San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-07-05

the Continental currency which
brought us through the Revolutionary
war, when il absorbed the money that
was paid by France for individual
claims, when it retains IN indemnify
fund TO which we have no color OF
right, when it floods the country with
debased currency to cheat the pub
Ito creditor, and adds forty millions to
the public debt to buy soldiers votes
under pension bill, lobbied through
by claim agents, and in the attempted
repudiation Of the solemn provisions
Of a treaty with China at the demand
of denagosues, and when States and
municipalities on every hand borrow
money snd refuse to pay.
My hearers, honesty in nations Is
always the best policy. National self.
ishness is always ippulsive and short
sighted. The lowering moral tone du-
ring the past few years has been up.
parent on all sides. The honest old
creed, that money is not the chief end
Of man. and that success is not better
than repute. ore ideas that appear to
our modern fnanciers like Horace
Greeley's Poughkeepsie oysters, to
have been caught too soon, or cooked
too late.
From the days Of the robber knights
Of the middle ages to the pseudo gen.
tlemen Of our own time, men will
prate of their honor and cheat their
creditors, will take what is not their
own, and be sudden and quick 10 o
quarrel on q slight punctillio of Ell.
quette. e
The traditions of the men of that
olden time show that they were prom.
.ineut by reason Of their abilities rath.
or THAI by the wire-pulling of inter-
ested yetainers, and, us consequence.
there were some giants, and fever
criminals and prize fighters in office
than now. If fiuanciers. ond that
class of them especially who acted as
trustees for others, were not so capa-
BILE 10 accumulating fortunes for them
selves as those of the latter day. they
ut least saw more merit iu an honest
than 10 stealing a rail-
road; in rendering unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars, rather than
rendering it unto themselves.
Honor comprises honesty, which is
highest jewel in its crown.
The costliest unclcan beast, says
Thorol Rogers, that society can keep
in Its nenagerie. is an UNPUBLISHED
commercial rogue. and might add,
OIL official who defsauds the Govern
ment.
The education that is of most value
in our time does not consist in MASTER
ing languages. but is found in chat
moral trimming which extends beyondf
the school room to the play ground
and street, and which teaches that a
meaner thing can be done than I'd tail
in recitation. I
1t is not the examining of certain
facts and rules into the hard head OF
q young Adam that is of most value,
it is the training that shall make his
mind and moral nature malleable tor
the work of life, that shall cultivate
honesty as we'll as mathematical ca
pacity, truthtu'ness, that shall send a
boy out to his labor with clear soul
as we'll as clever head.
My hearers, you are aware that
have neither parsonage nor fixed sal
ary, therefore, Mr.. Sexton, please pass
the contribution box around, and all
Of you remember the text, Honesty
is the best policy" and do not pass off
Mexican quarters for good American
quarters, and give the lecturer enough
that he may also be able to stick to
the text, anG that he may make an
honest living.
May the Lord bless you, and
strengthen you in all honest purposes
aud iutentioas.-Amen.