New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-03
IFor the New Orleans Republican.
SANDER.

Her nature is ali gOodnesse 10 abuse.
And causelesse crimes continually 20 frame,
With which the gui tlesse persons may accuse,
And steale away the crOwne of their good name"
-Falrie Quesue.
Prejudice, whether for or against an in.
diyidual, may serve to blind ones mental
vision. by refusal to admit the faults of a
friend, or an unwilligness to recognize the
merits of an enemy, as the case may be.
that an incorrect or even false idea might
be imbibed were one opinion the only
index to the character of that individual,
which, fortunately or otherwise, is hardly
an imaginable case. Even those posses
sing noble, generous natures are many
times compelled to acknowledge their
proneness to indulge in this weakness,
which sentiment is OF course Incompatible
with Justice; and while it would be hardly
consistent to rebuke feeling which how
ever blameworthy, is so universal, and so
natural an outgrOwth of the human heart,
vet there is vice which prejudice fosters
and in some cases leads to, that can not be
too strongly condemned; for it has wrung
mary soul with anguish, and wrought
untold misery in many guileless heart.
SANDER, ''meanest spawn of he'll, j" as Ten
nyson fifty terms it, has brought more
wretchedness into this not too happy world:
has embittered more lives and blighted
| brighter anticipations than could be realized
were it made the theme of unnunbered
| volumes. 1t is an evil which exempts
none; from those occupying the highest,
| most. honorable positions in church and
| State down through all grades of society,
do we find the same venom appearing.
Like an insidious and baleful poison which
| gradually undermines the strength and
steals away life from the strongest and
most robust, like the breath of the deadly
sirroco wind is SANDER
Which, passing through the ears, would pierce the
heart
| And wound the soul with grief unkind.
While we stand the admiring witness of
some noble deed, some kind action; while
we are echoing the praises of the generous
author of such, of sudden We hear it
| whispered always whispered. for like evil
| of all kinds it prefers tlimsy gauze OF
secrecy to open and upright deaiings), that
| those praisewOrthy acts were prompted by
| selfish motives, that the object of our en-
| thusiasm is base at heart. We are thrilled
with horror and indignation, and turn to
see who could utter such unjust sentiments,
| but the whisper seems to have come in the
| air. While we repel With resenttul feelings
| the accusation, yet we may the next mo-
ment repeat the SANDER to a friend, thus
| unconsciously becoming agents of the de-
signing villains who were the original per-
| petratOrs of the calumny. Especially is
| this the case as there are go few who are
willing to use the mantle Of charity to cover
| another's faults; while there are many,
| fact which we blush to confess, who regard
with Indifference the attacks made upon
the name and character of fellow man,
thereby lending silent encouragement to
those who would destroy reputation.
1t is fearful thing-this running an
others good name. Better can we afford to
lose the whole world beside. Shakespeare
counted the loss OF earthly treasure as
''trash," but said that, 'he who flches from
me nv good name, rObs me OF that which
not enriches him, and makes me poor in.
deed" The very fact that the great bard
puts this declaration in the mouth of his
most atrOcious villain, makes but the more
forcible illustration of how entirely de-
PRAYED a nature may become when bereft
of all the attributes of goodness and truth
1t is a hard thing to believe that there are
those so utterly lost to honor and Justice as
to deliberately fabricate and put in circu-
latiOn lie which is intended to tear down
another's character, upon the ruin OF which
they hope to rise themselves 1t is harsh
belief but is it not a true one? Is it not q
fact which is being continually forced upon
our minds!
The crime of taking fellow beings lite
| is Justly answerable for by the blood OF the
murderer, but let it be remembered that
when amid the smoke and fire and thunder
| ings of Mount Sinai God gave his command
ments to men that His finger had!but just
traced the words, "Thou shalt not kill,
| when at the same time this equally solemn
command, ''Thou shalt not bear false wit
ness against thy neighbOr," was written
| upon the stony tablets The murderer, while
| stretched upon the gallOws pays the DEBT
| which his rash bloOdthirstiness deserves,
while the slanderer, he who robs man OF
| that which is dearer than life; which, when
| deprived of, makes life but weary burden;
this blOodless murderer is permitted to go
at large, unpHnished, unresurict ted.
1t is an un1uestionable fact that no high
minded or honorable person can be guilty
| of 80 heinous a sin. The successful SIAN
derer, then, must be person cool, caicu'
lating and INSCRIPTIONS. Shakespeare
| great conception, lagO, is the most perfect
| example of false-hearted vllainy on record
Yet who shall say that there are not lagos
| to-day. Would to God that it might be
truthfully answered, there are none. Again
ton, are destitute of sufficient ability &c
render successful an attempt to ln]ure OF
defame the reputation of another, and
when such scheme is put forward are
often caught in their own trap, and upon
their own heads comes all the opprobiun
which they SO richly deserve. 10 mine
capable Of such guilty resentment, q grea
cause is not wanting. A private misunder
standing, petty spite, and oftener leal
ousy. ia q sufficient provocative to induce
the slanderer to plant his artillery o
calumny and open fire upon his unsuspect
ing enemy.
The assertion had been made that no hon
orsble person can or would originate slan
der, but, oftentimes such persons may be tn
unwilling cause Of its furthurance, by, q
has beea hitherto noticed, repeating. tina