Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-26
Honesty the best Policy.

Where money is the universal OBJ
ject, the possessor Of money will be
practically honored. The honor
will undoubtedly be affected in some
degree by the method of obtaining
the money. If it is pirates meth
cd or a highwayman's, if we know
that throats have been cut and blud-
geons used to obtain it, or if we see
the thief actually 'riAing his neigh
boris pockets, we shall ha>lly invite
him to dinner, aud that money will
not become respectable until the
next generation. But if fthe process
is more artfully concealed; if the
money is not labeled Extensively, but
is quietly converted into sa.in dam
ask and champagne; if we do not
read on the buhl and ormolu tables
and cabinets an inscription stating
that this beautiful work of art was
taken out of the throat OF spanish
trader opened for that purpose, or
upon the inlaid ebony lounge that
it was extracted from the pocket of
o ridiculous old widow who had
nothing else-if nothing of this
gross kind appears, our well-bred
curiosity is not impertinent, and We
sit upon the sofa and quaff the wine
without further thought.
1t is in this way that honesty has
ceased to command that respect to
which it is proverbially entitled.
Indeed, to Look at many a city con-
gregation, recognizing many of the
persons, and knowing .heir careers,
and hearing the precepts of integg-
risy and seif-denial, Of personal
holiness, and even Of martyrdom if
need he, which are eloquently urged
upon them, inevitably suggests the
allusion of Carlyle to the hypocrisy
which is SO confounded when it is
suspected of being hypocritical.
Men measure conduct by the real
esteem IN which it is held. If a
foul-mouthed, profane Thersites,
who filings Ills dinner-plate upon
the floor at public hotel 70 express
his dissatisfaction with the banquet
evidently forieits no social consid-
Grafton, profanity aud ill-behavior
will not seem to be things to be
strenuOusly avoided. II a sharper
who CANDLES in stocks and cheats
his neighbors airiIy is laughed at
pleasantly as an eccentlically queer
( llow, All immense impulse Is given
to the resolution to be eccentncally
queer in the same way. If q politi-
clan with the conscience Of fox
and the honor of an adder bellows
his devotion to the dear people, and
vociferously appeals 70 the moral
sentiments, while his career insults
them all, is thought, first of all, a
confounded smart fellow who may
not be too nice upon some points
but who always falls upon his feet,
such politicians will abound, and
public affairs falling into their hands
will inevitably suffer.
All these figures are we'll known
70 us in this country; and when the
eloquent preacher ezclaims. "Be-
yond peradventure, brethren, hon.
esty is the best policy We all turn
aud look at the richest man in the
congregation, whose invitations We
do not dare to refuse, who leads ut
chained to his triumpbal chariot al
the Roman generals led Daciar
kings, and whose money was a.
stolen, not earued. Aud near hin
sits another whom we should no
care to invite to our houses, but fol
wqom we vote, upon some theory
that a political iuiriguer and bribel
will make good laws. And in mex
pew behold the unjust judge, whose
health we publicly drink in his 6wr
wine when he sends it to us q
table. We see them, We meditat.
their careers, We consider theil
prosperity. and We gaze at the goot
preacher who repeats, "Once moro
dear brethren, lay it to heart, hon
esty is the best policy" Might ht
not as proftably murmur "Mesepo
tamia?"
But when circumstances, as lately
in New York, suddenly scatter th.
glamour OF prosperity and revea
the naked dishonesty, then the ole
truth which is lodged in the yer,
substance of things appears, tina