Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-07-27
SINS OF RsspzorAB1LrrY.

Of their deformity wherever they are
visible. The public voice is raised, and
with justice, against the gambler, the
piekpocket, the burglar and the drunk
ard. Felony, brutality and whatever is
revolving and disgusting to those whose
range Of life is limited BY respectable
associations, are universally held 10
contempt and aversion, and the perps-
traitors are punished aud despised. But
whore sin clothes itself in q respectable
dress, and has the ssmplanee Of good
ness, the dignity Of its appearance
seems to command q certain admiration
and applause, that is Of itself sufficient
to encourage and p%srpetuats 1t. Sins
of fame, honor, power and rsputs, the
hypocrisy Of goodness, the imposturss
of learning, the e1tortions of wealth,
the cruelty Of oppression, are oftsn not
only practiced With impunity, but re-
garded by lookers-on with o degree OF
lenisncy and even respect that is denied
to the moro apparent vices. Even the
same sin, committed In different phases
Of society, and with different degrees Of
breeding and culture, will be looked
upon 10 vastly different lights. The lie
dirsc. of one whom We style vulgar and
common will excite loud condemnation,
while the polite and courteous untruth
OF one in high life is but an asserted
liberty Of his station. The mechanic
who refuses to pay his groser's bill is
called a knaye, while the fashionable
lady who delays paying her ssamstress
from month to month, till endurance 10
exhausted, is still smilingly received in
and esteemed by the circle in which she
moves. So the sin Of idlsness 10 repre-
hended with the utmost severity when
INDUCED in by the poor man, while 10
the SON or daughter Of the wealthy it is
esteemed a polite accomplishment.
The idea that sin is less guilty and
moro respectable because presenting o
less revolving aspect, is n that will,
should it gain ground, sap the founda-
lions of morality. All stu is essentially
of the same nature, differing only in
manner and degree, and though it may
DO of o shade anywhere from faint twi.
light to midnight darkness, 1t all
proclaims the loss Of the clear
shining Of the light Of truth and good
ness. Though it may put on the CLOTH
ing Of p~oliteness, fashion and culture ;
though it may exist with wealth, learn
ing and fame, it has tho same radical
quality as that which in the lower
walks of life produces such revolving
crimes. Indeed, respectable sin is
| often more base in its internal nature
than that which is open and unblush-
ing. For the latter, at least, acts un-
der no cover, and accepts its natural
results, while the former hides itself
behind the shadow of some outward
advantage, which protects it from the
contempt and reproaeh it would other
wise receive. Besides this, many OF
the characters who are held to be the
mos. ~dspraved, have been trained to
the life they lead many are Ignorant
of any higher rewardso Of existence than
tho mere qualification Of appstites and
passions. Accustomed from their in.
fancy 10 behold sin and degradation,
they have no natural adherence for it,
while the virtues Of purity have SC
rarely been opened to their view thai
thoy have never learned to prize them
How much greater crimiuality then
must attach to those who have no such
plea to Offer in excuse, but who yet in
dulge in similar vices, and who com.
NIT like sins, even though softening
and subduing their appearance to
suit the moro refined atmosphere Of
society in which they move.
Respectable sin 10 also more injurious
to society than its more open manifesto
tions. If the latter disturb the security
Of the public by crime, and tax its purse
for prisons and poor-houses, they at least
offer NO iuducemeutsto those who wit
ness the results. Open sin always re-
pels, and never attracts, and it even
serves to many a the beacon light to
warn them from temptation. But upon
turning away from openly repulsirs sin
to that which is attractive, fascinating
and delicious in its forms, how differen,
the result Here all conspires to allure
tho unwary to the Same fatality from
which they before .shrunk in horror
and the moro thoroughly wsll-bred, re-
spectacle and successful the man may be
who cherishes these sins Of respecta.
bili,y, the more injury he inficts upon
society. The young and untried espe.
cially look upon him in admiration, and
while pricing his advantages, they too
readily learn to initiate his errors. The
great danger of all sins shielded by ont.
ward respoctability is that they are
rarely brought to the light, 30 that their
real nature may be discovered. Could
those who practice them see their true
character rs they appear to Him who
alone is pure, and who knows the ss-
crets Of every heart, they would be as
touished at the depth Of degradation to
which they have sunk. Sin is equally
sinful 10 the rich and the poor, the learn.
ed and the ignorant, the houorsd and
the scorned ; and from the man to whom
the most has been given, the most will
be required.
OK Thursday mornings train from
the East we met with Rev. 8. R. Brown,
n n l.tu., AZ " -ha 18th hts