New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-23
ANOTHER TUMBLE.

He had been II State SENATOR lie nad pcch
n volunteer patriot soldier during the Rebel
lion. He had been respectable shoemaker
He had been member of the House OF Re
nrcscutatlyes of Massachusetts. He had been
n Police Justice. He had been Chairman OF
the School Committee. He had been proml-
nent commitment of an orthodox church. lie
had been Grand Vice-ChancellOr OF the order
of the Knights Of Pythias. He had been the
incumbent of various minor oilices-had the
Honorable Newton Morse of NatIck, Mass. A
few years ago he was intensely respectable.
He is now a vagabOnd, having deserted his
wife and children and vanished into infinite
space, leaving behind him memory by no
means fragrant. All this wreck and ruin and
running away comes of the Honorable New
ton Morse's passion for mortal combat with
the tiger. TO crafty his penchant 1or
gambling he has swindled his friends, cheated
his children ont of money left them by Their
Door dead aunts, pilfered public funds in
trusted TO him. borrowed with no prospect OF
having, and thrown away whatever was his
own. 1t is rather a curious fact that ho was
the predecessor of the renowned, reverend, and
Honorable +. ID. WinsOw in the State senate.
Although q minor sinner he is sinner OF the
same sort. The breed to which he belongs
seems to be in no danger of extinction. 1t Is
not confined to crowded cities. 1t blooms ana
bolts i'm spite of tho moral influence OF the
rural districts. There cannot be prettier
place than Natick in which to cultivate tie
more desirable virtues; and yet the Honorable
Newton Morse resided and turned rascal In
Natick and from Natick he ran away, on or
about the Goth inst.
Reflections on this lamentablc case and upon
those like it are in order, although they may
not do much good. What first suggests itself
is the credulty of society. Is there any good
reason why Winsow and Morse and the late
respected Jackson of Boston. now IN State
Prison, should not have been found out long
before the final and fatal denOuementf The
fact is morally mysterious, that such men should
be so successful before they succuub to the
inevitable catastrophe. The world prides itself
upon its acuteness, and yet the world. SO far IA
these sharpers are concerned is an idiot. The
church is rather careful of its membership, and
vet il receives the Winslows and the MorSes.
The town voter doesn't have any passion for
paving taxes and yet he trusts the town
money to the least worthy custodian pos
sibe. The knights of Pythias black-ball
forty other candidates and admit the
Norses. and make them Vice hancellors.
Oueerly enough their credit is always ut The
best until it vanishcs altogether. They are
made executors, administrators, and asslgnees.
and trustees Widows rely upon them. Orphans
look up to them. Banks make them directors.
Scamps as they are, they inspire confidence
while the really good, who have not such nice
WAYS. are distristed DishonOrable, they are
"Honorabler Breakers of the law, they make
laws for others. False in every fiber, they are
reverenced as Truth itself 1t may seem
rather hard to blame poor, plucked pillagcd
society, and yet it has only itself to thank
whenever it is thus cgrcgiouSly taken in. In
the frt place, it is reckless respecting all pub
lie affairs and in the second place, it has not
the moral courage to say "No." The Dishon-
orable Honorables take it captive. Their
audacity charms it into drawing the doomed
wallet. Under an inevitable spell it writes its
name across the back of promissory note.
And so it goes on lending and signing, until
the day of exposure has come. Then it puts
on sackcloth and powders itself with ashes and
groans over its departed ducats. SO are they
signing to-day in Natick, Mass, and vowing
to be more careful hereafter; and SO they will
be until another Winslow or Morse makes his
appearance.