The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-10-28

lrate every CRIME 10 get ilCHoS' hlo"i"6
that they secure impunity, and purchase the
good opinion of the world.
When they have acquired wealth, they
freely indulge their vicious propensities.-
They are then independent of the world
and think themselves at liberty to do what
ever prejudice, passion, and interest may
suggest-their delnquencies and crimes
will always be excused, orjustifed by in
terested friends and partizans.
There is another pernicious consequence
arising from the homage paid to wealth.
The mere possession of it is a sufficient
passport into the temple, in which that CO.
tere who claim to be superior to humanity,
and exempt from the frailttes of mortals--
who look down with scorn and contempt
upon the humble beings who move about
beneath them-who will not pollute them
selves by base contact with common men
that temple in which this sacred band
meet to perform the unhallowed rights Of
the religion of Mammon, to pronounce the
oracles Of their wisdom, to give laws to the
inferior world, and declare who are worthy
to be damned by being admitted into fellow
ship with them, and who are to be blessed
by exclusion from their society. Aman
has only to exhibit his golden credentials,
and he is admitted into the inmost recesses
of the temple of fashion.
Wealth thus places a man in the front
rank of society. Hence, that which is ter
med the 'highest class" will be composed
partly, if not wholly, of such as have no
other qualification; Of such probably, as
lack good sense, good breeding, modesty,
honor, and merit. The number of this de-
scription of persons, will vary according to
the degree of influence which wealth exer.
cises over the community.
Such are the men the community will adj
mire, such the men. whose behests we O.
bey, whose opinions we adopt, whose sen.
timents we imbibe, whose examples VIC
follow. The natural consequence is that
the standard of intelligence, morals and vir.
tue will be degraded. If we initiate such
models, our character will sink below the
proper standard. The result will be uni.
versal corruption throughout the communi.
ty.-Honorablc ambition will be diverted
from its lofty purposes, to the ignoble EN-.
Ployment of delving for gold, Honesty
justice and virtue, will be mere abstract
metaphysical terms, not reducibIe to prac.
tice. Philanthropy will be the prudent
care of ones self. Self respect, and spi
rited independence, will sink into cringing
sycophancy and degraded manworship.
Again, where riches constitute merit,
poverty, honesty, becomes disgrace: anC
the honest poor are contemed, despised, &
abused: Whatever intrinsic worth they
possess is unnoticed, unencouraged, unre
warded. Their errors and imperfections
are magnifed, their talents and virtues arc
undervalued. The public cannot perceive
how man can at the same time be poor &
meritorious-humble, and yet great.
"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear
Robes and furrd crowns hide ALL
Poverty, then, becomes real evil;
source of real misery. For who can beal
the sights, SCOTS, scoIn and derision of hi.
fellow men? How Notifying to man
proudly conscious of his own integrity, tc
be subjected to the insults of the rich ant
great, probably less deserving than himself
merely because they wear the golden livery
OF fortune which he does not wear. HC
then feels poverty to be curse indeed
lie writhes and groans underit. He be.
comes dscontented with his lot-unhappy
and miserable. He perceives the difficulty
of rising by merit alone, and ceases to fee
the laudable desire to earn good name a.
mong men. He yields to the seductions o.
vice, Or becomes desperate, becomes aban.
doned, guilty and criminal
Supercillousness and injury on the part Of
the rich, create spirit of resentment on the
part of the poor; which combined, tend tc