Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-10-22

or material respect from undlsgulsed gam
bling. 1t is not necessary to enter minute
ly into the distinctions between right an,
wrong in buying or selling stocks. 1t i
enoug b to say that he who buys stocks a
a bona fide method of investing his funds
looking for dividends, or for some benefi
from the interest represented by the stock
buys legitimately, and without mora
blame. But that whole scheme of buyins
stocks for no other purpose than to max
money upon the bet that they will rise o
that they will fall, is scheme of gambling
Men that do it are gamblers. All the sof
names on earth cannot be dissolved t,
make a varnish strong enough to cover th'
real wickedness. Men will resent the i'm
putation. No man likes to be called a gam
bier. But the way to avoid the title is t.
avoid the thing,
In this gambling game the whole com
munity have more or less participated
Some devote their time TO it. Since my
day, | remember, | think, one concern tt
have failed four times-it fails to day, i.
on its feet tomorrow, in as good credit a
ever. For when business is fraud, ant
the customs of it are dishonesties, it doe.
not take man long to repair any littl.
cracks in his reputation.
Merchants are forsaking their Legitimate
business, and dabbling in this pool. Theil
clerks, following their example, gamble
too. Simple men, seeing these marvels o.
of success, venture their hard earnings, and
60 to gambling likewise. The lawyer fol-
lows suit; and that there may be no wan,
of moral sanction, ministers of the Gospel
are found, not few am Informed, secret
ly buying and selling stocks.
Now, when the company themselves are
gigantic spectators by fraudulent and dis.
honest means; and when the stock of the
Company goes up and down the street, car
rying in its hand a bowl drugged with
gambling, and crowds rush to drink its in.
toxieation, is it strange that at length, the
head is sick, the whole body faint, and that
the commonwealth lies at length upon the
ground, wallowing like one possessed, foam
ing and rending itself9
1t is supposed that there are one thou
sand million dollars invested in railway
property. Can this mountain of power be
used against good morals, against CONNER
cial prudence, and the country not reel and
staggers Can this prodigious weight be
cast rudely hither and thither upon the deck
and the keel lie level! There is not an
honest man in tie land, patiently conduct
ing legitimate business, who is not in the
power of these irregular forces. There can
be no permanent security, if financiers can,
at pleasure, draw up such enormous ele-
ments Of power, and hold them suspended,
like water spouts, to burst and food down
desolation, the moment they are touched
with misfortune. And if commercial men
will not draw tight the reins of morals up
on these unprincipled men, they will have
their own neglect to thank for the mischiefs
which will have come upon them in some
sense by their connivance.
III,-Now, what lessons does these times
teach9
1. We are to learn that commercial
prosperity stands indissolubly connected
with public morals. In their heat, men
cast aside moral scruples, as one would
throw off his garments in a race. Where
every body sins together, men fondly think
that their conduct is law of nature. Lit
tie by little success domineers over con-
science. The permission of custom, the
sole condition of accomplishing, the fact
of accruing wealth, with its praise, and in
fluence, and power, these overrule moral
considerations, and men do not hesitate to
violate rectitude by ranks and multitudes.
They systemize seflshness and organize in
justice.
But all seeds demand time between sow.
ing and reaping. When first sown, thistles
are as good as corn. But when the reaping
time comes, they that sow grain shall carry
their bosom full of sheaves, ard they that
SOW thistles shall have their skins pierced
full of spines and poisonous prickles. In
commercial intoxication it is as in drunken
ness by strong drink--first the pleasing ex-
hilaration, but afterwards the bursting
headache.
No class of men are more interested iu
high tone of public morals than business
men. Their life stands in credit as much
as their bodily life stands in air fit to
breathe. 80
Credi: demands the solid rock of integ.
rity. 1t will not stand upon the shifting
sands of custom. The merchant should be
Puritan. Whoever else may permit the
public conscience to be tampered with, the
merchant is interested by the whole force
of self interest, that the consciences Of
men touch God, and anchor there beyond
the reach of temptation. To tamper with
the sanctity of the Divine law, to admit an
ything to be higher in human affairs than
religious rectitudede, is preparation for un-
faith and untrust of man to man.
The merchant that destroys good morals
plucks off the planks from the bottom Of
the ship which comes to him and all his
goods. He will founder. He will be car
ried down, sooner or later, by inevitable
leaking. t F --..-
2. Public Indifference to immoralities SO
commons as in other things, will be condemn,
ed as if it were participation. The bills
which wicked men draw up against the
public treasury to pay for their crimes and
vices, are always indorsed by the virtuous
men of the community; and in the end,
the sober always pay for the Incorporate
the pure pay the expenses Of the detached
the honest man pays the knave's debts
the working and laboring man pays for the
indolent and spendthrift; but at such times
as these it is seen that tho gambling and