The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-07-26

den threads running through it
they we're wrought out by the re-
grets felt at the wrong; that
these regrets had rnn through
the course of my life, guiding my
footsteps through all its intrica:
cies and problems, and if | should
obliterate all of these the act to
which these golden threads were
attached-whose lengthening..llne
were woven into my very nature
If l should Obliterate all OF
these, l should destroy what lit
tie there was of virtue in my NOR
al make up. Thus | learned that
the wrong act, followed by the
just regret and by thoughtful
caution to avoid like errors, made
me "a better man than l should
have been if I had never fallen.
In this 1 found hope for myself
and hope for others, aud | tell
you who SIT before me, as [ say
to all m every condition, that if
you will you can make yourselves
better men than if you had never
fallen into errors or crimes. A
mans destiny does not turn upon
the fact of his doing or not doing
wrong, for all mel, will do it; but
of how he bears himself, what he
does and what he thinks after the
wrong act. 1t was we'll said by
U0nfucius, the Chinese sage: that
a mans character is decided, not
by the number of times he fails,
but by the number OF times he
lifts himself up. | do not know
why evil is permitted in this
world, but | ito know that each
Que OF us has the magical power
to transmute it into good. Every
one before me can if lie will make
his past errors sources OF moral
elevation. Is this not a grand
thought, which should not only
give us hope, but which should
inspire us with firm purposes to
exercise this power which makes
us akin to the Almightyi For
he has given it to Us and has
pointed out in His word how we
shall use it. The problem meets
us ut every step. There is moth
ing we do which will not make us
better or worse. l do not speak
merely of great events, but Ut the
thoughts upon our beds, tue tOi|
IN the workshop, and tine little
duties which attend every hour
. God in His goodness does not
|. Judge us so much by what We do
/. but when we have done things
!, right or wrong, our destiny maiml,
I turns upon what We think aud dt
t after their occurrence. 1t is thei
we decide it they shall lift us III
. to a higher level, OF bear Us down
to IL lower grade of morals. Oul
: acts mainly spring from impulses
, or accidemts-tbe sudden telnpta
. ton, imperfect knowledge, or er
3 ring Judgment. 1t is the after
thought that gives them thcI'
hue. The world may not see this
;. it may frOwn upon the deed ant
u upon the man, who. nevertheless
by his regrets makes it one whi"l
\ shall minister to purity ard vii
tue IN all his after life. You VIII
sit before me IN some ways hav
advantage over other men who's
minds are agitated by the hope
d and fears of active pursuits, VIII
IT find no time by their thoughts t
Il make them tend to virtue and t
d happiness. With each of you i
g a little time the great questio
y will he not if you are set free, nc
If what the world thinks of you, nc
what You have, but what you ar
for death often knocks 1T til
10 door of your cells, and sOme
Of your number are carried fro
= their narrow walls to the mo-
re narrow walls of the grave. Ii
.r it not be thought that l pro,
le wrong may be done 80 that goo
Is may follow. With st. Paul
" protest against such inferen'
1e from the truth that ;len are sa
to ed by repentance of theiI sins.
of ''Bnt let III look further I'M
I'll this subject. for it deeply concer
th us: Though We are unable
es recall the errors of the past, v
ne may SO deal with them that TIN
" will promote Our virtue, our wi
w dom, and our happiness. UIn
n. this point l am theOrizing. WI
at ever thinks will learn that hum;
H. experience proves this. Let
We take the case of our errors. v
is could find if we could rub the
nd all out that we should destr'
en the wisdom they have given I
al if we have taken care to ma
ne our errors teach us wisdom, WI
he could spare their sorrows9 III
&c much that is kind and sympath
oh ic in our natures which leads
rn tn minister tn the griefS of Othe