The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-11-21
Minor Morals.

We have often noticed how, at the an
nounccment Of every theft or defalcation
in our larger cities, suburban and country
papers eagerly seize the opportunity to
inYeigh, with holy horror, against the
wickedness and dcprayity therein existing,
and talk as III all morality and common
honesty had fed thcrefrom and taken up
their abode among the fields and forests
Of the country. That there has been,
during the fc%- years past, in our princi
pal business centcTs, enough wrongdolng
10 attract the attention and excite the
fears of all thoughtful men, is too true.
That sin and Wickedness more abound at
the present than at any previous time, is
doubtful. There are probably no writings
cxtant that more clear Y and truthfully
show what human nature was, in the
olden times. than the Proverbs of Solo
mon; and they need no change in order
TO make them applicable to the same
human nature at present That the cen
ters OF business attract from the country
large proportion Of its enterprise and
energy is true; and that these talents are
not always directed in the best channels,
ii also indisputablo Large cities are
these it is only the more industrious who
find their way TO country homes, leaving
the vile and dishonest to lower the stand
ard of morality, which would be low
enough without them.
We DO not propose to take up the
cudgcI In defence Of the morality of the
city. not even to say to the country, in
slang plrascClogv, "You're another" We
would, however, suggest the improperly
of one culinary utcnsiI rejecting on the
complexion Of its ncighbor, for usually
the pot is as black as the kettle. All i'm
moraHtyana dishonesty are not connected
with energy and enterprise, and when
these latter find their way to cities the
former, or some portions thereof, are left
behind, SAYS the Rural New Yorker.
The enormty Of crime is often judged
bv the amount Of dollars involved, but
theft is a theft be it Of one dollar or a
million,-and he who steals the ore is Just
as far as, and no farther, from being an
honest man than IS the other. The coun-
try was startled few years ago by the
revelations showing how the Tweed ring
had misgoyerned New York and misap-
piled the public funds. We believe we
have within our knowledge small town
ships that have been managed with as
little regard to the public good and with
as much dishonesty in the application of
public money, when the amounts are con-
sidcred. as was New York in its worst
DAYS Aud the same will hold good as
regards manufacturing companies, -CorDo-
rations and iudiXillaIs:
4177ff-eeittitS7s i police force is sustained at
large expense for the protection Of prop
crty. In the country, a farmer Is obliged
TO build and maintain fences to prevent
his nci@hbOr from stealing his cTops-by
means OF Cattle-at an expense greater
than would be believed, without actual
mathematical calculation. As a man
thnkcth, so is he. If covetousness, de-
ceitfulncss, untTuthfulness, avariciousness,
have place in mans heart, and he al
lows them to 50 gain ascendency over his
uprightnoss and honesty, even in trifles
where opportunities are limited as in the
country, what shall prevent his allowing
them full sweep when 4 city life puts him
in position to crafty them! Nothing but
an awakened sense of right and Justice
which sometimes comes to save him. II
temptations are strong in the city, so is
virtue Innocence thrives best in The
country, but virtue in town The deprav.
ity of a man in . quiet situation burns
with a smoldcriug fire; put him amid The
oxygen OF M active life and it burns witt
q consuming flame. Who among US dar
pray, lord, thank thee l am not a
other men.'