The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-16

A Pretty Bad Business.
Something Every Mothers Son Should
Read.
Hartford Courant.l

Hartford Courantl
Without raising the general question why
much that is quietly winked at in the manag-
ment of political affairs would not be tolerated
in the conduct of business or in the relations
of society, it may not be impertinent to inquire
why the exercise of charity should be SO re-
morselessly suppressed in the judgments that
are formed and published concerning public
men and their actions? In passing into the
sphere of politics, is it necessary to divest our
selves OF all charitable Prescriptions concern
ing our fellow men. and not only to stand on
guard against them in ceaseless suspicious vigi-
lance ,lbut to be ready at any moment of their
unguardedness, to assail their conduct, put the
worst possible construction upon their words
and motives, and make them black and ridicu-
lous as is, for the time being, possible by any
means?
1t may be that such method of treatment
is requisite for all men who are in political
life, that they may be kept from the power of
the temptations that surround them, but one
fails to see why the temptations of private bus
mess are not equally formidable, and should
uOt SuuJcCt VIC uduhtTS tuu u6TCuautS 10 The
same law of uncharitable outlawry. 1t may be
that the purity Of our "civil service demands
that all our civil servants should not only be
made to feel their state of servitude, but
should be treated with the highest possible in
ciyility which cynical and skeptical suspicion
of them can devise. AS the newspaper has in
its hands the guardianship of the public virtue
1t becomes necessary for it to pursue this poll
cy of Misrepresentation toward all presidents,
members of Congress, cabinet officers and Of
fee holders. Especially is this necessary on
the part of those unshackled, immaculate and
infallible papers which have all the scorn of
party which a eunuch has of sex, and which
combine the eunuch's liberty of personal pres
ence with the court testers freedom of speech.
Accordingly we find almost all our public men
freely Amounted with more or less adhesive
printers ink, which exhibits them in pleas
ing imperfection, and keeps them from the
dangers of pride.
This office of skeptical criticism has beon
highly exalted by two great masters of litera-
tuse. In the proem of Faust, Goethe shows
how Delightfully."- the snob and devil are
blended in the character of Mephistopheles,
who, without reverence for God or faith in
man, can Jest and offer to bet with the Deity,
can mock at the suggestion of any mans sim
cerity, finds nothing right on earth, eternal
ly," and declares
sits really kind of such noble Lord
So humanity to gossip with the Devil"
The author of the ancient poem of Job intro
duces us to q similar character among the sons
of GOD who pay their respects at the court of
Heaven. He doesn't belong anywhere in par.
ticular. His business is to prowl around in
everybody's precincts. He, TOO, is indepen-
dent, There's no nonsense about him. You
cannot fool him with your pious, hypocritical
Jobs Che spells it jobs. "Does Job serve God
for naught?" Tush! Go to-good Lordl Just
give me chance with this honest fellow, and
I'll show you what an entire reservoir of
curses is in him, and wha an utter hypOcrite
he isl
1t is the fashion just now to doubt the exis-
tence of the devil-a fashion that is exceeding
ly pleasant and convenient for the devil, too
But when we look abroad and see in what
manner mems motives are questioned their
words and actions misinterpreted we may be
pardoned for doubling the doubt, and being
somewhat surer of the existence of this spirit
than of any other invisible reality in creation.
Its sneers and doubts and mocking accusations
are nowhere more abundant than in the do
main Of modern political life. 1t scents job
in every Job. II man happens to show
pretty fiawless goodness (such as Mr.. Hayes
contrived to exhibit then its cry is, SIT pays to
be good!' "He makes money out of his temper
perance-some sixty thousand dollars, it is
said"
If under singing provocations one is finally
tempted to cry out and drop bitter curse or
two, or If his feet are caught in some momen-
tary snare from which he painfully extricates
himself, the shrill, dry cackle of internal
mocking laughter is re-echoed through the
land.
This satanic spirit of evil insinuation and
false lmputation which with internal assiduitv
sows the seeds of distrust and disbelief IN hui
man goodness and virtue-how can its exist
ence be disputed? The lord of flies still con-
trives to cover every bruise of humanity with
his poisonous legions, ana to annoy and tor
ment with them every prominent man in So
ciety and government
One of the most notable instances of the
more recent manifestations of this hateful
spirit may perhaps be cited and considered
here with profit. By dint of patient, honest
industry yea, by most exceptional indefati-
gability in toll and study, a man has gradually
risen from the lowest rank and humblest occu-
patton in life, to stand in the highest position
OF honor which this country affords-to stand
among and even before princes and kings.
In unusually early life he stands there,
crowned! In what seems to be remarkable
simplicity and modesty too! The wife who
has shared his previous fortunes is by his side.
But still more-and more unusual-this mans
mother is with him. With him there in her
old age and with her heart full of all unspeak-
able motherly emotions She has seen other
Gays with him--has endured poverty and mani
him. 1t has pleased God to give her this
crowning privilege! Her patient, self-de-
nying devotion has been the spring of
his entire life and success. She sits there
most remarkable and pathetic figure,
too, to any man who knows what the word
mother" means--in quiet, humble, unconsci-
GUS, glad honor, while the boy of her love
speaks to the world some remarkable words,
And mindful of her-yea, mindful of her
above all other kindred, and mindful of her
with tender mother-worship in which self
consciousness seems quite lost, this man simp-
ly turns to stoop and kiss the wrnkled face.
and by that kiss to betrsy his loyal heart and
make her full cup overflow. One reads of the
and with thousand tender, sacred associa-
tons starting into life and song within him.
One would prefer to say nothing about such an
act Of worship. which Carlyle might have
called heroic. 1t were well to muse somewhat
silently on such scene. A prayer is not to be
praised. And now what sort of description of
this scene are we treated to here and there by
wise men who have penetrated to the region of
the Presidents motives? It was unpremedi-
tated-you think? Ha! ha! Quite melodra-
mattel Convenient to have that mother on
hand for such an occasion! A shrewd piece of
acting! A most consummate bid for populari-
ty, that! And SO on dd 'aduSedmi
1t is hard sometimes to tell Just where snob-
but it is not difficult to see that the point Of
such meeting must have been long way be-
fore such heartless, devilish-wise, and alto.
gether snob-foolish comments could have been
written or SO much as thought of by men who
have forgotten their mothers. 1t may be as
well not to undertake any further characterize
ton OF this internal sort of criticism. May the