The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-07-19
!" Thou ihalt not bear false witness against
.sa Thy Hsighbor."

HuVtC oIVutOtI DCSstto W uovo Sss~~~s ~s>
the sins forbidden by the decaloglo Into
popular aud unpopular, fashionable and
unfashionahle bat for what good reason
this preference % given to one sln iDoro
than anolhcr We never could imagino-nor
can We understand why one sin, In tho sight
Of God, would 10 % much moro heinous
than another. ''..
The sin Of bearing false witness against
our neiglitor secins at the present day to bo
very prevalent, aud is generally winkcd ut
by tho community. Bearing false witness
We understand to mean not only fhls0
swearing In our courts Of justice, making
false oalhs leforu civil magistrates, but as
including every species Of scandsl and un.
meriied attack upon the character. I'm.
derstood in this broad, fr,is sense, we shall
at once perceive that this sin is alarmingly
prevalent! ...
An editor can scarcely express an opin.
ion, an author pen an article, q minister
preach q sermon, a deacon naks pmycr,
or church.mcmber make trade, without
provoking an attack OF this sort from some
body. We mean IL their opinions and ar.
to make guilty. men feel their guilt and lead
to reformation.
An author writes q book. speaking his
own honest convictions Of truth, fully and
fearlessly; he does II we'll knowing tho
consequences, because te sincerely believes
he has found the truth, and is in duty bound
to publish Il, when the whole "mass Of
mind" Standing on his platform, or the plat.
form be stood on before his opinions were
changed, Is "down upon him" Tie is
branded as an infdel, q come-outcr. here
tic, and Is straightway cast out Of their syn.
agogue.
A minister breaches against the sin Of
granting licenses to make drunknrls, de-
bauchees and prostitutes; breaches 20 that
he Is understood Hc doesn't call drunken.
ness simply getting little tight or over OK.
cited. and bacclanalian rcycl slight pee
cadillo, q poor human frnilty, which Il
would be desirable for his hearers to guard
against. but he calls things by their right
names, and leaves tho men who do these
things where the Bible says they will be;
and the first thing he knows Inc Is branded
as bad man, and Is ''hauled up" before
the public to play OF their small shot upon;
and thus he is harricd and teascd In tho
hope that his mouth will be shut, his pulpit
become empty, bis character ruined, and
their "craft no longer in danger" while tho
scandalized has no redrcss.
Another form Of false witness in our day
is, to accuse men whose moral character
stands fair, or who are supposed To bo
wealthy, Of certain crimes in the hope TO
extort money from them. II a man is ac-.
cused of a disgraccli,l sin, It's supposed
that ho had rather pay 1hush money" than
have tho report come out, especially In a
case where he may not be able to prove his
innocence. r..--.
Take case NJ mn illustration:
An unprinciplcd woman. whose vile con-
duct and deeds OF shame are about to 10
brought to light, knowing that the law will
allow her oath IN certain cases, looks about
her To see if more conspicuous or moro
wealthy person than her vile associate can.
not bc iound TO father her guilt. lf 10, her
disgraee would not seem quite 30 bad, q,nte
so Loio. IL she could only pull down an
angel with her, would not her fall bo less
dishonorable Or perhaps she mny get
money hy the maneuver. Al last q man
is found, who, from the circumstances. Of
some local proximity, may not be aide TO
prore her oath falsity; oath 10 therefore,
made ugsinst him; threatening letters are
sent him, aud if the chances oc success ap-
pear favorable, u suit il commenced by tho
cxtOrtiOner. .Ur
That this thing has been done, and Is be-
ing done by unpnpcipled, fallen females, Is
no secret. Ask our legal gentlemen how
many such cases occur every year, and
you will bo surprised at their answer. And
is there no rcdrcss3 Must the innocent DO
compelled to spend hundreds and thou.
sands Of dollars, il may he, in defence Of
their selEearncd and lifelong ,cIuitaiion,
simply l'ecaise false witness is horne by
ono whose very guilt argues great moral
defect of character?
in our opinion, this species Of falsc wit.
ncss Is of n darker stnmp than highway
robbery. II man Is attacked on the high.
way he can defend himself by physical
force, hut when attacked in this covert way
wc Zee hut little hope OF escape. Let us
then. call things by their right name, and
give every sin, however Questionable u
may he, the position il merits on tho black
catalogue Of fcrime.-Boston CGiirdtor.