The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-07
Written for tho GLOBE.


That none are SO pure but their sense of
honor and their highest principles, would
not kick the beam if the Devil chose to
lay his gold, or his arts, IN the balance.
One is strongly reminded of Il certain old
adagc, brought to us from some Oriental
tongue,
"rhe rascal Judging from his point OF view,
Concludes that all the world are rascals too"
We are disposed to pass over these fool
ish young men, upon whom the world has
just opened and who think it gives them
an air of uncommon sagacty to assume
the cynics role, just as they may have fan
cied few years back, that they were men.
when they thrust the refuse end of a cigar
between their boyish lips, and emulated
the staggering gait of the full-ledgcd
rOwdy. Indeed, were the recognized cynic
himself, the only one who thus decried our
common humanity one would be content
to hold ones peace, and let him say his say,
and take grim delight in his own churlish-
ness but there is a different class of men,
and am inclined to think the number very
large, worldly-wise, with a good character
for general integrity, not cynical, as the
term goes, but utterly ncredulous as to
thorough incorruptiblc moral principle
among men. Not, say they that there are
not found here and there, men whose
record is well nigh stainless, as far rs
known, but to them, temptation has never
come as TO others who have fallen. else had
they shared the same fate. Isn't this
begging the question So it seems to me-
but let 1t pass
II point To a - as a bright aud
shining Illustration of my side Of the argu-
ment Mr.. Worldly-wiseman cites b
the bank defaulter, polite name foi thief
you know who made off with thousands
Of the peoples money Although consid-
cred model man, member of the church,
Sabbath School Superintendent, polished
gentleman, etc, etc; and yet the stealing
call it by no softer name had been go
ing on for years He will speak of d -
the honorable, with snecr) the rnsullied
in character, who suddenly disappeared.
leaving noble wife and lovely children,
WHILE at the same time a young mother,
whose name scandal now remembered.
should long ago have been coupled with his
to the confusion of both, abandoned her
home and little ones, abandoned him whom
she had sworn to love and honor. all to
bear the stigma of disgrace, which her
eternal infamy had brought upon them
lie might go on, if | would listen, adding
To the list until it exceeded the moral law.
by thrice its length, but he still would fail
to convince me that integrity, which no
gold can buy. honor. which all the seduc-
tiohs OF Satan cannot swcrye hair, does
not exist among men
do believe, yea, do know that moral
heroes walk in our midst Often, indeed.
we do not recognize them. To them. the
great temptation came in secret and in
secret the battle was fought and the vic
tory won. Who shall say what tempta-
tons assalcd man There is secret
chambers in every soul, into which lover
nor friend may ever penetrate. Perhaps
do not know the world. lay no claim to
great familiarity with it but if to know
men, is to become assured that the hest are
not what they seem. that slums Of inQuity
are hidden away in their souls, from the
light Of day only awaiting occasions to
burst their barriers and reveal to all, their
untold corruption and yilencss, then thank
God, that ! am ignorant, and may the
scales never fall from my eyes
If it were true, alas, for poor humanity I,
Alas, for the nation, if there are none who
sit in her high places, whose honor is of
far greater worth to them, than the riches
of universe Yet do confess there was
to me Il deep pathos in the remark of a
gentleman, whose wide and varied knowl-
edge of men and things, command at least.
respect and attention. "After all It's better
not to know the word too well if you do
not wish the foundations of your faith in
human nature. shaken. There was that in it
which brought the tears into my eyes with
a swift rush for | knew him to be no
snarling cynic, no jaundiced misanthrope,
but the rather, one who would look for the
fairest side Of "A mans nature, and stand
ready with the helping hand, to assist him
to rise from the black mre of his worst
self, into higher and better life. So |
couldn't help asking myself, am wrong ?
and is the wise man of the world in the
right when he confidently declares that
every man has his price
No, am not wrong Not so yainly has
the lcayen of Christs perfect gospel
kept its silent working deep down in the
heart of humanity for more than eighteen
hundred years.
There is reeking, SETTLING mass of cor
ruption to be thrown Off yet, but day by
day, year by year, century by century, not
without many grieyous lapses 10 he sure
the nations are struggling up to the light.
If you doubt the assertion that the world
is better to-day than IN years gone by, read
the history of the Middle Ages, with their
appalling black record Read even the
Records Of society in the past century and
you cannot fail TO have your doubts re-
moved.
There have been pure men, men with souls
so lofty they breathed an atmosphere I'M
tainted by the corruptions and pestilcnce
breeding at their feet, who thus have kept
alive and in motion through all the ages,
an undercurrcnt of moral purity, which is
destined, in Gods good time, to swell into
a mighty torrent which shall sweep away
into outer darkness, the mass of fostering
crimes which faunt their hideous garments
in the light of Gods sun. There are men
living, would to God they were more,
though the number may be larger than in
some of our moments we may think, whom,
not all the gold in the Devils Golfers could
drag to hell whom persecution and calum-