Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-02-02
National Extravaganza and Dishon-
esty.

Dishonesty is the damning sin OF
our times. And in no department OF
human life does it work more mis-
chief than in the public service OF the
country, and in the duties which ev-
cry citizen owes to the state and ma
ton. Most especially does this dis
honesty work it's insidious way into
the financial affairs of our national life.
If honesty, pure integrity of charac-
ter, means anything, it must be appli- |
cable to all a man does, and to all he
ia and To all his relations in life. ale |
that transgresseth in one point is
guilty of all, not perhaps because the
transgression shows itself in all that
he does, but because the heart that
would transgress in one thing is in it
self unsound. And if it refuses to
transgress in another thing it cannot
be of its essential honesty, but be-
cause of some lesser, some personal
and meaner nature, which really
proves the want of honest thorough
principle. live plead that we may just
as well steal some of our neighbors'
sheep, because he has more than we,
because he will have enough left for
his own use, and will in no wise suf-
fer from our conduct, because if we do
not John Smith or somebody else will,
or because it is the custom in our
neighbOrhoOd to steal sheep, and we
shall not have equal advantages with
our neighbors unless we take hand in
tn G common business, these three
things will continually be true: First,
the neighbOrhood will be in contin-
ual brOil, and second, that neighbOr-
hood will be very poor place to
raise sheep in, and third, we cannot
claim to be an honest man. All these
things will be true even though other
species of property be left to rightful
owners. The only way to secure order,
prosperity and honesty of charac-
ter in that neighborhood is TO have
every man, woman and child stop
stealing and go to work at some hon
est calling.
Now the neighborhood supposed,
fifty represents our whole nation at
this time, and the sheep business
therein supposed fifty represents the
national treasury. The common bus
mess of the whole people, with excep-
tions too few to need mention, is to
plumber and deplete it. The most
exciting topic of discussion every
where, is this contemplate business
of stealing.
Now that the rebellion is over, and
its wounds are healing, and recon
struction is well nigh accomplished
the great burden Of anxiety and in.
quiry is, how shall we pay our great
debt, and how can the taxes be made
less burdensome But instead of 90
ing about to earn the means, and tt
pay the debt with honest faithfulness
the great sums of money to be hand
led, and the large taxes and excuses
to be collected seem to stimulate ev
cry one to stealing. Each does THU
in his own way, but all with the com
mon spirit of dishonesty. The presi
dent wants friends to support his sink
ing reputation and he appoints then
to Office, without regard to their com
potency and honesty. Seward want
something to connect his name with
80 that it may live in the fame of tn
country and he bargains for foreig
territory. Foreign ministers take fee
to support claims against their owl
governments. Congressman nominal
their lackeys for collectors and post
masters, and exact some perquisite
from them, and these must steal fror
that which goes through their hand
in order to meet these exactions an
hold their places. Assessors will sill
bonus into the pocket with the lei
hand and with the right hand set dow
the diminished figures of some consti
uont's income. The listers fear th
wrath of some Shylock who threa
ems to defeat their next election, c
perhaps the rigid exaction of SON
bond note, or mortgage, if they set hi
property in the list at its full valu,
All cry out against these dishone,
ways which are keeping our debt III
paid and our taxes undiminished. E
pecially do the common people fir,
and scold at this depravity of tt
times, and the burdens it heaps upo
them. But we believe the commc
people are not whit more homes
nor is larger proportion of them ho
est, than of the officers of the COVER
ment. Take the merchants along Il
Canada line, and how many of the
honestly enter and pay the lawful d
ties on all the goods they bring aero
the line? A few pieces of broadcloi
or of silk, or of linen, may have be-
honestly entered, but, however mu
may be sold, the quantity is kept go,
in some mysterious way, which t
darkness ofnight, or the drugged sic
OF sub-collectors can alone accou