Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-08-12
Lying ard It's Effects.

why ne should have insured her life for
f22 900.
Lying ard It's Effects.
A fundamental lie is bad thing for a
cause. 1t argues badness throughout. A
cause that needs falseheod to Sustain it in
any part of its framework may be safely set
down as unworthy: but one that has an un-
truth for its foundation, is daubly cQndem-
ned Such cause can gaiu no approval
from just God nor from an honest man
Well-intentloned men may for a time
though excess of devotion to theory, Or
Of faith in a leadership, fail to see the fa!-
lacy: bat when they do see it they will a.
bandon it and the cause that rests upon a
structure SO untenabe
Let us give an example: This war is BY
its advocates, said to be carried on in the
cause Of freedom Liberty is said to be i'm.
bodied in the Constitution. The Constitu-
ton and liberty OF people are said to be put
i; jeopardy y - a.. rebellion. This is the
ground apon which tire war 10 crush t!.c
g22hccll.o. Is justified Il follows that If
the Constitution and liberty are not put in
jeopardy there is no Justification for the war.
It not carried on in the cause Of human
freedom; and all the reasons urged for its
prosecutions are fallacious
Now the secession put in jeopardy nei-
ther liberty nor the Constitution. 1t did
not put either in any peril whatever. A
people inhabitins portion of the terrific
ry before included within the national
boundaries, drew off. dissolved their polit
ical connection with the remainder, created
political institutions of their own, leaving
the others to enjoy those whom their fathers
created. This was all, The very rights
which they claimed for themselves indica
ted their acknowledgements Of equivalent
rights in those from whom they had sep
aratcd.
If the secession did not put in jeopardy
either liberty or its guarantee, the Consti
tuition if it implied neither threat nor an
ger to the freedom or franchises Of the peo
pie adhering to the constitution Of 1887
it follows that the ground upon which the
war was iuauguratel and is prosecuted, IS
false.
The cause Of coercion labors under the
disadvantage of standing under funda-
mental lie. II is therefore bad oause-a
.eaesse which no measure Of success can
sanctify. Being bad cause. it stands un-
der he disadvantage which attaches to all
bad causes; that its apparent success will be
real injuries; and falsehood and crime.
Where a falsehood is adopted, and made
principle. one phenomena always follows
its constant reiteration It's devotees seem
willing to damn themselves, in order. by
repetition, to transform that which they
are conscious is lie into truth. The
repetition indicates at once their conscious
ness eff It's falsity, and their fears that it
will be exposed Hence the daily, hou.ly
allegations. We are fighting for liberty,
the Constitution is in danger There alp
pears hope that by saying these things
times enough, they will be able to convince
themselves and others that they are true.
tits the instinct of coun,erfeiter who
certifes to his coin, because he knows it to
be worthless.
These people do know it. The lie is
palpabe-so palpable that it is waste OF
words to go about to expose it. There are
some, perhaps, to whom this not plain
tut IT, y re those who do not reason ;whose
opinions are simply taken unon trust from
Others in whom they confde But they
who take an Influential part in political af-
fairs know it know it perfectly know it
as we'll as they know that they exist. They
lie with their eyes omen. and their percep,
tons unclouded; clergyman-the keepers
Of the consciences OF the people-journ
alsts the popular Instructors place men,
Office seekers. party leaders; from the pres
d ent to the door-keeper Of party conyen-
ticle.
It is always bad 10 have q lie abroad:
PUT to have such a lie as this. dragging
after 1T consequences so melancholy and
events SO portentous, is horrible. AS the
consequences and events make up the sun
Of cur history, and are the fabricators Of
our destiny, TO foot up in one product ts
evil results, would surpass all human pow
ers Of calculation. We live in an atmos
phere of falsehood; think, talk and breathe
shame and illusions. A horrid nightmare
begotten Of lies rests upon US The smoke
Of the bottemless pit, wherelies are gener-
afed, rises up, distortipg and obscuring tho
perceptions Of men, dragging their con-
science, and preparing them to encourage
and justify crime Cincinnati Enquirer.
SON, Time Ago.
Tas Ha -tford (Connec icut) Times
copies the following advertisement from the
Kingston New York Gazette of June
IA, 1900. upon which it makes the remarks
appended:
''Fon SALE The one half Of saw mill
lying in the town of Rochester. And also
a stout. healthy, active negro wench =
Apply to John SHOEMAKER, Jr., at Rocn