The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-08-17
The Popular Capacity for Scandal.

ed in this article will meet hearty
response in every noble, generous,
heart. Bc not too ready to believe
evil of Others.
PUBLIsIIED BY REQUEST
One of the most saddening and hu-
initiating exhibitions which human ma
ture ever makes of itself, is in It's greedy
credulity touching all reports of the
nisdemeanors OF good men. Ifa man
stand high as a moral force in the COM
munity II he stand as the rebuker and
denouncer Of social and political sin II
he be looked up to by any considerable
tue If the whole power Of his life be in
ality and influence render any allega-
ton against his character most improb-
able, then most readily does any such
allegation find eager believers. II mat
ters not from what source the slandcr
may come. Multitudos will be infu-
enccd by a report against q good mans
character from one who would not be
believed under oath in any matter in
volving the pecuniary interest OF fifty
cents. Theaslanderer may be notorious
ly basc--may be pandcrer to the
worst passions and the lowest vices
may be shameless sinner against So
cial virtuc-may be notorious liar, q
libertine. drunkard, or a harlot-all
this matters nothing. The engine that
throws the mud is not regarded. The
white object ut which the foul discharg-
es are aimed is only seen, and the de-
light of the by-standers and lookers-ou
is measured by the success of the stain
sought TO be inflicted.
AS between the wording and the
man who processes to be guided and
controlled by Christian motives, all
this is natural enough. The man bound
up in his selfish and sensual delights,
who sees Christian fall, or hears the
report that lie has fallen. is naturally
comforted that after all, men are alike,
that no one ofthem, no matter how
much he may profess. is better than an
other. 1t is quite essential to his cpm-
fort that he cherish and fortify himself
in this conviction. So, when any great
scandal arises in quarters where he has
found himself and his course of life con-
demned, he listens with ready ears and
Is Enthusiastically glad. We say this is
natural, however base and malignant it
may be; but when people protesting to
be Christians, shrug their virtuous
shoulders and shake their feeble heads,
while foul scandal touches vitality the
character Of one of their own number,
and mcnaces the extinction of an inhu-
ence, higher or humber. by which the
world is made better, we hang our heads
with shame. or raise them with indigna-
tion. If such thing rs this is natural,
1t proves just one thing, viz, that these
men are hypocrites. There is no man,
Christian or Pagan. who can rejoice in
the iaintcst degree over the fall of any
other man from rectitude, without being
a scamp at heart. All this readiness to
believe evil of others, especially of those
who have been reputed TO be eminently
good, is an evidence of conscious pro-
clivity to vice that finds comfort In en-
inent companionship.
There is no better test of purity and
true goodness than reluctance to think
evil of ones neighbor, and utter inca
pacfy to believe an evil report against
good men except upon the most trust
worthy testimony. Alas, that this large
and lovely charity is so rare. But it is
only with those who possess this charity
that men accused of sins against society
have an equal chance with those ac-
cused, under the forms of law, OF crime.
Every man brought to trial for n crime
is presumed to be innocent until he is
proved guilty but with the world at
large, every man slandered Is presumed
TO be guilty until he proves himself in
nocent, and even then il takes the liber-
ty of doubling the testimony, Every
man who rejoices in scandal thereby
advertises the fact of his own untrust.
worthiness, and every man who is pain
ed by it and refuses to impressed by II
unconsciously reveals his own purity.
He cannot believe bad thing done by
one whom he regards as . good man,
simply because he knows he would not
do Il himself. He gives credit to others
lor that virtue which Is unconsciously in
his own possession, while the base men
around him, whether Christian in name
or not. withhold that credit because they
cannot believe in the existence of vir-
tue which they unconsciously have not.
When the Master uttered the words:
"Let him that is without sin among you
first cast stone at her." he knew none
but conscious delinquents would have
the disposition to do so; and when, un
der this rcbuke, every fierce accuser ro-
tired overwhelmed, he, the sinlcss, wrote
the woman's crime in the sand for heavy
rains to efface. II he could do this in
the case of guilt not disputed, it certain
" becomes his followers to stand to-
gether around every one of their number
whom malice or revenge assdils with
slander to which his or her whole life
gives the lie.
In world full of influences and ten
denotes to evil, where every good force
is needed and needs 10 be jealousy cher
ishcd and guarded, there is no choicer
treasure and more benefcient power
than a sound character. This is not en-
" the highest result OF all the best forces
Of our civilization. but it is the builder
OF those forces in society and the State.
Society cannot afford to have it wasted
or destroyed, and its instinct OF scll-pros-
walton demands that this shall not be
suffered. There is nothing so sensitive
and nothing so sacred as character; and
every tender charity, and loyal friend
ship, and chivslrous affection and manly
sentiment and impulse, ought to intrench
themse around every true character
in the community so thoroughly that q
breath of calumny shall be as harmless
as the idle wind. Ii they cannot do
this, then no man is safe who refuses to
make terms with tie devil. and he is at
liberty TO pick his victims where he will.
- -Scribner's Monthly.
Saturday next is the day fixed for
democratic township conventions to