New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14
THE CENTURY IND ITS FRUIT.

With the notes Of preparation for the Gen.
tennial filling the air, it is timely to ask what
the century has done for the Nation as poln-
cal organism. In material aspects the progress
of the Nation has been without parallel. It's
farms and its factories, its mines and its mills
its inventions, accumulations OF wealth, and
Improvement in the condition Of the inhabitants
are not in danger of being overlooked. But
there IL general impression that in its poltlcal
life the Nation has deteriorated, that its methods
are not as pure or its aims as elevated as in
the golden age of Revolutionary heroism.
When Washington's farewell address warned
his countrymen against party spirit he was not
speaking of an evil then unknown. Little
study of the Nations early history is needed to
show that in violence and malignity of personal
attacks in bitterness Of personal rivalries and
animosities, the early days were not as stain
less and beautiful as many imagine. Not many
Americans have ever been reviled as Washing
toll or jefferson was and the latest days SO
often called degenerate have not seen Ham,
ilton slain in duel by Burr. The narrow
ness Of spirit, the petty selishness and jealousy
which mark much of the discussion in some OF
the States over the Constitution are not sur
passed to-day, but instead there is seen
pride in the National unity, power and progress
and a measure of subordination of local to
National interests, which nowhere appear in
the years Immediately succeeding the Revoln-
ton. Nothing but stern necessity brought the
Colonies together into political union, but the
National spirit. then so weak, has grown to he
powerful enough to suppress the greatest civil
war of human history.
In higher sense the Nation has grown, be-
cause it has cleared away the weak and dis
honorins compromises of its origin. Slavery
has gone, and with it the pernioious doctrine Of
State supremacy. The right and duty Of the
Nation to protect and promote the welfare Of
its citizens, regardless # local divisions, have
been recognized in school laws, in laws for the
prevention of disease, in regulation of inter
state commerce, in restriction of immigration,
and in ether forms almost innumerable. Be-
coming conspicuously one in interest, the Ma
tion has become one in conscience, so that agl-
tation for decent and honest marriage laws
libel laws, bankrupt laws, election laws, springs
up in almost every State at once. Through
concurrent action of State Legislatures, enor-
nous progress has already been made, and yet
It is everywhere felt that the failure TO secure
for all citizens the benefits of that legislation
which has been found the wisest and best is n
discredit, which patriotic feeling strives ear
nestly to remove
The habit OF the time is to speak Of our cleo
tons, lawmaling bodies and public men as eX-
ceedingly corrupt. Yet it may fairly be doubt
ed whether there was not as much evil In early
times, when, there was no ArguS-eyed scrutiny
or ceaseless criticism as there is now. The very
frequency of censure betokens watchfnIness
and popular demand for purity Of conduct
which certainly did not exist In the days OF
Jackson or Van Buren,, or in those Of Pierce
or Buchanan. Great combinations of capital
lists have not more, but less, power than relative
ly similar combinations had in the times which
are now called pure, and 1t may be doubted
whether the rights Of the poorest citizen were
ever more jealousy watched or impartially de-
Tended than they are now
The progress of the Nation in moral life may
be traced in the very topics of discussion which
have engrOssed attention. In early days the
rights of States, the creation Of banks, the &C
QUESTION Of territory divided men into hostile
| camps. Now temperance publication Of cleo
| tons and of the public service engross stten-
| ton. The Nation is not only older, more man
| ly, less aggressive, but it is more anxious to
defend and uplift its citizens. more jealous to
protect it's homes and purify its public life, than
at any previous period in the century.