Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-06-17

IL Is question whether we are fallen
on good or bad times-bad because of
such sad developments in human deprav-
ity-good because such wrong doing is
/, not smothered and covered up, but
brought to light. The root of much of
this trouble arises in the inordinate greed
for money, the extreme love of which
{" is the root of all evil" Time was
when none but the vulgar herd were sent
10 prison, but now our penitentlary doors
swing open to receive as prisoners "gen-
tlcmen of CLOTH" men whose names have
for years blazoned at the mast-hcads of
prominent journals as editors; gentle
men learned in the law politicians whose
boast has been that they could make or
unmake men; legislators who made laws
with the same facility they exhibited in
breaking the commandments. A few
may be named as specimen samples of the
rest. Mckee of st. Louis, who for a
quarter of a century has been a promi-
ncnt publisher, and had amassed a fortune,
convicted of conspiracy to swindle the
government, and now languishing in
prison, away from wife and family. Bill
linger, editor of the st. Joseph (Mo.)
Herald, is breathing prison air, and his
old partner, Wilkinson, has been hunted
up in California, whittier he had fled
from the tempest, and now only awaits
the process of law to go there also. Hess
ing, the sheriff of Cook county, which
embraces Chicago, who has delivered
scores Of prisoners to the warden of the
States Prison, is now handed over to the
same office himself. There are hosts of
Others, but tho above are "sample
bricks" Rich men the country over,
have invested their wealth in the manu-
,facture Of whiskey, and being de .tscted in
running crooked" to defraud the gov
eminent OF it's revenue, have had thci..r
property contiscated, and an@ only see
dhe sun through iron barred wiudows. |
Their wealth has turned to ashes, their |
wives left worse than widows, and their
children are more to be pitlcd than Or
phans.
These men have brought their own
work upon their own heads. The whis |
key ring, before it was broken, command
cd more money than all others combined,
and it has been the great work of Secre-
tary Bristow to attack this mighty pow
or, and after the first breach, many came
in and plead guilty to save themselves,
but In most instances this ayailed not.
let no guilty man escape" was the
command, faithfully executed. Man at
best, has but few years to live, and 1t
passes comprehension how be will plunge
his soul in iaGamy, and risk the transmit
tai Of smircbGd name as heritage to his
children through greed for money. The
shock of exposure or prospect of pris-
OH life has been too much for some of
them, and they have died. Their ill-got-
ten gains could not resist the inroads Of
disease, nor the ravages OF death, and
the tears Of loved ones made doubiy bit
ter by the rcGection that dishonor rests
within their cbarHcl houses. while the
heart Crews faint as it reaches forward
and contempFates the condition of the
departed ia the life beyond the valley.
Better, far better narrow house In Pot
tors field, upon which angels Can look
without averted faces, than guilty form,
coffined in rosewood, inlaid with satin
and fine linen.