The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-01-31
The Slanderer,
From the spartahbifg Herald.


Ofall the various characters among
men the slanderer is most despicable.
The murderer is surely more tolera-
BILE, for when he strikes the fatal
blow he aims TO put an end TO the
earthly existence of his victim, while
tue slanderer's only aim is TO end the
happiness of his unfortunate victim,
and leave him TO endure a miserable
present and anticipate the torture of
u blasted future. How utterly intol-
cradle then is he who would, without
provocation, or the least degree Of
justice, attempt to take away that
from his ncighbor Which is denrer to
him than life itself? He would come
like a thief in the night and prick
him to the heart, and then, as if his
desire to do hclish deeds we're insa-
table, would laugh at the stream of
happiness us il flows from the life of
the unfortunate. He exults' in the
downfall of another, for certainly
when reputation is gone tho greatest
fall incident to human existence is
made, save the loss of chalacter-
that gift which no slanderer can take
away. ga good name is rather to be
chosen than great riches, and q low
ing favor rather than silver and gold.'
Tho slandercr derives, it seems, a
peculiar pleasure from the suffering
of his victim. With no higher end
or aim in view than the ruin Of anoth.
cr, he breathcs spirit burdcncd and
tainted with indignitics, and hurls
upon him whose character he would
attack and reputation destroy. Poor
child ofthe devil Unlike other men,
aye like unto demon himself be
would make no effort tc embrace the
happiness Of one, or make this world
as near Paradise as possible, but un-
scrupulously bends his energies to-
ward changing it into temporary
hell. Born of envy and begotten by
the devil, he is simply and unequivo-
cally the exponent Of the disintegra-
tion of social happiness, and the en-
sign Of misery. With no respect tor
the laws Of morality and no regard
for common humanity, he is constant
ly leveling his fiendish howi,zer at
the cornerstone of society, and but
for the laws of the land, would razc
her TO the ground, and then, with un-
furled banner, walk over her ruins Civ
ing vent to his never, ccasing vitupcra-
tions.
Slander in any Of its phases is bad
enough, but the odium thereof is as the
motive which prompts it. Doubly
odious is the slandtrer and his infa.
nous design when, for the sake of
political triumph or personal aggran-
dizemen;, he attacks the reputation of
a man whose character is untarnisI-
cd! Doubly odious is the foul perpe-
traitor Of such fierdishncss when un-
der the cover Of a sickcning smile
and pretended friendship, he would
ac4uaint himself with ones intentions,
and thwart his plans at she expense
Of his good name and position in soci-
ETY., convicting himself of duplicity.
branding himself poltroon and q
coward, and, under the shadow of Sc
crecy, dcfying all efforts to discover
the whereabouts of such an Infamous
lbIpcd. A stranger to charity, too
mean to be liberal, too low to be
truthful, lie prowls around like n
sncaking cur too worthless to die with
hydrophobia, mouthing his black re-
ports, telling them too to those who
arc too Ignorant and crcdulous to de-
'ect the calumny in his eyes and re-
Ject his sayings rs insignificant and
contemplate as he himself is damna-
bic and debase'l. Surely life itself
must be burden to such creature
and to be allowed to shuttle Off this
mortal coil end go to his place in the
fernal regions rather than live in awe
vi suuil IL timing as himself, "Strive
not with man without cause if he has
done thee no HARM "1Ie that hidcth
hatred with lying lips, and he that
uttcrcth slandcr is Il fool"
OBSERVER.
Something Nice to Read.
We are under obligations to the
Hon. G.. G.. Williams for half q dozen