The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-12-24
n Man Is Il Man.

AS deliberate expression Of senti-
mcnt and opinion, nothing more sham"-
less or worthy Of condemnation and re-
pudiation than the following paragraph
was ever written. 1t appears in letter
from Washington, written by Mr. James
Il. Randall, editor Of the Chronicle
.IuninS said that Il 'ponr man could
neither be honest nor independently
AS honesty and independence are COM
prehcnsive terms, there may be much
truth in this grim tire. It is often
hard for a poor man to be honest to him.
self and to his convictions, especially if
lie has ''yivcn hostages to fortune i"
and independent he can seldom be un-
less devoted to mnrtyrdon. In this
fierce civilization ! am much impressed
with the maxim Of Juhius, and the i'll
digcnt man who is honest, Though not
independent must be on the high road
TO heaven.
1t is hard to understand how n man
can think such things and harder to
imagine the motives that could induce
him to put the thought in print over his
own signature. Junius expressed his
assault on the manhood and humanity
Of the vast majority Of men anonimous-
ly. Mr. Randall en- lorses it over his name.
If it had been said that man could
not be independent and honest and rich
the truth would have been more nearly
reached. The Creator and Exponent Of
all knowledge and wisdom has told us
how hnrd it is for the rich to possess
and hold the characteristics to fit men
for the kingdom of heaven The Incl
dent Of the man who turned from Him
and went away Sorrowtul because no
had great possessions has beon repeated
within the observation Of every mature
man in every age. The wisdom Of tho
Almighty is borrowed and used by the
Catholic church in its requirement that
those who cunsccrate themselves to tho
service of t,od in her ranks should di-
vest themselves Of the wealth that clogs
the upward flight Of souls and presses
them TO the earth and it's things.
The man who can not imagine an hon
est and independent poor man lacks
mans virility and heart and isa supple,
bending nothing in clothes, with tho
body and appctitcs of man and with
out the feelings that make humanity no
bic. He is fit FOR nothing but to be
slave and will inevitably gravitnte to
slavery. No law can make him free
man, and whether he works with his
body or his mind he is n voluntary SER
want and bondman proud Of his collar
and pleased with his own servility and
degradation.
Mr. Randall probably does not know
it, but there is no earthly happiness
compared with that of the ,nan who can
keep starvation and suffering from him
with his own labor, knows himself to
be honest and is afraid Of nobody.
Poor men arc honest and independent
| and very happy sometimes. The feel
| ing Of strength that comes with con-
scious honesty and freedom is the most
glorious one tho mortal spirit knows.
the honest and Independent and manly
man, however poor he may he, is king
Of men, and he knows and feels it. Tho
freedom and courage that makes the Ii
on hold his head so proudly and give
terror to the scream Of the eagle. in
spirc, strengthen and cnnoblc. Life is
protractcd delight and luxury. There
is happiness in every breath he draws
and all his senses gather pleasure for him.
An honest and manly man is the no.
hlcst thing God has made and we b.
licve God loves and cares for him with
special love and care. We are told that
David with his spendid courage and ma
tive majesty, was man after Gods own
heart despite his innumerablc weak
ncsscs and dark sins. We do not he
lieve the man who crawls through liro
dependent, scrvile and cowardly COM
,nands his Makers respect, even when
he so lives and believes as to receive
his mercy.-D0i2y Ne,cs.