The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-05-15
Are You a COunterfeiter!

What use do you make. reader. of a coun-
terteit tifty-cent postage ''stamp" which
you find in your pocket-book, and do not
know where it has come from?
Do You invariably tear it up, or burn it
up; are you careful that it does not get out
of your pocket, into circulation againo
Have you not some time rolled up such a
bit of fractional currency, suspecting it to
be counterfeit, and willing to ''get rid of
it by chance or accident, as it wcre-and
SO keep square with your conscience
We have seen men-men whom we would
lave trusted with our pocket books-return
a counterfeit fifty-cent piece to their pock-
cts after they We're convinced that it was
spurious. What does such an action mean
provided that the man is ignorant, as is
generally the case, as to where he got the
counterfeit? 1t means that he is not ready
to bear the loss Of fifty cents like an hon.
est man. The action is dishonest action
lie has no L ght to put a counterfeit where
there is any possibility of his passing it in
proceeding is to burn it or tear it up the
very moment its worthlessness becomes ev-
ident. Do not hesitate second. If yon
have not this habit fixed upon you, cult
vate it! Without it you are in league with
counterfeiters. You are one ofthe gang"
You are not an honest man. Let this rule
apply to a ten-cent "stamp" and to a ten
dollar greenback equally and rigidly.-
There are only two questions to be asked.
SIS this counterfeit?' Yes" "Do I
know who gave it to me?'' NO Burn
it-tear it up-do not return it to your
pocket as you value your honesty.
There is law i'll Michigan-and in some
other States, we suppose-compelling every
bank to stamp the word counterfeit, in
large black letters, across every spurious
bill presented at their counter, for what
ever purpose it may be presented, under
whatever circumstances, and upon what
ever bank in the United States it may be
counterfeit We once saw an apparently
respectable man present a twenty-dollar
Dill 10 Iile tcllcf Vi tie -hiCHlSdH lIlSuIdilce
Bank. in Detroit He merely wished to
know if it was a counterfeit. The teller
made no answer. but simply brought down
powerful stamp upon its face, and handed
it back. with the word counterfeit - star
ing its astonished proprietor in the face
We never saw darker cloud pass over a
human countenance. Oath followed oath.
in an Intellectual effort to express the man S
Indignation. Every oath stamped ''coun-
terfeit upon that mans character in let
tiers rs large and plain as those upon the
bill. Not that he would have acted as 4
direct accomplice of professional counter
fciters; but he was not prepared to do what
common honesty misunderstanding the
spurious bank note and meet his own loss
honorably.
OF course. says every reader. he intended
to pass the bill-and that would be dishon-
est.
And what is your practice reader? Do
you destroy every little piece of postal cur
rency as soon as you discover its worthless
ness or do you put it in the roll in your
vest pocket. and let it take its chances with
its com, anions when You are paying car
fares or for lunches and cigars? If you
do not destroy it, you are absolutely dtshon
est This compromising with conscience is
more contemplate than unflinching rob-
berry,. Y. Erening Mail