The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-02-05
Calumny.

lessly lie sleeping in careless serenity, lit
tie concerned about the calumniator's poi
son. Relying upon the liberty of frcc
conscience, and reposing in the fancied Sc.
curity of personal integrity, they slumber on,
as if invulncrable to calumny's stroke
Re thou chaste as Ice pure as snow
Andyet, thou shalt not escape calumny.
SO said the great painter of human
thoughts and feelings three centuries ago
so echoe many blighted hearts and scores
| OF desoate hearts send the echo back Give
the calumniator thread of news-no mat
ter how light, fragile, or unsubstantial-an
by skillful, plant manipulation, the thread,
by cunning legerdemain, is soon dexterous-
ly transformed into vast cable of slander.
In this age of reformation our vials of wrath
and Indignation are too often poured out
upon dead issues. We load our guns and
| fire at tombstones, and real, living vital
matters are held in allegiance until a more
| convenient season. The sacred pulpit is too
much devoted to discussions of abstruse doc
trine, while the evils of the human heart
are but too seldom toucehd. The ministers
who should stand forth and illuminate their
| condemnation Of these inward passions of
envy, jealousy, hate, calumny, etc, are often
too much engrossed by the thought of utter
ing something strong and polemca or sweet
and sugary.
If there's one thing above another truly
Satanic, it is calumny. A fend far worse
than he who steals your purse, is one who
strives to rob you of reputation. The hom-
icide, who, in fit of anger, jealousy, or
rage, hurls hisvctim into premature grave,
is. far more cxcusable than the COOL system-
attic, peNeycging assailant of character and
fair fame. And who are victims of these
'ealumnions snakes2" Not the libertine,
for no charge against him would be account
cd calumny not the rogue, swindier, or any
disreputablc parsonage. Oh, no calumny
has higher mark. The pure shaft OF inno-
cencc rearing its head heavenward is the
thing upon which calumny strives to throw
the garbage of slander. IT'S the young man
OF promise, talent, or popularity who pre-
sents mark for these shafts. The young
Lady OF attraction-of beauty-stands forth
fair target for calumny. Not the disso-
lutte, but the pure, are the ones at whom the
neutrality-suspicious. with William Tell
precision-lets fly the arrow of slander, and
many pure daughter, prosecuted wife, up
right son, proud parent, are, by SANDERS
agency, sent through life, or rather hurried
through this existence, with hearts bowed
down by weight of Woe"
Were each individual of the thirty odd
millions of our people the possessor of STEM
tors voice ten times magnifed, and at some
set hour or minute all would exercise their
vocal power in condemnatory shout of cal
umny, the effect would be none too great to
give expression to what should be intense
adherence of this nipping, frosty evil. This
vocal power we do now possess, nor, as a
nation, can we, as in one voice, cry down
this evil, but as individuals, we can, and
should, draw the bow Of condemnation, and
shoot" ealumny ''as it flies"
When people persecute you because you
are more generous than they, they always
say it is because you are fool and don't
know the worth Of money. When they
would punish you for being truthful and
honest above their standard, they silly say
you are overturning the foundations of bus
iness, and are saying things that make mis-
chief. When you demand justice for the
helpless and poor, and that christians should
do all things in manner not conformed to
to the spirit of this world-that is, do all
things unselishly, and in a magnanimous
and loving spirit-they say you are dema-
gogue and that you would upturn and over
throw society. Your amiability they term
shallowness; your spirit, temper; your self
sacrifice is to them a lack of appreciation for
the good things of life, or pride in suffer
ing; if you contend for the right, they say |
you delight in controversy; if you keep |
quiet they will stigmatise you as a stupid or
sullen fellow.
All those unfortunates who have fallen
under the lash of an unruly tongue desire to
make scandal punishable offence, and de-
clare that in this particular at least, the
world has degenerated, as in old times the
scandal-monger paid dearly for sins commit
ted.