The Labor enquirer., 1885-12-05
ARAcE OF HYPooRITEs.

Onetof the greatest evils OF the COM
petitiye system arises from the false re-
latiens which it CON pels us to bear to-
wards each other. We are race Of by
pocrites. Not because that is natural to
us, for nearly all men love truth and
asdespise deceit, but because we are the
Il victims Of unnatural circumstances, of
avs and customs which are part OF
}. the great monstrosity called the COM
petitive system. We dare not become
natural, for that would subject us to ridi-
4cuie orinsur; and sued slaves are we
all of tde evil Geni of our time, that we
are thu veriest towards when duty to
4 fixed principle demands we should pur-
sue the course which we feel to be right
Moreover, we are ever raadv to join Id
the persecution of those who have not
wit enough to hide their real feelings;
, or, in other words, those who are too
simple minded to practice hypocrisy, on
the one hand, and such as have suth-
cient strength OF character to brave
public opinion on the other.
In business we welcome with bland
smile the wealthy, and therefore, the
profitable customer, even though we
know him to be an, unprincipled rogue,
= while we have little time to devote TO
the poor but honest man whose trade is
meagre and credit limiBed. In public
life we openly fawn upon and tatter
those who are in powes, while secretly
we have for them the utmost contempt.
We are obliged-fguratively speaking
to sneeze every time they take snuff,
and. if we have the misfortune to be
dependent upon them for our daily
bread, we become the veriest syco-
plants and lickspittles.
In social life it is the same. We cut
our poorer acquaintances, and faWn
upon the wealthy who condescend to
notice us. We disguise our natural
aversion of deceit in others while in
their company ,rbut in their absence we
let loose the repressed gall that is
within us, apparently never dreaming
that we are as baG as they. We say to
our unwelcome neighbor come again"
and make promises which we have no
intention of keeping. In thousand
wavs'we pander 10 that detestable old
dame, Mrs. Grundy, when we would far
rather consult our own tastes and incli
nations. Even in our dealings wal our
most intimate friends We h;de our hon
est sentiments beneath the cloak OF by
pocrisy. Conventional good breeding
and etiquette take the place of truth and
candor. We are required to ffatter
where,we would rather shame, and to
smile and simper when our hearts are
full of bitterness. In politics,in relig-
ion, and in every department of life we
are the same shallow, pretending
double-faced knaves. We are false to
our friends and the world at large, false
to ourselves, and, in too panyinstancees,
false to those dear principles which we
pretend to love so we'll.
1t is true, it does not pay to be natu-
~ raj or honest, and it does pay to be hy-
pocritical. The profits Of a smooth
tongue and pollEe, insinuating manner
are worldly honor and wealth. 1t is the
easiest road to competence, and one OF
the surest Unfortunately, we are all
either seeking to keep the wolf, hunger,
from the door, or to add to our already
large gains. The fear of want is con-
stantly before US like a horrible night
male, and, in our frantic efforts to avoid
becoming Its victim, truth, honor and
uprightness are forgotten or neglected.
In state of society where the control
ing motive of a vast majority of the peo-
pie is dire necessity, and that of the re-
mainder the qualification of self-indul-
gence, we should not expect to find can
dor or truth. Indeed, when we note the
= premium that is placed upon dishonesty,
md the fearful consequences of being
noor anS Sfriendless; when we consider
that one of the 5aFest and easiest meth
DDS of winning our wav in the world is
by fawnlng upon the rich and powerful,
and the study and practice of conven-
tional deceit; when we call to mind the
fact that we are comoelled to under
mins, to undersell, to cheat-in a word
to compete with one another in the bit
ter struggle for existence, is it to be
wondered at that We are a race of hYpo-
crltes?