Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-29
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Blackstone says that there is no
wrong without remedy, But can
either the civil law or social regula-
tions afford any adequate protection
| against, or redress for, the serious
wrongs done by slander and detrac-
ton? Men are not only prone to
listen with credulity to the whis-
pers of fancy, but still more SO to
the artfully devised statements of
envy, hatred and malice. And the
injuries thus inflicted, either in bus
iness affairs, or upon mans reputa-
tion, even more sacred and valuable
to him than property, may be ruin
Gus in their consequences. Here Is
fiagrant wrong; but where is the
remedy? The ordinary suit for
SANDER has become disreputable,
and almost obsolete. Besides this il
is wholly inapplicable or unavaila-
BILE in the most serious cases. The
slanderer often approaches the par
ties he desires TO influence in the
garb of friendship and confidence,
pretending falsely to be giving in
formation for the benefit Of, and out
of friendship for the parties to
whom the malicious and false COM
munications are made. So that the
victim of the slander and defama-
tion is often not allowed even to
know the source from which the in
Jury originates. And the wrong
often Injuries the party to whom the
slander and detraction are commu-
nicated as much and sometimes
even more than the victim of the
malice himself. Indeed, the SLAM
der is often designated to produce
variances, and to injure both.
AS no adequate remedy can exist
for such wrongs by suit, protection
can only be found in higher tone,
and more rigid conservatism in so
cial and business affairs. Slander,
detractiOn, and defamation should
be scorned, eschewed, and frowned
down; and credulity should be with
held from all attempts at defama-
tion, however plausible, and COW
cred under the guise of professed
friendship. The methods OF SLAM
der are often subtle and most inn
posing. Cicero said, "There Is
nothing which wings Its flight so
swiftly as calumny nothing which
is uttered with more ease nothing
is listened TO with more readiness,
and nothing dispersed more wide
ly."
Dean Swift said, "The worthiest
people are the most injured by SLAM
der, as we usually find that TO be
the best fruit which the birds have
been pecking at"
Peter the Great is said to have re-
marked TO man speaking i'll OF an-
other in his presence, ut Is easy to
splash mud; but / would rather
help a man to keep his coat clean"
Madame Roland exclaimed,
"What indulgence does the world
extend to those evil speakers, who,
under the mask of friendship, stab
indiscriminately with the keen
though rusty blade of SANDER" .
In the language OF st. Bernard,
ISLANDER is poison which extin-
guishes charity, both In the slander-
er and in the person who listens TO
it,"
And in the words of Leighton,
"Calumny would soon die OF itself
il nobody took il in and gave 1t
Cowper says:
fThe man who dan es traduce because heca
With safety TO himself, Is NOT a man.
In the inimitable language of
f..... ....
'The Jewel best enameled,
VIII lose It's beauty, and so no man That
hath name,
But falsehood and corruption doth IL
shame" f..a.Ig
And again; If f
mo might nor gre ntness In morality
Jan censure 'scape; back wouniing cllunny
The whitest virtue Strikes"
The only protection which can DO
provided against this greatest Of all
pests to Society and the world, Is to
elevate the manners and bearing of
men, cultivate an abhorrence forthe
'oul spirit Of defamation, and utterly
aschew detraction, and refuse all at
ention and credence to its disgust
ng details.