Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-12
4Uatchman s. Journal.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 70, 1873.
De Mortnis.

Tgnys-sl00 per year, strictly In advances or $3.50
II mot paid within three months
De Mortuis.
1t is well to be very cautious in giving
our opinions about mems characters, dead
or alive. We are not always certain that
men deserve the evil we speak Of them, or
the good In most cases the problem Of
character or Of motive is 80 ccmploxod and
intricate that one would hardly care to
Judge his neighbor. The good and evil cle-
mcnts are so mingled, that he must be en-
iuently wise aud skillful who would analy2e
them aud give both their exact quantity
and proportion. We know that often great
virtues remain unquenchcd by the side Of
great vices, and often fhe best qualities do
not restrain men from the worst c1euses
and crimes. There may be men so openly
and fagitiously bad, or 30 ralpably and
grandly good, that we are at no loss where
to place them. But most men are incxtric-
ably mixed, and even they themselves would
Be unable to unrayel their motives aud per-
lcc,ly discriminate their actions. II is inn
possible to give our opinions Of men, thcr,
in any summary and oifhand manner
We perhaps can specify and classify GER
tain actions and habits, and properly de.
scribe them We can do this when we
cannot classify character We may say that
a man committed this good Or that wrong
that he labored for this or that sound or
unsound principle; that his conduct in a
particular case was wise or unwise, right or
wrong; we may trace the results that flow
from this or that line Of action but it is
quite impossible for us to express his
character or his motives in single SEN
tonce. II would be unjust to condemn
man alioc-''-- .-ssy q, has gone wrong
IN a single thing or to put him irrevocably
among the sheep or the goats for a solitary
good or bad act This wholesale blame or
praise is, in most instances, exceeding un-
just, and it is certainly unphilosophical and
narrow.
These reflections are suggested by the
results, thus far, Of the Credit Moblier in
vestgation. 1t is a painful thing when
men Of high character and prominent posi-
ton comm. so strange an ofFense as to pre-
yarcate and falsify facts of which they are
perfectly conyersant. And it is very easy
and cheap to follow such lapscs from in
tegrity with unmi,gated censure and con-
demnation. Il is o tribute which we pay
to cur own virtue when we violently con-
denim the wrong Of another Yet truly
great men, who have come to occupy an
honorable place in human history, have
done an occasional wrong thing. They have
fallen PROSTATE to the earth on some occa-
sion of overwhelming temptation, only to
rise again with more strength OF purpose
and virtue Of character. The list Of kings,
Of statesmen, Of apostles, is not wanting in
such instances, when fall retrieved ha,
been the source Of ultimately greater
strength.
And in the cases of Mr.. Coliax and
Patterson. VIC capnot conceal the pain and
regret which their course has produced
but We are very far from utterly cousigning
them to everlasting reprobation on account
Of it. Back Of this single instance Of un
seemly and corrupt action, lies life Of in
tegrity and honor. Their characters are
stained, but not destroyed. Lord Baconl
howl were not ei--n So "u- o"ro. owl .
gross sin lies at Platos door, and yet theii
characters were not comprised in the Of
lenses of which they were guilty.
Beyond the oflonse there was a large anC
fair region Of splendid achievement ant
honorable life. The spots On the sun dull
its brilliancy, but do not wholly hide III
beams. We would give, then, kind,
judgment even to these men to whom tina
has happened which may well be counte,
worse than death. They cannot cxcus
themselves to themselves in this matter
When they saw the danger of exposure
their fears oyercamo their integrity. The
were afraid Of the thunderbolt, and dodge
to escape it, but it only hit them the harder
We would Judge them with lenity and for
bearauce, and place our tongues under tn
law Of charity. But if they make no fur
Their mistakes in this direction, if they wal
humbly and do justly heuceiorth they ma
regain the confidence Of their friends, an
what is better still, their own self-respect