Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-09-02
ALI. DorEN, , Editor a.a Prs,risssr'
POVERTY VI. AFFLUENCE.

poverty" says a recent writer,
"puts a fearful strain on a mans hon.
esty." A statement which no thought
full mind WILL care to contradict, and
the truth Of which will be recognized
by every reader. Want and necessity
come to the poor man with powerful
demands. Temptation begotten Of
those evils at once drags and lmpels
him in a thousand varied forms TO-
ward dishouor aud disgrace. An
empty larder and a hungry family,
scant fuel In Winter, and still more
scanty clothing, are serious hindrances
to that perfect integrity OF soul which
Is so much lauded and about which so
many volumes have been written.
The rich man has 10 temptations to
dishonesty comparable to those which
are the daily attendants Of poverty.
lie has money, fuel, food and raiment
In abundance. A mansion shelters
both himself and family from wiutry
rlgor, and friends vie with each other
In studying new devices for his COM
fort and enjoyment. Rich men have
friends. True, they are not those SIN
gle minded, unsclfish persons who es-
teen one for ones self alone. But In a
practical way they are better. Gen.
orally the poor mans friend Is also
poor. Unselfsh, devoted though he
be, his means are always far less than
his desire to aid. The friends Of the
rich are often themselves wealthy.
They are men who have the ability to
aid should misfortune occur and some
times do so. Wealth gathers to itself
wealth, cven as poverty Is always du-
plicatinS itself. There Is nothing,
not even those strong drinks
which madden the intellect and
excite the passions, more productive
OF suffering anu crime than the AFFECT
cnslavement Of its victims by the DO
mon OF poverty. Go where we will,
and that intemperanco which begets
crime. and IL almost uncomfortable,
Is chiefly found among those unfor-
tunates whom i~ll-success and penury
have driven to desperation. Turning
to the punishment Of dishonesty, no
matter now begotten, and we find. that
when the poor man sins, few Sympa-
thize with his fall or believe his prom
ises OF reformation. Justice deals out
his NEED Of punishment with UNI
sparinS hand. and the tender voice OF
mercy Is unheard amid the loud out
cry made against his crime. A poor
man steals a garment, n piece Of meat,
n loaf Of bread, some fuel to warm his
almost frozen family. Stern penalties
are surely his II taken and convicted ;
and when once i~ncarceratcd, seldom
does the sweet presence Of the par
doning power appear In his behalf.
But with the rich. the "high toned"
educated swindler, all Is changed. A
large defalcation occurs. Arrest fol-
lows slowly II ut all. Next CON-
promise with the officers OF Justice or
with dcfrauded creditors. This fail
ing slow efforts at conviction ensue.
Justice bows her head In homage at
the vision Of his former standing and
his present wealth. II at last con-
victed, the Judge upon the bench,
whose sentence strikes so heavily upon
the ear of the pauper thief, makes the
sentence Of the princely swindler
easy and as short rs the law allows.
His ~jailors brings him rare vlands, his
rooms are cheerful and comfortable,
and when in a few months pardon
comes. he walks out clad In fine linen
and broadcloth to enjoy his ill-gotten
wealth and the respect Of many Of his
fellow men-but, thank God, not Of
all