Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-18
CIVILIZATION ITSELF THREATENED

ress ard Poverty" is that describing the
condition of the great cities Of this country
to day. He truly declares tbSt in every
such city there is a clearly defined ruling
class, whose members carry Walls IN their
pockets, distribute otEces and levy tribute
upon rich corporations and powerful pecu'
uisry interests. These men are no, the
wise, the good and the learned, but gam
olers, saloon keepers AID professional poll.
ticians, who add nothing 10 the wealth OF
society, and yet wear rich clothing display
costly diamonds and spend money lavish.
ly in the qualification Of their vices and
sppetites. They stand, be says, TO the
Of these cities a. the Prse;o-
RAN guards cid to that OF declining Rome.
BE who would wear the purple, I'LL the
curule chair or have the fssce5 carried De
lore him must 60 or send his messengers
10 their camps, give them donations aud
make them promises" These people, Mr.
George declares, are "a class who have ali
the power without any Of the virtues oil
aristocracy," Meanwhile poVertg is deoa-
sing those reduced to misery, aud the men
who are the victims Of the raeacity OF
these thieves are becoming the instruments
for the perpetuation Of their power
In these facts Mr.. George ssea evidence
not merely that our civilization may de-
cline but that the process Of decay, which
bas destroyed ell the great civilizations OF
the past, is already actively at work IN our
midst and uuobserved BY our people;
"One of the characteristics OF baroarlsm,
he savs ''is the low regard for the rights
of person and Of property The penalty
for murder was q dne pscpcEilona'e 10 the
rank of the victim, while piracy, ROBBERY
and Matchmaking were st one time re,
garded as legitimate occupations, To-Day
in theory, the law protects the lowest as
completeiy as the highest; yet man VINO
has enough money can 60 into one OF our
great centres of population and mlroer
whomsoeyeG he plesses, surrender DIM
self 10 Justice, With ne chance SO q
Enpdred 10 one that he viii :: er no
greater peralty than temporary imPfiS
osusnt and TIA loss CT q sum proper
Ioped partly to Ills own wealth and partly
N the wealth and standing Of the man be
kills" His money will not, hqEe?er, DC
nail TO the family of his victim, nor to Inc
State. out to the lawyers Who are expert IL
securing delays, finding convenient wit
nesses and corruptly procuring the ois
agreement of juries. Again, II a mai
steal enough" says Mr.. George, he may
be- sure that his punishment will practicaiiy
amount but to the loss of part OF the pro
leeds of bis theft. And If he steal enough
n oct off With foFtSus - will te greeted
~ his acquaintance So q V't'o8 migh
have been greeted after successful cruise
Even though he robbed those who trns'e'
him. eysp though herohbed The wido" an!
the iatherless, ke has only 10 get enougI
and he may safely Haunt bic wealth In IN
eyes Of day. ,,,..;v
In all this the writer sees eumuisn'
nroof Of the decay of civilization, In
people are growing used TO corruption an
cessiug to resent it. There Is public sen
,;mept that doubts the existence OF 81
bonpat man n Office, and looks rather con
Unanimously upon ena Eho claims to D
/ sncb The people themselves Ers there
fore becoming corrupt. II sucn coTTGt
ton becomes chronic, public spirit VII! .
lost aud lay brought into contempt. Mne'
The burdens become uubearable, stron
and interruptions men Eill make them
selves exponents of popular desires an
psss;ona and become leaders IN demon
STATIONS of brute force and cesuuct!or
Thence forward the descent TO the noder
form Of bsrbarism that siternstse natWee
anarchy and temporary Imperial despoIsU
ia svift, Tho new bsrbarisns, who sna
destroy our modern civilization as the osl
barisns of old destroyed those OF Greec
and Rome, will not come from distance
"Go through the squaid quarter Of grss
cities" SAYS Mr. George, and you, may Sc
sven nov their gathering horoes.
This picture Of the possibilities OF ID
fn,nre has been derided By the critics
ths snthor az oyerdrsEn AID e=taysgsn
Yet the report Of the Senate Commute
nresented on Tuesday Of this week at a
6sny forcibly repeats the warning. Aii'
reciting the facts connected with the ir "a !
ulent organization of the Broad way kai
vav Company and the corruption OF u
BOARD OF Aldermen who granted the col
spirators the privilege 10 use that tho
ouohfsre without compensation to II
ncbic, the committee declares that IL
Elects Of these wrongs upon good COVER
nsnt and social order become mo-
and nons apparent Ss we o'
bv day witness the lowered state =.
n1blc morals and the deGS7 Of official l
tsgrity and honor. The acquisition
enormous wealth BY any methods, no
aver culpsble, fails to arouse an honest !,
, S;9nstion or 70 call forth protest from Il
nTSlic conscience. The greatest OF v
AIMS are excused becauss they are 50
eessfuI, and the wicked prize itaelf
made to buy out Justice aud cheat i
Law snd thus the csnker Of corruption
snTsiv eating to the very core OF the oo'
roI;t;c mil there is danger that the tn
nav soon come Whsn orr standard OF G.
c;aI honor aud integrity shall be reduc
below the level Of hslt-eiVihzed countriss
: What is this but sober confirmation
the nyophecies Of the writer Te have 81
d tsSi De dsclsres that Q great city Is
tvca az modern development and Prosre
Il -