The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-03-20
EVIL SPEAKING.

FEW months since, in conversation with friend
who la formerly resided here, he made the re
mark that during his three days visit here, he had
heard more slandcr, calumny, aud evil speaking
than he had heard in three years residence in q
neighboring city.
This assertion has caused me ever since, to notice
all conversation of this nature in our midst in or
der to test the justice of his remark. am now sat
isfed that 1t is peculiarly prevalent evil in ouI
midst in order to test the justice of his remark.
am now satisfied that il is peculiarly prevalent
evil in our community, however unwilling we may
be to acknowledge the fact.
1t prevails at the firesde and tea table - in the
common village intercourse - in our street corner
interviews - in the saloon revelry's, and even il
our public newspapers.
Every rejecting observer must be struck with
the fact that go where you WILL the most common
subject of conversation is individual character
Evil speaking, as the term is generally used, has
no reference to all the evils of the tongue. I dc
not understand that it has reference to cursing
swearing, blasphemy, obscenity, etc, but includes
slander detracton, backbitng, talcbearing. and
consciousness and of these latter forms only shall
speak at this time. Slanlcr is the fabrication
in truth
AS no man can invent or knowingly propagate a
false report against his ncighbor, without the most
hateful malice he who takes up and spreads
the calumny without examination, shows an indif-
ference to his neghbors reputation which is utter
ly inconsistent with love and good feeling.
Deracton is another form of the evil, and al
ways seeks foundation in truth.
While the slanderer stops not at the sacrifice ot
truth, the detractor dares not to 20 that far he
only ventures nsinuations. He feeds on the sup
posed intrmites of good men he gives the high
est colorng to his faults = he puts the worst con
struction on whatever is doubtful in his conduct -
he imputcs his unqucstionaby good actions, to un-
worthy motives, and always endcayors to arouse
suspicious and prcjudiccs against those he feels to
be a rival or superior.
The Sian l>r,r and detractor both, betray con
seriousness of falschood and inca ness and the cow
ardisc of conscious untruth and basencss.
There is something peculiarly diabolical in that
malignity which seeks AMI rejoces in an injured
character, and which can sacrifice truth, in order
to destroy reputation.
Slander and dctracon assume the form of bac OK
biting when committed, 5 they usually are, in the
injured persons absence, or bohind his back.
The next form Of the evil is tacbcaling and con
fidential whispering. There persons who alb
hor framing a slander, and would dread circulating
known out and out lie, who yet take delight in
tattliug. They take a strange delight in spreading
the bad tidings concerning individuals, and effect
to be in the confidence OF everybody. The tattlcr
is the sanderers drudge, and the backbior's tool
engaged in the low business of publishing the lbels
and posting up the placaris of defamation.
Beware of the censorious individual, who cannot
see any good in his neighbors, who is constantly
proclaiming their faults, rcproaches their motives,
and undertaking their ability and moral worth
They are baneful nuisances in the social circle
and the root of much evil in all associations.
1t is a sad omen of the times that this evil is Sc
general in the world, and ii is particularly unrortu
nate for u.s. as village, to have it Distinguishing
trait in our character.
Would 1t not be to our profit, to heed the injunc-
ton of the apostle to "let all bitterness and wrath
and anger, and clAmor, and evil speaking, be put
away from us?" w.