Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-04

huIlg MAruen.
LECTURE BY Gro. W. CURTls.-Netwith-
standing the double attractions in thsline oi
lectures, last evening, the Melodeou wai
thoroughly filed with first class audience,
who listened eagerly to the smooth, flowing
discourse of Geo.. W. Curtis, the genial wri-
ter and speaker. Mr.. Curtis is young and
fresh looking, as indeed how could the au-
thor of the ''Potiphar Papers" and 's9rue
and ], be otherwise. His delivery is very
pleasing.
Mr.. Curtis was introduced by W. P. Fogg,
and commenced with an illustration Of the
axiom that Honesty is the best Policy
or, in other words honesty pays. A little boy,
exhibited by his fond mother as an example
of early piety, was often asked, (which will
you have, verse of psalm to learn, or a
gingerbread nut ?" He replied, "Give me
a verse to learn; the angels sing psalms,
and I want to be a little angel here below. -
The little speculator knew that for such an
answer he would get two gingerbread nuts
beside the psalm. He knew that piety paid.
With pleasant anecdotes and happy illustra-
tions, the lecturer proceeded with his sub
ject, warming up until he carried the audi
ence with him in ell his varying moods.
TIE F-ectiee of Christandnna- sivea q
practical denial to the maxim, that q" hon
esty is the best policy" while they oOntinu-
ally repeat the principle to their children.
If it were true that Honesty is the Best Poll
cy, we should find that the most prosperous
lawyers, merchants, politicians, &c, were
the honestest. Let US draw the slide of our
lantern and see how this proves. What do
we mean by commercial morality" but
honesty so far as it brings US good profits
What is the object of the last effort of our
American merchants in the expedition to
Japan2 Is it the introduction Of Christian
civilization ? I think it is 70 suck money
from Japan Qaughter), The highest Chris
tianity of our nation is not, and never was,
coineident with her greatest commercial
prosperity. The Dutch have been some OF
the greatest traders in the world have they
also been a moral power in the worldf But
we need not go away to Holland, when We
can look out of the windows and see our own
course. While we call ourselves a Christian
people, and free people, trade taps US on
the other shoulder and says, {" Look al
Stocks" and we pray to Good God and Good
Devil, and wonder which is going to carry
as off at last.
know that the safety of trade is not in
the speed of the locomotive itself, but the
speed of the driver that stands behind it.
We have dashed on at astonishing speed. but
history teaches us that the national con-
science may be maddened by the rush and
roar. With the mean eloquence Of selfish
ness, trade pleads with the convictions Of our
hearts. The old Greek Mythology said,
''Let Mercury be the god Of merchants, 2
and then added, "let Mercury be the god Of
thieves also" Dick Turpin, snatehiDg our
purse and leaping the fences across the
country, is not so very different from erich
ard Turpin, Esq, one of our most respecta-
bic citizens, (" to whom we point our children,
as an example for their admiration and i'm
itation.
Mr.. Curtis analysis of the honesty in
trade, in law, il politics, and in the pulpit,
was scathins, but never the less true, He
| laid bare some hideous scars upon the body
polite, at the polls, and in Legislative halls.
/ So long as honest nen refuse to 20 into
politics, on the ground that they were too
pure to defle themselves with its pollution,
the wheels of our national chariot are sink
ing down, down, down into the mire, and it
is only when these men 90 down themselves
and put their shoulders to the wheels, even
though they be mirsd from head to foot, that
the chariot viii move on in a glorious fame
Of patriotism and honor. The only hope Of
the world is honesty, for without honesty
there is no justice, and without justice there
is no peace. But our good mother Liberty
viii yet come to Us, not amid clash Of
steel, but amid the rustic of paper ballots,
which, like millions of wsrbling birds, shall
sing that song of 'peaee on earth, good viii
to men, which the Rorld has so long ached
to hear. I6 "a