Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-27
COMMUNICATION.
TO HE EDITOR OF THE PHENIx GAZETTE.
a L .. al kLa.l,u II CAL

".7n honest Mans tie modest irork Of God"
1have often had occasion admire this line Of Pope,
and to assent to the truth Of bis assertion. The word
honest in its general acceptation, has definition by no
means satisfactory TO me. To say that such is
honest but faint praise and there are few who would
not resent nsnuahon 10 the contrary. Honesty is
an invaluable quslity-it is implanted in US an orr
sina natural principle, and consequently, when pos
sessed should reflect credit the pOssessor. Must
praise man for doing right, when re does 1t from
an innate lmpusei Does the upright man require en-
conum for doing his duty iReproof is necessary for the
Vicious, though The virtaous need no praise.
We must look deeper them for the meaning intend
ed De conveyed BY the quotation at the head Of this
article An honest man. in one sense, Is he, who not
only has the principles of humanity, charity and JUS
tice deeply imbbed in his heart one who not only
considers the equality Of man, an elementary law in
the code Of Nature; who not ony rccogH the gold
en- rule Of Do unto all men as you Would they shGud
do unto Gu" the guide OF his transactions but he
Is with whom the apparently lesser affairs Uf
life of great concern; vino IS alive 10 all the alice
tons and feelings OF and who considers true
happiness % centre, where alone does IN the dOmes
tic circle,
If were asked for another and more striking in
stance Of an "honest man," l should mention hm,
who has risen from low station in life, TO celebrity and
honors Where shall We look for stronger proof Of
hgbmindedness Of may be allowed The expresson);
for more valid sign of mans posses. genius, than
the circumstance OF his having BY, perhaps his unas-
sisted, Individual exertons, exalted himself to sta
quence in the senate and 10 take seat ia the councils
of his country! Of these have had several nstsn-
ces in the annals Of our infant republics but shall
content myself with mentioning two only, aud these
connected with our present history. They are HENRY
CLAr and WILLIAM WRIT. | shall refrain from any
comment their Chlrscters-it will be sufficient to
give them each the title of "Novus homo" and in
Pope's emphatic language OF an honest man."
tie who comes forward IN the day OF his cOuntry's
peril and draws his sword al her defence, has jus;
claim 10 De vested with this title.
But to say who are, and who not, and to euume
rate instances OF honest men, will be tedious-Let
it b. enough to remark that of whatever age, coun.
try, rS'gon they i, j. the same. Whether they
bend ther knee IN the church, PROSTATE themselves in
the mosque Uiler up their devotions in the syna-
gogue, there exists no difference Whether they make
the Bible the ralmud, the Koran the foundation of
their creed, though they differ eminenty in rel gious
beie their honest principles uniform. In strange
land IL wished TO conhle in one unknown TO me,
stead Of asking him whether he We're Jew, Gentle,
Nusselmsn, Christian, should form my estimate of
has character from his phySiognomy (don't laugh at
M The general tenor of his conduct
might lengthen my remarks upon this line almost
10 anni,ude but won't say any for several very
good reasons, and is, that think when man has
s,,d much, TO put his readers upon his train of
thoughts and given their ideas the start in the drec-
ton which he wishes them to go, that he has sad
enough. Of course there many exceptions TO this,
but sllude to subjects similar 10 the present And
Mr.. Editor, tell your readers for me, that they
must keep in mind that an honest is Only the
nobest work of God, bu; that he is the man most
spected and esteemed by his fellows. G.