Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-31
AMERICAN HONOR.

Ndh heCIeU Tor August, has very enIoya-
bic paper on the sense of honor among
Americans. He takes the view that we
are not nearly so bad people as some
would paint us, and that a cool analysis of
American character will disclose that our
people are as true to their word, as faith
full to obligations, and as loyal to duty as
any, and in many respects that we are SUI
perior. He is not content with mere asser-
ton, but proceeds to recite the proofs for
the theory he advances. The behavior of
the people under the stress of war, he con-
siders a fair test of their moral strength in
politics. Under the conditions of war the
underlying motives of men are very apt to
develop. In the Revolution there were
numerous instances of bad faith among our
superior oficers-as, for instance the trea-
son of Arnold, the treacherous motives of
Charles Lee, the intriguing of Gates and
his cabal, and the self-seeking and half
hearted treachery of many others. In
fact, there was great number of men in
that period that were Enthusiastically,
though they knew they were fighting with
halters around their necks. In contrast
the conditions and results were superior
during the civil war. The circumstances
were such as to naturally increase the ele-
ments of untrustworthinesS; there were
interests at stake that divided home, du-
ties and affections; there was divided po-
Htical policy at the North, doubt and fear
everywhere, and great constitutional in
volvement. The contestants were very
largely of divided mind as to where their
allegiance was due. Yet, as a matter of
fact, there is no record of any officer of
any grade having gone over to the enemy;
and Professor Shaler declares that this is
one of the brightest laurels of our arms
that at no time was there any real untrust-
worthiness, despite quarrels, jealousies and
ambitions. Moreover, at no time in all the
rebellion did our men lose confidence in the
trustworthiness of their leaders The
soldier may have held his commander to
be fool, and have cursed him for his dis
like, but he never doubted the sincerity
and trustworthiness of his motives as a
leader. The DISARMAMENT of the armies
on both sides witnessed the return of the
men to their homes in that perfect good
faith and trustfulnesS that was nothing
less than remarkable. The Confederates
with singular unanimity obeyed the con-
dition of their surrender. One of the
best evidences Of repose of the people in
the officials appointed to positions of trust
is that the judiciary did not allow the
animosities of the war to interrupt the
calm of their duty At the close of the
war even-handed justice was dealt out
South and North, regardless Of the recent
attitudes of the contestants. Professor
Shaler cites as an instance of this fact the
story of his own experience. During, and
Immediately after the civil war, he had
legal contention before the Courts of Ken
lucky, where his political sentiments were
well known and the officers of the law
were all politically opposed to hun. But
1t never crossed his mind that because of
that fact he was in any danger of not be-
ing fairly treated by the Judges. He says
that he has made inquiries of many others
similarly situated in the border States, but
can not learn of one who let the fear of in
justice enter his heart. He declares that
it is one of the most significant facts in
our social and political history, thai while
our Judges as rule are not chosen from
among the best lawyers, and while they
are selected according 10 a system that he
considers the greatest Of blunders, mas
much as it introduces into the selection
the partisanship of political parties, yet it
is true that as soon as these men are ele-
waited to the bench they put aside their
partisaHship and rise to sense of the
duties imposed upon them. He intimates
that he believes, and we are disposed to
concur with him, that history will prove
that the corruption in privste employment
of this day is not proportionately greater
than in the revolutionary period. We
have vast bodies of officials of CORPORA
tons in these days, while in the earlier
period the corporation was rare, and trade
and enterprise moved only by individual
exertion that are now premoted by agsre-
cation OF capital. Any true comparison
between the two periods is, therefore, very
difficult, for there is much less rigor of
supervision over those intrusted with cor
porate responsibilities than over those
employed b. individuals. Among public
men in this day breaches of trust are a,
once made known. rs a rule, and the wild
est publicity is given 90 the matter; but
In the old time a distinguished person
could for long time shield himself from
any assault for wrong doing. The prinei-
pie that 1.-THE King can do wrong" was In