Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-08-22
TCoM,lUNICATED.


-" q. 80
MEAN N ESS-BY J. B. JOHNSON. So :
When the /buoys which Christianity has
paced, here and there, amid the dark waters
of the trackless ocean OF existence, to direct
the life-v0yage of man, are removed, he mas
but little for boastfulness for when LETT to toll
low the eldictates of selflove, he soon presents
sad Spectacle Of deformed object, distorted
BY fhe power Of an unrestrained hcentl0ns-
ns5s, and dashes on his careless career with
more than brute vehemence Ills better ma
ture becomes as pitess as his worst cravings
are relentless, aud of all animals, he grows
most terrible aud destructive to his kind. De-
moralization develops his craven spirit, and the
willes, extravaganza possesses his mind. Night
and day, he seeks, with savage vigilance, all
opporlunity to mar or destroy the welfare OF
his fellow-creatures; and Of all animated crca-
ton, manilests the greatest Inclination to prey
upon his genus An irrepresble desire to
wrong his fellow beings, keeps him constantly
scbeminy to make others instrumental in CON
ducine to the maintenance OF the estimate
which he forms of himself, and, notwlthstand-
ing his superiority as an animal, he has stamp
ed upon his habits, all those characteristics
which have ever marked him as a reckless, sell
fish, and unhappy being. When the constant
and reiterated appeals Of civilization tame his
wilder animose, he becomes somewhat subdued,
but never entirely reclaimed, and contents him
self in gaining by petty cunning, those advan-
tages, which, in state OF nature, he would ac-
quire by physical force This cunning is the
parent of Meanness, and cvinces all the attr-
butes that belong to the machination which Is
indicative OF it..
The mind has not yet attained the capacity
to discern perfection; and the predomlnant
motive in man s nature to be mean, has gwen
rise to the multitude Of laws which regulate the
business and social pursuits OF lite. The ne
cessity of such laws indicates that deception IS
the ruling sentiment OF the human breast, ana
that one man must force another to be honora
ble rather than leave it to chance that he will
be truthful in his promises, and just In his
conduct. Charity and patience do much to-
wards lulng the complaints Of honor, but cx-
perienoe procaims that the less confidence one
reposes in the voluntary virtue of another, the
better it will be for the good of his health, mo.
rality and property; for many an lndlvidual
has regretted that he did not guard himself
against the baseneSs of his fellowman, while
no one has ever yet repined that he adopted
those means which4were likely to protect him
from fraud and betrayal; and he who IS most
wary in his daily transactions, will be the most
successful in euding the many perpleyltles that.
are produced by misplaced confidence; tor
the heart of man is deceittul above all things
and desperately wicked - and he who concelves
it otherwise, will have much OF his lab Dor unre-
warded, and the fruit of it CLEANED by those
who will prove unworthy of its garnerlng.
With some Meanness becomes habit, and
their every act is moved by desire to over
reach all with whom they deal. Such an aban-
donment of principle is far more common than
durable, and it renders man as unreliable, as
it makes him despicable. ltis much Increased
by practice, and inures the thoughts of an iud-
vidual to every little device OF cunning to enable
him to cheat and deceive, for when he once
yields to it's temptation, he soon acquires great
skill in making sharp BARGAIN, aud rapidly
becomes au adept in all the mlnutlae OF the low
tricks of traffic 1t is not long before he rearS
the foundation of an Infamous character; and,
after losing his selfrespect, appeals tor Gre
dence, to the lowest passions to give tood to
that appetite which vile nature fosters to
bring all superiority to its filthy level. The
perpetratiOn of the various acts of meanness,
makes him the plague spot of his community,
and, however we'll his adroitness may keep
him ahoat upon the current OF the hustle OF
the day he is marked and Stunned by all who
kpow him; for his very presence excltes con
tempt, and when the eye meets bis form, his
abominable acts present themselves, like amap,
to the mind. He is ever consistent With his
traits, and will peril great deal OF personal
comfort to perform desplcabie deed, Or 10
tetray those whom he cannot cheat; tor SIN
eular fascination impels him to the most dis
& 49,, Of yoh n
/ envy, and, remark kable as it may appear, he Is
encouraged to great extent by thai perreralty
OF life which leads 1nanY 10 delight more III
hearing of The ruin and disgrace OF their npph-
4 nents 10 business, than ~ their honor and
{ prosperity. a-. H..
Such are some of the evidences OF MeaGnesS,
s and as all men are sordld to 4 greater or less
degree, the -wsest conservatism Is that when
3 lucucatcs the necessity of throwing around all
q business engagements those rules und systems
which law indicates us the proper means to insure
B 0ne man arainst being wronptd or deceived rs
Il another; for when heanneaa has the advantage
8 IN transaction. 1t IL not apt to recognise any
6 OF the restraints ct honor, and scli-oge ever
8 delights in SuccecllnE beyond lts expectations
q III whatever it undertakes. Therefore, it be-
81 LooVeS every one TO measure his pursuit hy
81 hrmne$s and precision in orderto leave 20 mar
q fin to tempt ne.ccnary motives to Practice
q those acts which render a mans name odious
B to all the impulses of rcciitude; torthe absence
81 OF suitable precaution in the dealings o trade,
4 Is alone the parent of many Of the children Of
& 'raud, and rropagatcs those ycxations which
81 are So often Incident to the common concerns
]. "i llfe. But all are not equally depraved, and
s. The teaching OF Religions not entirely lost upon
So every man. As The seeds cast by the same
81 hand, do not always produce perfect plants, so
sa he precepts Of morality DO not always ensure
81 Uniform results; and the mind that is actuated
So lE all its desires byInoblc motives, should not
,K be stunned by disappointment finding how
81 lnany thereare who will act; sordldly, when
s real or apparent security invites their evil pro-
$50 $50 each should bear towards the other. .-a