Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-11-28
SANDER.


venom of all others seems crowded, into which
is fused tue deadest and the btterest feelings of
vicious hearts, and which with the assassin's cow
ard blow, stabs deepest when the back is turned.
We mean " "Slander." Why is it, that in allnew
communities, this desire to enlarge facts, to Gre
ate false Impressions, to spread untruths is SO
prevalent? Why must each new conner, however
favorable his antecedents, however high his
testimonials, be drawn and qudrtered, as it were,
by this cruel anatomizer? We will answer
Because in all communities like this there are
mushrooms, who set themselves up as the stand
ard of moral excellences, who, sprung from "no-
where" would seek to impress upon the minds of
those who come among them, that they had an
origin, and that they and their opinions form the
society, the rules of which must be accepted and
regarded, or else a ban or prohibition will be is
sued like the Autocrat's ukase against them. We
acknowledge the right, nay the absolute necessity
of well regulated public opinion, to elevate the
character, to extend social intercourse, to purify
public morals, and to perfect healthy state of
society; but for the biting, meddling, busy, cring
ing, dirty slanderer, we only feel contempt, and
we would
s'Place in every honest hand whip,
To lash the rascal naked thro' the world"
1t is we'll that all constituted circles or socie-
ties should examine we'll the applicant for admis-
sion before it throws open its doors to receive
him. Too much care cannot be exercised in this
particular. 1t is found necessary in the ordinary
benevolent or protective associations which men
form, rigidly to scrutenize the characters of new
members, before they become such. 1t is requi-
site for us in our dealings with our fellow men,
before we can have confidential transactions with
them, to feel sure of their intentions and motives.
Much more is it incumbent upon US to know whom
We admit into familiar intercourse with our fam
ilies whom we take by the hand as friend
But should we, even if we cannot consent to know
some who sojOurn among US, give rise to or repeat
reports that cannot benefit US, but which must in
jure them? Surely silence is the better course.
Let our tongues wag as they will for good or ill.
they ,cW find among us I" a local habitation and
a name," and it is fact that their increasing
wealth will bring increase of friends, until they
may be in position, like their defamers once,
to iajure others as they hither come. Should the
pernicious example be followed, this bad element
will gain full head, grow, strengthen, run riot
over community, until each one must, in very de-
fence, wrap himself up in cold reserve, and for
get the Divine injunction &c Thou shalt love thy
neghbor as thysef.''
There will be few found, who will feel that they
strictly apply these remarks to themselves -
they will not be able to consider themselves as
slanderers, but who does not remember the Won
der of the ''Three Black Crows" which, from a
oil ;ot e. f,,l
1t is not always, indeed it seldom is, the first re-
port that does the mischief; it is its additions from
the retailers. Let all then, pause. they spread
calumny that may in jure one who never injured
others.
We write not from " a burning sense Of injus-
tice'' under which we might smart. We have
seen tears, it is true, drawn by such process
from sc eyes unused to weep" but thus far
''writhes are unwrung," and we trust they will
remain so. But we desire to see better, kinder,
healthier and more christian spirit pervade the
our g society," purged of it's uncharitableness,
shall stand upon aproud elevation. We love our
young Territory. We thank God that he has Civ
en- us such vast resources. We feel proud of our
{" FIVE years progress" and We hope-nay, we
prophecy things for the future. Let US
not cramp our young enterprise by narrow-mind-
edness. Let us have energy, spirit, hope, faith,
patience, perseverance. Let US have with all
little charity. In taking leave of this subject, we
properly, perhaps, refer to the horror that up
right men, " in the days that are past" held this
curse, by quoting the following lines from Cole
mans Iron Chest:
ssShoud Sldnder whisper o'er my sepulchre
And SOUPS agency survive In death,
could embody 1t with Heavens lightning;
And the hot shaft of my insulted spirit,
Should strike the b!aser Of memory
Dead in the Churchyard!"