Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-21
by Or. }. G. HOLLAND.

by Or. J.. G. HOLLAND.
No man ever died a more natural death
than James Fisk, Jr., excepting, perhaps, Ju.
das lscariot. When the devil entered into
the swine, and they ran violently down steep
place into the sea, it was only the going down
that was violent. The death that came VS..
natural enough. When man pushes his per.
sonality so far TO the front Of aggressive and
impertinent schemes Of iniquity as Fisk did,
It is the most natural thing in the world for
him to run against something that will hurt him,
for dangers stand thick as malice and reveng.
can plant them in the path Of godessness and
brutality. The captain of a piratical shin
who undertakes, in addition to the duties of
his Office to serve as the fgure-head Of his
own vessel, will receive, naturally, the first
blow when she drives upon the rocks. Yet
we join IN the general sorrow that Mr.. Fisk
Is dead, for 1t is possible that the lesson Of his
life may fail to be impressed upon Young
America as it ought to be, in consequence Of
the sympathy awakened by the manner of his
taking off. Il is not to be denied that pretty
universal execratiou Of this mans memory
has been saved to him through the bloody
mercy oil a murder. Yes, people talk Of his
fund Of humor, his genialty, his generosity.
etc, etc. If this kind Of talk is a source Of
satisfaction to anybody, Of course he will in.
dulge in it but Fisk is certainly none the
better for having been killed. He was bad
man-bold aud shameless and vulgar in his
badness-with whom no gentleman could come |
10 contact on terms of familiar intercourse
without sense Of degradation As for hi. |
geniality, that was as natural as his death |
A COW that has spent the night in a nerbbor',
eornheld, and stands whisking her tail and
Illuminating IN the morning sun, is one of the
blandest and most genial creatures living.
More than this, she does not care particularly
who drinks the milk she has won and 90 we
suppose that the COW, too, is generous as well
as genial
Ah we forgot about Mr. Tweed. 1t was
was it not =? Mr. Tweed had power IN his
hands and patronage at bis disposal, and had
to come at his beck aud 90 at his
bidding. His name was tower of strength
on great many boards Of directors. The
legislature, elected by the State, managed the
State, and he managed the legislature He
had confederates in iniquity but he was
'' The Boss" and his will was imperative
and imperial. Intrenched behind laws that
were the product Of corruption, ballots that
could be increased or diminished at will, and
wealth that came to him in dark and mysteri-
Gus ways, he dictated the administration Of
the government of the first city of the new
world, and shaped the policy of the proudest
State of the Union His path was strewn
with uxuries for himself and largess for his
friends. lie lived right royal life, and the
power worshiping multitude and the vulgar
seekers for place hung around him with ab-
ject and obsequious fawning. Where and
what is Mr.. Tweed now Where and what
are his confrereS? All, from the Boss down
to the meanest menial Of the Ring, are writh-
ing and shriveling under the heat Of great
popular indignation. Their deeds of dark
mes, are uncovered, their shameless betrayals
Of trust are exposed, their power is passed
and passing from their hands, and great
city, which once felt helpless in their grasp,
has risen in its might and determined that
there shall be no end but that Of their utter
overthrow Every man who was psrticip-
ator in the power and plunder of the Ring,
shakes in his shoes wherever he walks, or
stands, or skulks, and shows what it i. to
have fearful looking for of judgment. Good
men everywhere breathe freer for this revolu-
tion, and the republic and the world have won
new hope.
The overthrow Of these men-sudden,
awful, complete--brings home to young men
q much needed lesson. One year ago there
were thousands of young men regarding with
an eager, curious gaze the careers which have
and are terminating so trsgcally
1t was a question in many minds, alas! wheth-
er honesty was the best policy--whether vir-
tue paid-whether, after all that the preach
ers and the teachers might say, the rsscality
which received such magnificent rewards at
the hands of the people was not the best in.
yestment for young man cherishng desire
for wealth and power. Who can begin to
measure the effects of these poisonous exam
pies on American blood ? Let every man
who wields a pen or has audience with the
public do what he can to countersct them,
by calling popular attention to the fact that
these men have simply met the natural and
fate of eminent raseaity. Hon
esty is the best policy. Virtue does pay
Purity is profitable. Truthiulness and trust
worthness are infinitely better than basely
won gold. A good conscience is choicer
possession than power. When man sscri-
fees personal probity and honor, he loses
everything that makes any earthly possession
sweet. When these men were dazzling the
multitude with their shows and splendors,
they knew that the world they lived in was
unsubstantial and we have no question that
they expected and constantly dreaded the day
Of discovery and retribution We do not
believe that rascality ever paid them for
day, even when it seemed to be most trium.
phantly successful.
The storm which has wrecked these men
has cleared the sky. The air is purer and
has tone and inspiration in it. Honesty is at
a premium again, and honest men may stand
before rogues unbashed. The lesson Of the
day is one which teaches young men that lying
and stealing and committing adultery are un-
profitable sins, against which Nature as well
as Revelation protests. 1t has not come too
soon. We hope that it may not be learned
too late.
An elderly maiden lady, hearing il said
that matches are made in Heaven, remarked
that she didn't care cent how goon abe got