Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-02-10
POLICY.
M Q


a sinister course promises easy success
The wire-puller needs no great amount OF
intelligence; knowledge would trammel
him. wisdom, were it not profanity to even
think him capable of its possession, would
utterly overthrow and annihilate him. But
shrewdness, cunning, quick perception of
weakness in the material upon which he
acts, are Indispensable to the manipulation
of guilty chances and scurvy agents. He
must understand the mental condition
which enables the circus manager to draw
after him a crowd. Unhappily, everything
| is prepared to his hand. The wretched case
is correctly stated by Dame Ursley in her
conference with jim Vim: "Let a man bear
his folly gayly and his knavery stoutly, and
let me see il gravity or honesty will look
him in the face now a days" VI The Fortunes
! Of Nigel Ii the pot.house intrigues, and
state plots conducted by the highest class,
enjoyed such immunity in the times of James
l., how secure may the small decelver and
the great rascal feel in this present age,
when fraud is at premium, and worldli
ness, in every form is at its worst
The law OF supply aud demand operates
as surely here as in economic affairs. II
men refused TO be deceived, there would be
no deceivers. If honesty and truth were
coveted for its own sake, double dealing
would retire before the stern face of virtue,
and stink away to the subterraEeous caverns
of its father who sends it forth TO cheat and
curse the world. But natural men every
| where love darkness rather than light; not
only as a cover for actual transgression, but
as shrouding the evil thoughts, purposes, and
| nature, which faithfulness, though wound
| ing at first, would afterward heal. An un.
truthful voice or assumed attitude which
condones, not exposes, the falseness in an
other, is welcome for the comfort and sup
port 1t brings, while more deeply dyeing
the soul in guilt. The evil finds rapid
propagation. One fraudulent spirit evokes
another which must attempt TO overmatch
the first. An example is furnished in Car
lyle's account Of the Diamond Necklace /:
Cagliostro, the decelyer OF all Europe the
Countess de Lamotte undertakes TO dc
ceive. And with the best means at her
| command. She knows, perfectly, that "Oil
of Flattery, the best patent antiiriction
known, subdues all irregularities whatso.
ever" With what result We know-the
famous trial, detection of companions in
crime, the Bastille.
The promise discrimination offers of early
profits the moralst regrets 20 see too gener-
ally fulfilled. Mendacity wins its way with
many who do not realize the value of truth,
or are too obtuse TO understand that they
are dupes TO the superior cunning that Sc.
lects them as its victims. For consldera.
tons OF profit and advantage people obse
quiousy extend their notice TO those far be
meath them in the social scale Ii their IN.
terest were genuine, and their action be-
neVolent attempt TO elevate and improve, 1t
would be in the highest degree commenda.
ble.- But they entertain no such thought.
Their object is as base AS it is selfish 1t is
~ rpt hVnnrrlaU
The doctors vile pretends friendship that
she may procure or keep patients for her
husband and dollars for her purse. The
attorneys family are gracious because clients
are necessary, and clients are not valued Tor
their birth Or connection, but for their abil
ty to furnish fees. All on the principle OF
the politician who fOndles the dirty children
OF the common labOrer till after the election
The trickster In any line is reasonably GER
tain of present recompense while the ma
iOrity OF the world continue to be idiots and
Tools. A vrtuous mind is horrtied to see
how, by cajolry, by presents, by false show
OF affection, the keen man of the world makes
servants OF kindred and acquaintances. Toe
true friends OF mankind rejoice, however,
that rascadOm reckons vainly on perma-
nent rewards of villiany in any form. In
Tie Court Of Monte Christi, Dumas presents
deserved end Through dupllcity, lead
ing, AS II unialingy does, to some form Of
crime, Fernand, the fisherman, Danglars,
the supercargo, and Benedetto, the vicious
base born child of parents in high position,
become, respectively, Count de Morcert,
Baron Danglars, and "prince" Cavalcanti.
But the "wool-shod feet OF the ayenging
deites" are upon their track. Suicide ends
the earthly career OF the first; the ll.gotten
gains OF the second dissolve into bankruptcy
and disgrace while of the third the galleys
are his first punishment, the second an
augmentation OF the first. Villeiort, the
bora scoundrel, reaps retributon in in.
sanity Caderousse, at first the weak and
unwilling accomplice, is drawn into the vor.
tex, and dies by the murdercr's hand
Not that the false race OF respectable
schemers who are styled "poitic" will ever
learn the moral pointed in history or fiction.
1t requires an essentially base nature TO
carry two faces through the world; and
base natures are not easily shamed or in
structed. Where no checks OF conscience
give pause activity and energy put
forth all strength Audacity increases in
the ratio of progress Conscience would
gender cowardice; conscience is, therefore,put
aside. The artfu resent classification with
criminals, for they are only frauds, polite
and thoroughly disguised. The undlsturbed
reign of seltishness continues. The current
Of events is closely studied with view TO
negotiate personal interest with whatever
person or Earty is likely 10 hold the gift OF
patronage Ia The Brjoie Of Ldmmerni0Or
Sir Walter Scott records "the piabilty Of
the versatile old Earl of Northampton, who
explained the art by which he kept his
ground through all the changes of state,
from the reign of Henry VIII. TO that OF
ElizaOeth, by the frank avowal, that he was
born oi the willow, not Of the oak" That
was before the days OF Civil Service"-that
adored refuge Of barnacles and chronic
placemen-when the office seeker found II
necessary and convenient To have no poit-
ical opinions, or, if he had, TO employ sufii
cient cunning TO conceal them. The name
OF those who delight to sacrifice themselves
on the altar OF their country on the same
remunerative terms is Legion. such sub
seryiency takes no account Of manllness,
but, when protected by power, prevents It's
display by nObler natures. Patriotism is
priced venallty Overslaughs virtue.
The worst cases are those where the moral
sense must be prOpltlated, II 1t cannot be
suppressed, with the deuslon that works OF
righteousness may be achieved with inter
esLed and unworthy motives. Facts neces
sary and eternal prevent this realization.
Let us do evil that good may come" Is the
doctrine of devils. A lie in action Is stronger
and guiltier than lie in word. Heaven
never yet smiled upon ialsehood. No &C
ton i, meritorious unless It's fountain head
is purity If good be sought it must be
effected through legal and proper methods,
and with IA purpose which will bear the
sun blaze and the scrutiny Of the court OF
last appeal The Judge OF the whole earth
will discriminate between the benefactor
aud the beneiaction. Money bestowed as a
speculation or for the sake Of an advertise
ment will keep the poor from starving but
the donor misses that priceless blessing
which follows the gift Of cup Of cold water
from genuine sympathy for suffering and
desire 10 initiate the great Exemplar A re-
ligious interest may appear 10 be built up by
compromising truth and smoothing over the
guilt of men but such treachery and COW.
adce will entail nothing but retribution.
The thin mask will be torn off, and all par
,ioa In tho annanirapV tn cheat the devil find