New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-29
:" 70 MORIL TURPITIUE.'

We do make nice distinctions. There never
was o time when definitions were 50 finely
drawn or shades Of meaning 50 accurately cal
cuatcd and 80 Discriminatory bestowed.
How nicely We shave the thin and brittle
edges between suppression of the trut! and
downright lying between the responsibility OF
commercial smalneSs and the disgrace of bald
swindlng; between irregularities" ana en-
bczzlem'ait; between paying man for his
time and buying his vote between forge;ful
ness and perjury; between specializing with
trust fund, AMI actual robbery; between lob
bying and bribery between making strike
and levying blackmml. We do dotost vice.
For it is "a monster" "a we are told. of
hilcous mien," and we are determined
never TO pity or endure, nue., more embrace ii
except under some other meme. The poet
was entirely wrong when he said that seen
" too oft, familiar with its face, we fist en-
dune, then pity, then embrace" What he
should have said was that "scen too oft,
" familiar with its face, we 20 as near rs we
"can to it and change the name Of it," 1t
might have been less pOetical. bat, a. applied
TO our smartcst and best, it would have been
nearer the truth. Prominent persons never
commit q inc. They sometimes "malc strikes
They never arc guilty OF bribery; bnt they
sometimes get enormous fees for seeing"
legislators and using their "in.luencc." Nor
are they ever bribcd, though they sometimes
receive checks and such, rs tokens OF friendly
regard, or contributions to election expenses.
Some years agO there WAS n discussion
among returning Calfoinians a
steamer. which had just touched ut Acapulco,
concerning the moral character and general
merits of California refugee whom they had
fallen ia with in that tOr!iI little port. One
of the party was quite enthusiastic over the
refugee "a cone Of the best fellows he ever
"knew,' to which another replied that be was
q murderer and an assassin. who fled the State
10 escape the galows. This the refugees
friend denied said he wasn't no assassin nor
"nothir' of the kind "But," said the other,
"don't you remember his shooting n
"balkeeper up to Marysville I" Eyes"
back ut Dutch Flat ~ EYES" "And
chs killing a faro dealer at" "Oh
=" yes. know about all them things. He's
"ki:lcd folks Of course / know he Kills, but
"Nou never can nuke me believe he SASH
"patcs." Shades upon shades of meaning. you
sc. Subtle distinctions between killing folks
WEIGH any eODu ] HOW WIS Da'nt 10 30, ana
fascinating" which would have been ungcn-
tlcmanly and disreputable. That man was well
up III the refinement, OF tho language He
know where to draw the line and just what
sLadi.g to give it to save his friend to society
and to lis own apprcciative bosom. lie might
kill, hat 's.,s,iuate! ne;cT. lie was too good &
fellow for TINT.
We l.y down Vi. 'iicl,acl Nolan's letter of
resignation Of tho Office OF Assistant District
AttoIncy with what be calls n "regrci OF great
"poigua icy" that he should have missed the
opportunity when the Oc' sion offered him 10
illustrate still father the capacity of tie Ian
gunge for subGe distinctions, aud perhaps
enrich the vocabulary with a new definition.
Mr.. Nolan appears TO have received great
many thousand dollars for service which in the
interests Of piiloloSy odght to have an accurate
and precise definition. he had an opportunity
to furnish the definition. but failed 10 do it.
UnchaIitablo people say lac ether cor
rnpted the Legislature or deceived his en-
plOycrs He seem. to think he dill not
do either, but does not tell either " hat he did
or what he calls it. iut Nolan. being an As
sist mt District Attorney. writes IA l., 'i,f