The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-12-03
INTEGRITY,



We sometimes hear complaints on the part |
of the high-minded and honorable, in relation |
to the apparent success of villniny. They |
cannot understand how it is that in the ma
iural course of things, and with an all wise
Providence overseeing and experimenting,
merit is so frequently found TO languish in
oOscurty; to experience misfortune, and to
realize Indulgence, while the bold, the unscru-
pulous, and the guilty, are permitted to at
tain wealth, influence and power. They argue
tha. this condition of affairs is calculated TO
discourage, and in fact, 10 constitute pre-
MUM for vice and crime. But this is short
sighted view. Only n portion of the drama
of life is realized. The sequel is yet to take
place. The ways Of Providence are often
mysterious, and to the finite mind and eve, in
comprehensive. Guilt muy prosper to day;
trick, guile, and fraud may mcguire position
and power, yet these will prove but tempo.
rnry. The future is yet to be revealed
However, therefore, tempting and dazzling
the apparent success of crime-however some
skiliul, polished, and plausible trickster may
contrive to defraud and victimze his friends
and neighbors, day of reck oning will come
n! last, when the responsibility will be of n
truly terrible character. The history of man.
kind is full of illustrations. They may be
found in every walk Of life. Crime carries
with il its own penalty. 1t is impossible, even
for the most hardened, TO stine the still,
small voice Of conscience-to make the mem.
ory oblivious, or to deaden the mind and the
heart to recollections and reflections upon the
past. Integrity is, after all, one of the high
est and nob'est of virtues. 1t is goodike in
its nature and its attributes. 1t purifies, it
clevates, and it adorns. Misfortune may
come, friends may forsake, storms may burst,
but il consciousness is felt within that duty
and principle have been adhered to at all
lines. and on all occasions, an inward sense
of satisfaction, Of courage, and of hope will
be felt, which nothing in this world can take
away. The man of integrity is true, not only
to himself and his conscience, but he is equal
ly so to his friends, his neighbors, his asso-
clatcs, and all with whom he may hold con-
verse or have dealings. Such man, more
over, can never be wholly depressed or over
whelmed. His character is priceless, and it
will win for him respect, even amidst the
kcenest ills Of poverty, and confidence even
from those who have wronged him. What
can be more valuable in an extensive cstab.
lshment, where there are many trusts of I'M
portnnce, matters of confidence, and cases of
privacy, :hnn man of strict iutegrity-one
who can he relied upon under all circum-
stances, and in whose soul the elements of
truth, of honesty, and Of honor are so admi.
rably interblended, as to form n deathess
union. The quality of answering integrity
is the more TO be priced and appreciated be-
cause all are surrounded by temptations.-
All, moreover, are weak, falible, and to some
extent, selfish. When, therefore, amidst the
various chances and changes that take place
in commercial and monetary life, when in
storm aud in sunshine, in poverty rs in pros
periiy, we observe an individual still main
tanning, upholdng, and preserving his integ
!, rty, willing to perish rather tnan resort TO a
dishonest act, we may still imagine and con
tend that a sympathy exists between the
, mortal, and the immortal, and that the divini-
", so to speak, lives and breathes within the
heart of man. 1t sometimes happens that in
, the excitement of the battle of life, in strug.
| 20 81 81 ba ,1 ,;ni,
sands of adversitv, everything like hope sinks
within US, and the subtle fend of temptation
{ whispers and prrsuades to some act of treach
; cry and dishonor. A mocking story is told
false future is painted, and single act i.
. described as calculated to resusctate for The
time, and to outspiead n glorious prospect
But alas! that net may be one of turptude OF
crime. II is then that integrity exercises al
its moral force, that "the better nature" rises
above the inferior, that the temptation is re.
r sisted and the triumph achieved. But for this
principle, n momentary change would have
been realized; and then regret, remorse, md
sorrow, aud shame, would have followed and
with fearful rapidity. The poor wretch who
dcreiyes himself with the delusion, that dis
honesty is the policy, even for this world thath he
can utter fnlsehoods, commit frauds, indulge
ia hypocrisy, ierate SANDER and all with i'm,
punity, commits fearful, nay terrible mis-
take. Sooner or later, the retribulon will
come. 1t may be postponed for n month, fol
n year, or Cor ten years, but then, even wher
} least expected, then, wher all looks brigh
and beaitiful-ihen, when the wronged hav,
been forgotten, or have passed to their las
long sleep of death, some incident will occur
some development will take place, and thu
avenger will strike with all his strength
This may be regarded as certain in the grea
multitude of cases. 1t is not Tor man to fol
! low them up to their close, but they canno
escape the Allseeing Eye-they cannot avoi,
the Ever present Hand. In every sense
therefore, integrity is the true policy. 1t i
, the policy to live by and to die by. That no
bic virtue-that lofty quality preserved
: amidst every evil and every change, and MAJ
will in some degree assimlate to God, hop
for and aspire to bissiu, beatifc, and Al
eternal destiny.