The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-13

ton, appointed commission to investigate TIL
subject and report officially. The result Q
their enquiries was astounding. and revealed
systematic iniquity amongst dealers in provi
sions, grocers and the Ike which had beel
wholly unexpected. Chicory for coffee, te
leaves already used, dried and repacked, starcl
for arrow root, liquor diluted below its alleged
proof, or deriving an artificial and very unwhole
some strength from poisonous ingredients, o
tdoctored SO as 10 Ffeit the color and fla
yor Of dearer variety-such were but a small
proportion Of the frauds brought to light b.
the labors Of the British commission Tb,
Stringent laws imposing heavy fines and i'm
prlsonment for their violation which were sub
sequently enacted By parliament, have in som,
measure deferred rascaity from repeating tht
more daring and obvious Of its impostures
\ 1t were greatly to be desired that similar
penal laws existed here, for in this country the
people are quite az much exposed to unscrupu
lous villainy rs in England. II is indeed a
curious and almost anomalous circumstance
that men deemed honorable in the ordinary
private and domestic relations, experience nc
remorse at the practice Of fraudulent sys-
tenn intended % increase their gains. Thus for
example the grocer who sells German cigars,
declaring them to be Spanish; or re:als corn
brandy and calls it cognac Or the drv goods
merchant who asks half dozen prices for his
wares, and sells spotted silks for sound; Of the
frulterer who fills his basket with inferior and
half spoiled plumbs and places few Of Tie
finer sort on the top; or the butcher who palms
tough or tainted meat on the unwary cook. are
all guilty Of offences Of which the law takes
but imperfect cognizance, and which il is rare
ly competent to punish, yet most Of these per
sons look upon such practices as yenal devices
and would Indignantly resent the imputation
Of wilful knaVery. Yet what ese.is it? Per
haps the tradesman who contriyes cunningly
to get rid Of bis damaged goods by swearing
to their excellence is SO far from suspectinu
himself Of being thief that he visits the tenn
pie Of God regularly every Sabbath, assists at
divine service with considerable JUNCTION, and
makes liberal contributions to the charity box.
and altogether thinks himself candidate for
celestial honor and felicity with very fair
chance Of making his calling clear Such men
are entirely ignorant that they are daily and
hourly engaged in the violation Of the Supreme
injunction which says, Thou shaltnot steal
The lax morality Of the age exhibits itself
IN many other aspects. The merchant who
would scorn to defraud his customer fances
there is no Infringement Of right in cheating
the government, BY false invoices At thessA,s-
tom-house, or by smuggling All he breads
IS dlscovery-not that it entails dishonor upon
him, but confscation and loss Evading iury
duty BY trumped up story is regarded as
rather an evidence of smartness than Of evil
TO make bad bargain and then BY misrepre-
sentation to shove it off on some credulous and
ignorant individual tends to elevate ones
reputation as a knowing one, who is not easily
duped. And SO on, in ten thousand different
~l.---~i~ d. tl,oeo practice kuavery who have-l
never been taught the real and eternal distinc
ions between truth and falsehood; who have
been reared to reverence maInmon as lhe chi,fE
god, to devote all their energies to its attain
nent, and to halt at no base trick, or mean de- /
nee which may hasten the fulflment of their
lailIng aspiration, provided they can contrive
Q escape the dangerous meshes Of The law.
There is but one mode Of efectual reform,
IL: Youthful training. Laws may partially
bate the evil, but will not eradicate the dis
position to commit it. Education, home in
uence, the earnest and persevering efforts of
arents to incueate in their children pure moral
rlnciPles and the love Of truth and honesty,
III effect gradual but certain and RADICAL i'm
rovement. Nothing is more trite, and We,
lore absolutely true, than the axiom, TRAIN
P child IN The way be should 60 and when
is old he will not depart from it," AS no {
ne becomes suddenly base, SO no one be- I
omes suddenly virtuous. Whether we fall or {
Sc IN the moral scale, the process is gradual. {
be lrreclaimable miscreant who expiates his t
lines upon the scaffoId can probably recall
5 first temptation and his FIRST lapse; while r
e most devoted christian no doubt remem !
rs the first time he successfully combated !.
g alurement Of sin. and exulted in the con-
TEST over the insidious suggestions Of self ;,
ve 1t we want strictly honorable and cor :
Ct community, We must teach our sons and :;
lighters TO fear God and obey bis command !,
ants.
a German national convention met recently a
Cleveland, Ohio. The purpose Of this con- d
ntion, as set forth in its call, was TO take into s.
nslderatlon the propriety Of organising q
oerate political party. About one hundred b,
q twenty FIVE delegate were present, com b.
sed Of both republicans and democrats, from Of
'ssachusets, New York. Ohio. Pennsylva in
I, New Jersey, and Illinois, The German m
IS had generally spoken against the con- fiji
ltIon, vlewingit as unnecessary and unca- co
Tor, and this fact accounts for the smaIness fe
he attendance. After harmonious ses- til
,, IN which the whole subject was fully dis.
sed, it wisely adjourned sine die. witbou, til