The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-01-31
The Slanderer.
From the spartanbtl4g Herald.

OF all 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
the slanderer's only aim is TO end tire
happiness of his unfortunate victim,
and leave him TO endure q 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 dearer to
him than life itself? He would come
like thief in the night and prick
him to the heart, and then, as if his
desire TO do hcllsh deeds were insa-
table, would laugh at the stream of
happiness us it flows from the life of
the unfortunate. He eXults' in the
downfall of another, fer certainly
when reputation is gone tho greatest
fall incident to human existence is
made, save the loss Of chaIacter-
that gift which no slantlerer can take
away. GA good name is rathe to be
chosen than great riches, and low
ing favor rather than silver and gold.'
Tho slandcrcr derives, it seems,
peculiar pleasure from the suffering
of his victim. With no higher end
or aim in view than the ruin Of anoth,
or, he brcathcs spirit burdcncd and
tainted with indignities, and hurls
upon him whose character he would
attack and reputation destroy. Poor
child of'the devil Unlike other men,
aye like unto demon himself be
would make no effort to embrace the
happiness of one, or make this world
rs near Paradise as possible, but un-
scrupulously bends his energies to-
""'" Su"hSi'S ~ ihIo temporary
hell. Born of envy and bcgotten by
the devil, he is simply and unequivo-
cally the exponent Of the disintegra-
ton 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 howitzer at
the cornerstone of society, and but
for the laws of the land, would raze
her TO the ground, and then, with un-
furled banner, walk over her ruins Civ
ing vent TO his never ceasing vitupera-
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 in(a.
nous design when, for the sake of
political triumph or personal aggran-
dizemen;, lie attacks the reputation of
a man whose character is untarnish-
cd noubly odions is the foul perpe-
traitor Of such ficrdishness when un-
der the cover of a siclsening smile
and pretended friendship, he would
acquaint 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 polLroon and
coward, and, under the shadow of Sc
crecy, defying all efforts to discover
the whereabouts of such an Infamous
bIpcd. A stranger to charity, too
mean TO be liberal, too low to be
truthful, he prowls around like o
sncaking cur too worthless to die with
hydrophobia, mouthing his black re-
ports, telling them too to those who
are too ignorant and crcdulous to de-
lcct the calumny in his cycs and re-
ject his sayings rs insignificant and
cOntcmptihle as he himself is damna.
bic and debasel. Surely life itself
must be burden to snch n creature
and to be allowed to shuttle Off this
mortal coil end go to his place in the
fcrnal regions rather than live in awe
ot suuii II thing Us himself. .;Strive
| not with man without cause if hr hos
done thee no llarm.' Gle that hiucth
hatred with lying lips, and he that
uttcrcth slandcr is FOOL
OBSERVER.
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