The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-08-28
A FAMILIARITY THAT KILLS.

/
years ago, commercial traveller was
hung for murder. His victim was an
old gentleman ne had been accustom-
ed to meet on the railroads, and nat
urally enough the two became inter
ested In each other. On certain
occasion when they were travel
ing alone in one of those close Eng
lish railroad carriages-so convenient
tor murderers,-the old gentleman
was robbed of his watch, his money,
and other valuables, then knocked on
the head and thrown out of the car
"a dead man. From the evidence
educed at the trial,it clearly appeared
that this murder was the result of
unrestrained familiarity. The MUIR
derer said he had been very intimate
with the old gentleman, that he had,
in addressing him, called him
George" The murderer's cunning
excelled the victims discretion.
Taking the above incident for a
text, we affirm that one chief cause
of scandal in the United States is an
unguarded intercourse between our
public servants and that class of in
dividuals who have some brains,
abundant impudence, plenitude of
patriotism, and a conscience timber
as their treacherous tongues. These
men will take advantage of our pub
lie servants, and, like the low-minded
reporters OF the Chicago Times, in
dite their vicious exaggerations with
an inward chuckle in having done
something "all-fred smart" When
we remember that since the creation
the masses Of the human race have
used their tongues as lancets to
pierce each other, and that the relig-
ion of to-day is the most superficial
the world has ever known, it is not
surprising that. in this Republic,
where jealousies are so easily engen-
dered, public men are found with
characters unequal to the shafts of
hate that are thrown in every direc-
ton by the disappointed and the
mean. And tho fault is mainly
chargeable to the individuals assailed.
True character, ike pure gold, is de-
sirable; and as poverty is subverted
by wealth, so will the Vaccinations
Of the slanderer be confused in the
light of true character. Character
is made; by the thoughtful, earnest,
careful man it can be acquired but
to the efeminate and SLOW emily it must
ever be denied.
Is the conduct Of the average pub
lie man before the people calculated
to promote growth of character, and
consequent harmony in social and
political life? For several reasons we
must give negative answer to the
query. Familiarity" it has been
said "breeds contempt" Familiarity
often kills also. We have in the his
tory Of American politics many in
stances of men losing personal infu-
ence and public usefulness because
of their shake-hand acquaintance
with every paltry rascal they met.
To-day the useless dolt is flatterqd by
the politician for party purposes.
Able men, worthy of any nation or
age, UNNECESSARILY gifted beyond
their contemporaries, yet lacking COM
mon sense, proclaim Equality to a
crowd in such a manner az to make
that doctrine 1nslpld and themselves
ridiculous. Most men cannot endure
sudden elevation, and must be left to
grow up to q desirable standard.
The fattered always becomes famil-
lar with the fatterer, and familiarity
between a United States Senator and
every rantipole in the country is dan
gerous. Again, no man can long be
n TTpi4aJ C+o4Ao Gono+or oaJ - a.