Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-01-14
SPEAK THE TRUTH.

$780, |
Among all nations, and as far back
n. history records recourse has been
had to some form Of solemn oath to
to speak tho truth. it
evidently had It's origin In the failure
Of men to perform their duties, and
that failure is clearly the only ground
upon which the necessity or value OF
nm oath can be defended. If men
always, spoke the truth and fulfilled
their obligations, it would be absurd
to require them to resort to any solemn
to that effect. But as this
Il unfortunately not the case, as num-
bers are found in every community
who, for purposes of self-interest, will
utter what Is false, and break trusts
voluntarily assumed, it has naturally
become a matter Of consideration
whether in public affairs, at least, any
greater security for truthfulness or
fidelity can be obtained than simple
assertion or promise. If this object
could be accomplished without intlict-
ing any moral injury on the commu-
nifty, it would DO desirable; but
whether the oath as administered In
our Courts IS calculated to effect this,
Is a question demanding thoughtful re-
Election. There are inherent in every
oath the invocation by which God Is
called to witness the truth Of what Is
sworn, and the %imprecation Of Divine
vengeance upon falsehood or insin-
cerity. The best legal writers agree
that the sanction and force Of the oath
lie peculiarly in the latter element.
Among the early Jews, Greeks,
Romans and other nations, n distinc-
ton WIS made between lesser and
greater oaths, the former being sworn
by objects simply held as sacred or
dear, such as Jerusalem, the temple,
the souls Of the dead, and the ashes Of
their fathers; the latter only by One
who could detect and punish all secret
falsehood. As the less impressive oaths
became M perjury increased.
and public confidence was finally &C
corded only to such a form as involved
the solemn imprecation Of Divine
Judgment. 1t is, however, honestly
doubted by many whether men should
be induced this to invoke curses upon
themselves for a sin which they ac-
knowledge, at least by implication, to
be possible. If it were a moral cer-
tsinty that they would not swerve
from their integrity, or be led by any
unworthy motive into eSaggeration or
concealment, then the oath would
seem 1t best to be a useless form but
as this perfect certainty can nev be
attained, 1t appears somewhat pre-
sumptnous to invoke Divine vengeance
upon our own heads In the event Of
failure. 1t Is urged In favor of the
civil oath that there are many whose
consciences are so hardened by fire.
qucnt untruthfulness that some extra
spur Of fear. Is necessary to induce
them to strict veracity. Yet such
spurs must, Of necessity, be temporary
in their effects, and lose their power
by repetition. An earnest adherent Of
the system says: Ats too frequent
imposition tends rather to weaken
than to strengthen the sense of o5ligl-
tion. In proportion as 1t becomes IA
miliar, its sacredness Is impaired and
its efficacy destroyed. 1t comes to be
regarded as a mere form. and takes no
hold OH the conscience" This, how
ever, would rather tend to show that it
cannot be founded on the immutable
principles Of right, for they are con-
slant In their action, and the moro
they are cherished the stronger their
influence becomes. Establish the prin-
ciple of veracity in the heart of a
child, and every time he utters the
exact truth he strengthens that princi-
pie, until it takes root and cannot be
e~radicated. But where fear and not
principle Is the ruling motive, it
will require continual argumenta-
ton to preserve its influence, and
frequent repetition tends to destroy
Its power. 1t is well known that
there are perjured witnesses and
perjured officials who, once, perhaps,
shrank from all assimilation, but
who can now violate the most solemn
oaths with scarcely a pang. The prac-
teal duty of t%ruthfulness in everyday
life is liable to be impaired in proper
ton as the value of the oath is aug
mented. II 1t Is more sinful to lie
when upon oath, then it must be less
so to violate truth at other times. The
common phrase, 81 will take my oath
TO II" shows the idea to be prevalent
that where falsehood is uttered without
such asseyeration, less guilt is incurred.
Yet the obligation to t%ruthfulness is
complete in itself, and a never be
increased by any artificial methods,
nor can the guilt Of falsehood be
diminished. The manner in which
oaths are frequently administered Is
calculated to deprive them of all SOL
emnity and dignity. The words are
hurried over rapidly and carelessly,
and the whole process is so stcreo-
typed a form that it induces no en-
HANGED sense OF the Divine presence,
or the sacredness of truth. Given and
received in this manner, oaths lose all
real Significance, and sink into mere
forms. There is no class in our coun-
try more respected and honored
for their sincerity and veracity than
the Society of Friends, whose scruples
in respect to oaths are respected by the
laws, and whose simple afirmations
are as implicitly relied on as ths most