome, no more
what they once were-Queen Semira-
mis- and her kingdom only dream Of
the past
Man himself Is doomed to short
life but must his works necessarily be
short lived also? We think not. He
has never yet builded well. However
well Theocracy may have suited
Gods chosen people, despotism never
has suited mankind. Nor does Mon.
archy (even IL limited and constitu-
tional,) an aristocracy, or even mere
republic. Nothing will suffice modern
mankind save pure Democracy of the
sovereign people!
DespOtic sway of rulers Of Govern
ments, distinctions of class, the over
bearing spirit among men, the worship
Of riches, and the tyrannic power Of
money and position must cease before
We can lay claim to beneficent civili-
zation and just Democracy. When
ever We attain to that condition in
private ethics and in religion, which is
in conformity with Christ>like piety
and consOnant with God-like justice,
reason teaches us that We shall then
have a civilization and Government
that shall live to remote times.
We believe intemperance, not only
in drinking ardent spirits, but excessive
eating and drinking generally, is harm
ful-even causes the commission of
some crimes, but We shall never believe
that intemperance-or, more properly
speaking, whisky, wine, beer or brandy
drinking is the main source of crime or
the only real and true cause of de-
cadence Of private aud public morals
and of Christianity. The fundamental
cause of moral and religious decadence
Is farther back yet. 1t is to be found in
an increased desire for wealth, with an
increasing wealth, in thirst for; private
and public power. and in vain ambi-
ton to shine in the social circle-public
or private-military, naval, diplomatic,
professional o. common business circle.
It is to be found in public and private
greed, i'm Governmental aid to corpora
tiOns and in favors to capitalists and in
embezzlement by public officials. 1t is
to be found in our modern civilization,
with its love Of display, of unlawful
pleasures-with its pride of fashion and
its craze for the frivolous ! 1t is to be
found in the people themselves, and not
in intemperance itself
An Incorporate people is the funda-
mental cause of all ills, both private
and public.
Nor do mean by "Intempersnce''-
by whisky or tObacco-but people in,
temperate in wants, in manners, in
language and in ideas! "Intemperance"
does not do the wrong, but an "Intem-
perate People" do the "Intemperance!"
Babylon perished by the wrath of an
indignant God Rome fell from ene-
mics within-such as Avarice, Lust,
IdolatOry and Cruelty, rather than
from the onslaught of Northern Bar,
barians, and many nations were lost
because they had not the "True God :"
while some, having the "True God"
shall be lost because they do not serve
Him ! Excesses. and all manner of
Intemperance. are but the concomltants
of a false or cI uel civilization
Ancient Rome, when poor kingdom
under ROmulus and his successors, did
very well In most respects, and still
better when common Republic but
when she became the "Mistress of the
World" under the Imperial Caesars,
made rich by conquests and burdened
by the spoils of many nations, rapacious
greed took possession Of all classes, Ii
centiousness followed in its train, the
currency money was contracted, q
few men owned, in a short time, all the
land, and so, torn by internal strife and
robbed by her own rulers, she became
an easy prey for the Northern Barba-
rians. Brass and copper, to the extent
of two thousand million dollars lin our
money, once constituted her currency;
but she finally contracted, became a
gold bag, and, at her downfall, had q
total gold currency OF about two hum
dred and fifty millions. Before Rome
became rich and corrupt, 80 per cent. of
her people owned land, at her fall less
than l per cent. of her people owned
land so, in the light of history, it ap-
PEARS most cOnclusively, her ruin was
accomplished by the debauchery of
ill,gotten gains, by public and private
intrigue, and by the canker,wOrm of
tintarnal disOrderi She WAS cOrrlpt ed