Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-04-30
TO BE Continued
CHARITABLE THOUGHTS.
BE Not Guilty of Gloating Over tn
Downfall of Fellow-Man.

BE Not Guilty of GIoating Over the
Downfall of Fellow-Man.
1t seems strange that there should be
so little charitable thought in the world
when one considers how much of it
nearly every one requires to palliate
his wrong doings. When a man or wom-
an is accused of sin the natural impulse
is to censure before waiting for proof
that the individual is guilty and with
out any consideration of mitigating cir
cumstances. The jury of public opinion
acts upon different principle from that
required to be observed by the legal
jury. An accusation having been made
and supported by ec pdrte testimony,
the accused is assumed to be guilty,
and required, if he would be admitted,
to prove his innocence. He is, more
over. subjected to a further injustice.
His denial, disproof or defense will re-
ceive much less attention than
the accusation. Years afterwards
it will be remembered that
he was accused by people who
can not recall to memory the con-
clusion of the case. There was '.some-
thing wrong" about him; that is never
forgotten, and he is left, long after his
innocence may have been proved, with
that vague smirch upon his reputation.
But assuming guilt to have been proved
or acknowledged, there is abundant
room for charitable thought to find out
reason and excuse for the wrong-Aoing,
or, If not excuse, rational explanation
OF its causes. 1t is quite the fashion for
people to demand justice upon offend
ers, though if justice should be done
they would not 'scape whipping. 1t
seems, indeed, as though some who are
most severe adopt an austere behavior
to divert suspicion from themselves.
The number of wrong-doers in the world
Is vastly greater than the small number
constituting the criminal class It is
the wrong-doers not yet so much ad-
dicted to bad ways as to be classed with
criminals who need the charitable
thought and help of their neighbors.
They may have been sorely tempted
or have sinned in moment of sud-
den passion, to be deeply repented
thereafter; they may have good disposi-
tions, good intentions, but be easily led
astray and just as easily led Alright For
all such wrong-doers the kindly sym-
pathy and encouragement of stronger
and better men and women is needed to
reclaim them and help them to a better
life. Only those who have suffered
temptation can fully realize the strength
OF the excuses that may be offered by
those who have temporarily fallen, but
are anxious to amend their ways. The
descent from strict virtue or uprightness
is usually by grade so gentle as to be
unnoticed until exposure and disgrace
bring forcibly to view the length of the
way. No man or woman properly trained
and OF good name plunges into vice and
wrecks reputation and character in a
day. Nor will any mag or woman SO
we'll trained as to feel disgrace refuse
the charitable, kindly efforts of others
toward reclamation. Too often, however.
they meet only with stern looks and
rebukes from Pharisees, and are driven
to further wrong-doing, until it becomes
too late to save them from a criminal
career. The gravest offenses may be
pardoned when followed by sincere re-
pentance and an amended life, vet there
is little disposition to excuse venial
faults under the same conditions. MANY
people who should from their training.
standing and reputation do otherwise.
seem to gloat over the disgrace or down
fall OF others, accept the merest rllmor
Of such thing as truth. ignore denials,
hsip 70 spread scandal, and BIZ their in