The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-22
Incentives so Crime.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
There is In the mechanism OF human nature q
wheel within wheel, so to speak-a motive power.
o stimulus TO act. lying behind every action; and
a large share OF humanity have no moral standard
OF their own by which to shape their actions. II
they have any standard at all 1t is public opinion.
And there IL inherent In every human being,
to a greater or less degree, desire to be thought
wen of, to he respected; and such as have no
desire to work for moral advancement will
work Tor this end. And the standard OF respec-
liability being wealth, instead OF moral worth,
and self advancement being their aim, men lie
and cheat ana steal, that they may gam wealth
and thereby be respected: DOCS ,hls seem lnc1n col,
receive the most poteness. tho most attention on
the street, In the public assembly, IN the private
gathering, In the church, everywhere Every
where we see homage paid TO wealth. And so II
has been all through the worlds history, which
very significantly points TO the fact that external
wealth IA the SYMBOL OF that inward wealth. OF
that moral worth which L. destined to hold the
sceptre aud rule In the hearts Of men;
Wealth, then. being the standard OF respect.
ability, that large class OF humanity who have not
yet "come TO themselves prefer TO arrive at e
honorable steps OF industry and Of duty are dun
and lnspid. They prefer 10 climb up some other
AN our goyernmcn d al thieves why they betrayed
the confidence placed In them and robbed the pub
lie, ana, n they are capable o. telling the truth.
they would say they did IL with the desl OF BRING
ing themselves nearer to the standard VI respect
a6ity-ihat they might live In more elegant
/ houses: that they might have handsomcr equip
/ ages; that they might meet more iuly the demands
! OF fashionable life In every direction.
| Ask many young man to-day pning In prison
| what was the temptation which led hun 10 steal,
ana he will tell you that 10 was the desire OF be
coming through the possession OF wealth more al
tractlyc 70 the young lady on whom he had placed
his affections ana more acceptable 10 her parents
| Poor young man, sacrificed upon the altar Of Nam
| mon through ms anectionsi What q rugged disci
| pine co bring him to a knowledge oi the truth
| what shall be said OF such standard Il TIM
| the way man kind have been casting up the high
| way OF Gods truth through all these centuries o
years Why, AZ seems that. instead u being awake
| and active, men have, Lazarus-lke, been lying
| bound hands and feet, IN their grave clothes.
but the spirit OF truth will not be stayed. Obstruc
the way as much az will. Gods Christ - coming
And "s In HIS hand, ana lie viii thorough,
purge His noor aud gather the wheat INTO His gar
ner, and the chan OF error lie VIII burn With IN
| quenchaolc nre."
'Set up the standard toward Zion.u says IN,
prophet Iexccllcncy being represented by Lionl
stay not, for Will bring evil rom the north an,
| great Destruction IL our standard thus set
Shall we heed this wise counself Can anord To e
| it 10 unheededf And shall we refuse TO alter on
| standards until 'the whlriwlnd shall burst upoi
| u.s. and the sword readeth 10 the soulf"
The words OF the Prophet Jeremiah address them