Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-05
GULLIBLE PEOPLE.
"The Joke of Politicians and the Curse of
the Age"
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DUPEs.

REV. DR.. ROYAL n. PULLMAN's LECTURE
HE SAYS 1T is VERY EASY TO CONTROL THE
VOTES OF SOME PERsONs-THE DIsCoN-
TENT THAT IS HIGH VIRTUE.
The Rev. Royal H. Pullman lectured on
"Gullible People, at the Universalist
Church in Baltimore Sunday night of last
week. He said: "Gullible people are peo-
pie capable of being gulled, deceived, i'm
posed upon. This is true of very many peo-
ple-true of most people. Even those who
are smart enough to deceive others are
themselves most deceived. The historical
survey of human struggles shows that those
who have risen to power by cunning plots
and schemes of personal ambition have in
every essential of true living suffered more
than the millions whom they have crushed
beneath the iron heel Of their despotism.
"Royal blood poisoned by excesses has
entailed hideous diseases upon descendants
as repulsive as those of the common brOthel.
Blue blood degenerates in the very luxuries
so much envied by the foolish and ignorant.
1t is as bad to be very rich as to be very
poor-the difference is not in the suffering,
but in the scenic effects. In one case we
have the hutter and circumstance in rags; in
the other the futter and circumstance of
silks and tinsel. In fact, there should be a
popular movement for the relief of million
aires, for there is real suffering behind
brownstone fronts. There are no people so
thoroughly gulled as those who are deceiv-
ed by the shows and shams of the upper
ten and the promise of wealth to ensure
comfort, peace and happiness. Alas! how
many dupes there are in this world! Judged
by the efforts made to get rich, it might be
supposed that wealth was more desirable
than Heaven itself. And judged by the
efforts made to secure an election to Con-
gress it might be supposed that the House
of Representatives at Washington was more
than the New Jerusalem.
Sin the morning you may see on the
streets of our city thousands Of young girls
hurrying to their work in store and shop.
AS rule their steps are elastic and full of
vigor; their cheeks are flushed with exercise
and the early morning air; they are beauti-
full in noble, ,self-reliant purpose. They are
not afraid to work for living. Their SIS
ters of the gay world of fashion, at much
later hour, still slumber. The morning sun
is naught to them; they were resplendent in
costly robes and jewels at the theatre or
german last night. They were admired for
the beauty which the bath removes, and for
garments and glittering gems which now
lie amid the confusions of the dressing
room. Shall any of our noble girls who care
for themselves and are helpful to their par
ents sigh for the fripperies of fashion and
wealth which make such follies possible?
''They are the dupes who, overlooking
the essentials of character, live for the fiat
terry of fools, the applause of sycophants and
the golden gains of greed. They are the
dupes who, looking upon this world as good
IL IL.
gold, its titles and its crowns, sigh over the
misfortunes which compel them to make
their living by the sweat of their brows
They are the dupes who put worldly sue
cess above Christian character, sense above
soul, pleasure above piety, and Judge life
by this standard of seDsuous folly. The
gnllibility of people is amazing. Religious
by nature, they have given credence to every
idle tale of superstition since the world be-
gan No legend too ridiculous, no doctrine
too monstrous for their credulity. In fact,
reasonable doctrines and simple truth have
been the heresy of the age. The promises
of the Bible misinterpreted have been used
to strengthen the thrones and dominions of
this world, both ecclesiastic and political.
The people have been duped into the belief
that they should be content with their lot
under the promise that the long ages of
heavenly bliss will recompense them for all
their suferings. Such contentment, while
it has made slaves of millions and enriched
the treasures of power and strengthened
the thrones of tyrants, has kept back the
progress of civilization.
ga noble discomfort with circumstances
which may be improved is high virtue.
Had there been no such discomfort the 'di-
vine right of kings would never have been
questioned and the government of the peo
pie, by the people and for the people, would
never have been known. The soul of revo-
lutions is in that discomfort which questions,
and the hope of the working masses of the
world is in the fact that redress for wrongs
comes on an intelligent, bold and manly de-
mand. Yet there are SO many ignorant
weaklings, 50 many dupes and so many
gullible persons that shrewd politicians
have but little difficulty in controlling votes.
How polite are these shrewd fellows before
an election! How deep is their interest in
your well being, and how anxious about the
health of your wife and children! The geese
are fools, and the foxes know it. The guilt
bility of people is the revenue of knaves,
the joke of politicians and the curse of the
age."