Middletown transcript., 1872-12-21
"The evil that men do lives after
them. The good is oft in
tered with their bones"


ti.ae they are supposed to have been spok-
en-, there would seem to be bu, little foun-
dation for ihcm at the present day. So
s'rSn: Is the INCLINATION Of men to speak
NJ i'll uf meu after death, or rather so
rr al !. iln'ir fear of being thoaght want
i,sg in charity toward the dead, that the
truth /. oft ohscured, aud mcn, whose
wa.lc lives w.rr -pent in doing injury to
their fsllown,eu, in elcvating or enrich
ing themselves 1T the expense of othors,
uh'hcM up bcfnrc the public gaze as emf
icpl models of virtue and patriotism,
while none dare TO denounco the falsehood
and assert the truth, because, forsoo.h.
they will no, b. heard to say aught a.
gaiu,t thu man that is dead To such
an extent is this mistaken charity for the
pas, carried in our day tha, i. matters
n,s haw ,lisrepn,abic course man may
have pursued, or how much wrong be
n,ay have inflicted. death throws vail
over NIL his mislceis. and the more cs-
pecially il he held a prominent position
before the public. the grave covers up all
his crimes aud shortcomings, and his
memory becomes sacred as that of some
great and good nan, or public bcncfac,or.
4 man WIN, occupying position Of
immense influence which might have been
used for ihs accomplishment Of great
good, spcut almost his entire life in en-
deavofing 10 biiag about IAN irrsptessi-
bic conflict between two portions Of tho
.e,rn,ry whose law he hal sworn to obey;
man who, after having taken solemn
oath u n member vi he nations Com
gress. tn Vi ID in plici, ab. dience to tha,
nations constitution nevertheless wagcd,
during the whole of his life, ruthless
warfare for ,hs overthrow Of that cons,-
setian. snd .rg.l tarough the medium Of
an ip1aesiisl Journal. the enactment OF
personal liberty bills in direct viola
1ion Of that instrument such man dies.
ahd, 6rgctful of the immense amount Of
harm be ha- done in life, the public press
which should BE- u f,i,lifal annalist Of oc-
curing events, teens With rrons Of priase
in hi. favnr. and he i ionored as para
gun Of honesty and patriotism.
Abraham l.incoln. when urged by reck-
less men around him to the performance
Of nets from which his more ,imid aud
conscientious nature shrank. said in ans.
wer to their solicitations The deeds
which ue du nav shall live after us in
History. either for good or ILL.," Impress
ud with this idea he desired to do only
such ihins- a. would rebound to his fu-
tare glory. aud many violent measure
rssalt more Of his want Of cgoiis,c deter
ninaiion, than Of his desire for their nc-
c,lplishment. To whatsoever position
tis,ary shall assign him there lot him re-
main. lie knew that his deeds must bear
she test. and be was willing to aceep, the
fa, for good or ILL.,
believing in the doctrine that ..men
.hall reap that which they hare sown,"
We would see meted out to all the true
rr..eompen-o To which the deeds of their
liyps sn.i.ls them.
III they do we'll. lot praise be given
slTsh,. lsus II they do i'll, let them bear the
cossquencrs Of their guilt, and men who
devote iIair whale lives. with utter. reck-
les disregard 10 the rights and privileges
.f sihcrr. TO the accomplishment Of self
ish. unholy purpose. should be made to
reap the just reward Of their actions, Nor
~ rs bclievc in the mock philanthropy
,pl slsarity which eulogizes the memory
y ussn sftcr death as saint. a patriot
Of martyr. who while living spared no
means u sscomplish his own ends. wholly
~ kIesr - 10 how much injury or suffer-
ise his soasse should cause to others. and
who. during life. vas deemed richly en-
fisIsd IL al the obloquy which cosld be
E1sp epos BIN.
1:ie An,ssie. ID more 10 stir up
etu1elSys spd srrs1s 1selinsa of bitter
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