The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-18
SPEAKING III OF THE DEAD.

from the London Saturday ReView,l
1tis obcious that the old de n1ortuis rule is
liable to some abuse, and that it should be ap-
piled only within certain limits. In the hrst
place, If 1t were to be strictly enforced, 1t
would put stop to good deal OF history.
There might be some difficulty In determining
in a satisfactory manner how many years or
centuries person should be dead before his
personal character and career on earth be-
come legitimate subject for Impartial and
ontspoken criticism. Looking merely to
moral consequences, We should say that It is
of more importance that contemporary scoun-
drels should be painted In their true colors
than that strict Judgments should be passed
on those who may be said to belong to history.
There Is no reason to suppose that the eetnu-
siasm of q popular historian for the character
of Henry VIII has exercised baneful inhu-
ence on the conjugal behavior Of British nus
bands; but If Henry VIII had lived IN our
own day, and had recently y,o hIgarse ngurse
Court, there might be some danger lest the
attempt to present him in an amiable and
pleasing light should encourage Imitation and
immortality. 1t ls not very often that anybody
resolyesto shape his course after the example
OF remote historical personage. II MODEL
is chosen, 1t is usually sought In contemporary
was very much Influenced in early life nv
reading the autobiography Of Benjamin Frank
lin. and iC is possible that laudatory narra-
tive of his own career might afford dangerous
encouragement to aspiring youth. Funeral
sermons are not unknown IN this country, but
they are happily branch OF clerical enter
nrIse which has hitherto not been much cult
vated among us. 1t would appear that the
press has been gradually usurping this func-
lion OF the pulpit, Without much regret or
iealouey on the part of the occupants OF Inc
latter. What the lawyers would eau tae
ttcommon form" of funeral sermons Is appa-
rently borrowed from the tomostones a InaTa Hn
crimiaately asc,lbed to anybody whose
relstives are able and willing to pay
for chiselling the inscription. The epitaph Is
a conventional mark OF respect by Wnlcn no
hodv is deceived; but it is not desirable that
II should be amplifed from the pulpit On the
whole, it would perhaps oe wen II niue OF
theI charity which is lavished on the dead
we're reserved for the living. Ali personal
indements should of course be cautiously
framed and temperately expressed; but II IL IS
cartain that man was rogue while ne lVeo,
thora ia no reason wheu he dies to pretend
that he was useful and reputable memoer OF
society. It may not be necessary 10 glooeI
his memory: if there was notnlng naesaut vi
haunting In his misdeeds, ne may nave
ns o1aim to- silent pity; but if anything is to be
oaH CaId sbont him it should be the truth. Within
ssrtain sat T limits, the maxim enjoining tender
ness for the reputation of the dead Is ressona =.
bic enough; but 1t is clear tnse IL T. ~ y aote ot AZ
nhnee If pnshed too far, anu that IL Is not ae,
airahle to outrage truth aud TO perplex anu
ssnnfnnnd " the moral sense of society by calllug
SonS White and good bad merely because
man has happened to die.