p. 400 | NATIONAL DEGENERACY by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 12, 1858

NATIONAL DEGENERACY

By James White

THE United States government is a great idol—altogether unworthy of the adoration which it receives. Statesmen, politicians, preachers; all classes and grades, strive to outdo each other in singing praises to this union of democratic professions and slaveocratic practices. In this they are deceived by the sight of their eyes—mistaking a rapid growth and increasing wealth for genuine progress and evidences of permanency. They have been so captivated by the splendor of its rise, that they have forgotten to notice that it is preparing the means of its overthrow. The majority who look and wonder at the nation's progress, are superficial observers; the brilliancy of the bubble of to-day shuts out all thoughts of the past and future.

The following is an extract from Benton's description of the 16th Congress, of 1820-1, as given in his "Abridgement of the Debates of Congress:"

"I entered the Senate at that time, and felt myself to be among masters whose scholar I must long remain before I could become a teacher—whose example I must emulate, without the hope of successful imitation. There they were, day in and day out, at their places, punctual to every duty, ripe in wisdom, rich in knowledge, modest, virtuous, decorous, deferential, and wholly intent upon the public good. There I made my first acquaintance with the federal gentlemen of the old school, and while differing from them on systems of policy, soon came to appreciate their high personal character, to admire their finished manners, to recognize their solid patriotism, (according to their views of government,) and to feel grateful to them as the principal founders of our government; and in all this I only divided sentiments with the old republicans, all living on terms of personal kindness with their political adversaries, and with perfect respect for each other's motives and opinions."

The Cincinnati Gazette contains an article from which the following is an extract, which shows the contrast between the present and forty years ago.

The article commences with some remarks on the adage that the darkest hour is just before day:

"But this rule is by no means universal. The proverbs we have quoted do not correctly express the principle on which they rest. For, in truth, when a national government, for instance, apparently reaches the lowest and worst state of its affairs, it has no certainty of a revival. The fate of Babylon, and Persia, and Greece, shows clearly that a thoroughly corrupted people has no assurance of resuscitation and a reformed future. A crisis of this sort, on the contrary, necessarily involves two alternatives. The nation must either rise to a higher life, by the rebounding energy of a moral force not yet wholly extinct, or else fall forever. The latter is by no means, in such a case, the least probable alternative.

"To a crisis like this, a veritable turning point in its destiny, our country appears now to be very rapidly approaching. Alarmists and prophets of evil, we know, meet with little popular favor. Our people, indeed, are so self-confident, so conscious of the vigor of youth, so elated with unparalleled success, and so earnest in the belief of a great national destiny, that Cassandra-cries would have little effect on most minds, even if the very citadel of our liberties were in the enemy's hands, and the flames of civil war and anarchy were bursting forth on every side. But if we are not in mortal danger, we are certainly near the perilous abyss.

"No close observer of the course of our national affairs, for the last few years, comparing the past with the present, the two generations of public men, of the last of which the remaining representatives are few, and the new generation of politicians who have taken their places, can fail to see that we have been of late very rapidly drifting in a dangerous direction. Corruption stalks through the National Capital with shameless front, and eagerly plies her busy trade with scarcely a rebuke. To how many of our public men at Washington, in the executive, judicial and legislative departments, in the army and navy, does not her approach seem welcome and her presence too alluring to be repelled.

"Turning from the federal government with pain and foreboding, what relief do we find in the conduct and condition of our several State governments? To what legislative body in any State of the Union can we look for that "wisdom and virtue" which our fathers were wont to make indispensable qualities in those who should represent them, and the manifestation of which, while in office, was not deemed a strange occurrence?

"State executives, who acquit themselves honestly and honorably, without intrigue or double-dealing, of the duties required of them by the Constitution and demanded by the voice of the people, are not too easy to find. State officers to whom money can be safely entrusted, or in whose care public property is without imminent risk of being wasted and corruptly used, are not over plenty. General distrust prevails. Heavy bonds and accredited sureties, even, can no longer be fully relied on, to guard the public possessions.

"Our city governments, through the land, have come to be proverbially corrupt. Honest men hesitate to be contaminated by connection with them. Bribery, intrigue, demagogism, and all kinds of dishonesty lurk about our city offices, and those who by one means or another, find themselves in places of trust, pursue reputation under great difficulties, if thereby they expect to win confidence and a good name.

"Through every class and description of official position, reached through popular suffrage, the same evil state of things has extended itself quite too manifestly to need a more special allusion. We do not by any means assert that all or a majority of public officials are tainted with this infection. We only note its penetration into all regions.

"To commerce, manufactures, trade of all sorts, the learned professions, and to all kinds of business, this demoralizing contagion has, more or less, extended its influence. We find constituencies at fault, as well

as representatives. The evil finds its way everywhere. And herein is one of the chief dangers."

Senator Toombs lately remarked in the Senate Chamber, that the American government was the most corrupt government existing. J. P. Hale said it was true; six or seven other senators assented to it. Mr. Toombs added that its chief corruption is in its legislative departments. (The above statement I take from a paper.)

When corruption manifests itself in the legislative and executive departments of a government, and when this state of things continues so as to be looked upon as a matter of course, as it is in this country, we may rest assured that the moral influence of the nation has passed away. To this we may further add that there is no conservative principle left in the churches, to counteract the tendency of these things. On the contrary, the churches hold themselves bound to obey the laws of the land, unjust and wicked as they may be; and thus act till these corrupt legislative bodies shall reform their own labors. Thus, instead of being "the light of the world," to lead and guide the world to truth and duty, their light is become darkness, and they are led by the world, rejoicing to follow where, and do what, the world shall dictate. If those whose eyes are not enlightened by the "sure word of prophecy" see the crisis approaching, it is surely time for the watchmen to lift up their voices like a trumpet to tell "What of the night." J. H. W.