Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1867-01-23
SlAkDER.

other. Christianity not only Iorbids
contriving mischief against a neigh
Dor, but enjoins towards him benevo-
lence as circumstances permit and
necessities require. You are not
then to invade your neiahbor's honor.
4 good name IS no contemplate treas
ure the wise prize it beyond estates.
! as It adorns birth and dignifes even
poverty. Reputation IS not at our
| disposal; 1t can never be transferred
/ by deed or mort age, nor can another
claim It. Am | your debtor? the law
Will aid, bat YOU can lay no bill upon
my honor. But with what freedom
and assurance one assails aucther's
reputation, as though it were goods
without owner and belonging to the
first invader. :" ! only Jest" saws the
vllltier; but though you sport voU stab
+ your Uicttnl IN earnest. " He IS nv
enemy > says another; did YOU inform
( your associates Of this circumstance.
YOU might perhaps detract more and
SIN less, for but few believe an enemy.
" hen the heart is out of tune the
tongue Is commonly wrong. but Won
( OIL your darts to make them pierce
the deeper, and thus employ artihce
to second malice, and abuse your ia
/ geH"ity to destroy the innocent Gou
assume the right TO assam the name OF
! him YOU call foe, y because YOU lack
power to aEront his person. But sup
I posing him an enemy, vou are not
nrOiessCd intidel. II he has failed IN
oulL' must yoU betray truth lor pas
SONS sake Ils lmpety cannot
warrant yours. EeTenge belongs TO
heaven ; at zoo 5 bar then plead yoUr
cause ana rom ms judgment expect
fedress- LOOK hcmeWard perhaps
there YOU bnd matter Tor satire and
work Tor repentance there yoE may
blame without detractlon and condemn
without sin. Put sentinel on YOUR
tongue, for 1t IS si'p0cry member;
/ anu though nature framed 1T Tor mo-
ton, malice has Htted IL Tor a'scAlet ;
ana though child can set IT ago.n@.
yet all the force OF reason and checks
OF conscience scarce su-lco to stop It's
career. Because this puuv member
sins more than the whole body, must
1t enjoy uncontrolled freedom : Too
oft the dlstemper Is beToro remedy.
and the radically injected carry the
conraglon to the grave. Detraction
IS sin, and therefore the offender lies
under an indispensable obligation Of IN
Identifying the injured person. Now
the sianderer rifles hIs nclghaor.s hon
or, blasts hs rel utation. and should
therefore make good the loss; ; and as
the tongue is guilty ct the theft, so
should 1t rendcrthe satisfaction. The
wounds of honor are healed only bv
the instrument that made them Nor
IS this severe. for it is much easier to
blush than burn for fault.
We cannot plead custom, for though
1t NAV increase guilt, it cannot posi-
bly, lessen It. The disposition we
evincr to conserve our own fame
should be inspired with some tender
ness for another's. He is. as we'll as
ourselves, acquainted with that ines
Unable treasure, and Is equally uu-
willing to expose 1t to the mercy Of
netuLcnt tongues. An humble con
tesslon IS no degrading satisfaction.
If the profession be honorable, the
practice can never be otherwise. If.
YOU blush not to wound yorr neigh
bor's fame, feel not ashamed TO heal
it. Sin should be accompanied by
intamv as well as ronorse, and peni-
tcnce be waited on by glory and hon
or but, strange, the tables are turned
shame to repentance ana culogy 10
sin
The difference between evil men and
good. lies not in the esteem Of virtue.
but the practice. Do you saw that fear
IS clownish and an elfcminate weak
ness? But co1cardscs and fear are sv-
nonomous Mother in philosophy nor
morals. Ti0t IS ALWAYS a vice. Hzz
oft-timcs virtue. When prudence
commands fear. boldnezs j tcmer.ty
and folly. It IS covardice to desmond
and succumb to danger which ralor
can subdue, but it Is rashuess to con.
tend with power above human force.
The principles Of men opposing these
maxims are as rotten as their prac- /
tices are impure. The use Of zneech
has so sverved from its original 'insti- /
tuition. that it IS become an incum- /
brance and a snare. The speaking