The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-08-15
MONEY yersuS MERIT.
UNDUE HOMAGE TO WEALTH.

at lures the pirate, and corrupts the friend
ITO whom can riches give repute or trust,
Content or pieasere, but the good and just.
The homage that is so generally paid
! to wealth, and often without regard to
merit, appears TO US the consequence of a
great weakness, if not worse. The in
quiry with the thousands is not as 10 the
virtue and purity of man-not as to his
integrity, disposition and principles, but
his acOrtdty means! They seem to ina
| gIne that money "covers q multitude of
sins" and they are quite willing to be on
terms of intimacy with individuals who
are aff1uent, no matter what their errors
of omission or commission, and utterly
regardless of the mode by which they
acquired fortune. Nay, if s'these individ-
uals" were poor, they would be Stunned
contemned and despised, but being rich,
they are courted and hattered Is not this
a sad error-and is it not calculated 10
teach the young that money is prefera ole
to merit, that virtue may be sacrificed
with impunity, provided thereby a fortune
can be acquired Is it not calculated to
eXalt vice and dePress virtue-to corrupt
the very sources and springs Of integrity
and principle! The evil to which we
refer, is forcibly illustrated at this season
of the year, and especially at the many
summer resorts and fashionable watering
places. Let thoughtful observer mingle
i'll the crowd at such ''localites,'' inquire
into histories, analyse character, and re-
view conduct. He will discover that in
far too many cases, those who are regarded
as the possessors of the largest fortunes,
who eXpend the most money and make
the greatest display, are the fiattered, the
envied and courted; and this too, no mat
ter how soiled they may be in fame, how
darkened by misdeeds, how unfeeling or
unprincipled III the affairs of ordinary
life.
The idea of associating with the RICH,
appears to delude and lascinate weak
minds. They indulge in an absurd error,
that such an association excites the envy
OF the lockers on, and that thus "the poor
parasites are elevated in the scale of So
ciety. And this too, although the money
worshippers may be utterly stainless in
character-may have lived lives of integ-
rity and well doing-may, in fact, possess
merit, talent and good name, far above
and beyond the mere possession of wealth
and wealth too, acquired by improper
means. The sad delusion prevails to a
fearful extent. Parents inculcate it by
example. They indirectly teach their
children TO seek out the wealthy for asso-
ciates, even when the reputation Of such
associates will not bear the test of exami-
natlon; while they turn away with coldness
and indifference from the comparatively
poor, however meriforious or unsullied.-
Only few days since we heard a mother
finish portrait of a very dissolute young
man, with the apologize and unpriucipled
remark-"but, bit he IS uery rich!" The
spirit and meaning of her language and
manner were-''true, he is worthless and
profligate-but then he possesses abun-
dant means, and money is the God of our
idolatry.'
Let us not be misunderstood Ii is de-
slrable, very desirable 10 acquire pecu-
mary independence, to live with comfort,
not to say luxury. Nevertheless, charac-
ter is far better than money, is s.above and
beyond all price, while principle is
deathless, and influences and affects not
only the thoughts, feelings and emoti ons
of this life, but the complexion, the lights
and shadows of that which is to come. A
departure from the path of rectitude in
early life, even with the object and the
prospect of thereby securing pecuniary
advantage, is sure in the end to lead to ia
tai consequences. Let the young be taught
that they may with impunity violate truth,
outrage morality, and trample upon virtue,
and their downward career viii be rapid
and ruinous. Success at first, worldly
success, will only induce them to venture
still further in the wrong path, and thus
hasten their fall. Is he upright-is he
honest-is he true? These are the proper
questions. Enterprise, activity, energy,
are every way commendable. They are,
indeed, essential to success in every pur-
suit of life. But with these, integrity and
truth should invariably be associated. And
thus, after having toiled on for years, and
accumulated 'senough and to spare" the
conscience will be calm and tranquil, the
mind satisfied, and the heart at ease. The
PAST will have no terror, and the future
will be contemplated with hope, promise
and confidence. Let another course be
pursued, let money be the only object, re-
gardless of truth, integrity, beneyolence
and sympathy, and no fortune, however
large, will soothe and satisfy-"will calm
the spirit and tranquIlize the SOU" The
''stlll, small voice. within will whisper
words of adnonitlon, and i'll quiet hours.