Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-30

sin, but it appears to be now out OF all
proportion, and yet to be looked upon
as quite venial thing.
This thing is called exaggeration, at
times prevarication. this by way OF soft
ening or toning down the plain English
of that habit which is known as lying.
There is quite variety OF the genus
lie, some are simply an extension oil the
truth-exaggeration, this is most COM
mon among gossips, who color and dis
tend or distort facts, without any serious
intention Of harm.
There is the white le"as it is called,
often used in business circles, this is at
times direct, then there is such juggling
with words that the person addressed is
allowed to draw his own inference, which
is meant to be contrary to the real truth
in the case.
This might be called the lie by inuendo
referring mainly to things which ale not
very material at best; but when it steps
away from this, it often is made to reflect
upon character, personal matters or in
tent, quiet insinuation, shrug OF the
shoulders, significant wink speaks
volumes, without either word or sem
tence on which to hang the fact OF libel,
though more may be meant or intima;ed
than the actor would dare TO convey in
words,
Nothing is proof against this form oil
lying, because nothing is said, "a nod is.
however. as good as wink to bind
horse, " and 10 soul blinded by preju
dice or jealous from any cause, this
silent pantominic charge hay be sweet
er than is honey in the honey combP'
From this cause men persons IN al
most every walk OF life, nave rested un
der the ban of suspicion. have suffered
without any possibility OF ever divining
tine cause, specific charge could have
been met, analy zed, dlsproved, over
turned, but it is impossible to bring into
any court shrug oil the shoulder or
suggestive wink.
II is believed that this habit has out
grown individuals and become some
what chronic in society," at least COM
mon reader OF the daily press could
easily reach this conclusion; every day
and many times in one day, will this ,
iecundity of lying exhibit itself, is main
ly however through alter corrections
that these untruths are realized or de- |
tected, OF the vast number OF statements |
which may 20 uncontradlcted mo man |
knowelh," enough is done to make a
truthful man stand appalled, at the auda
city oil misrepresentation, the perversion |
OF opinions and facts, and the riotous |
imagination OF so.called intelligent men,
intervieweIs, correspondents and others. |
Yet deceived daily, omniverous read |
ers, partisans, Interested cllques and in |
divduals, seize upon those wicked, de-
liberate falsiicatons, and use them to |
further extend public unrest or private
gain, as II this was perfectly legitimate
and had in it none OF the elements OF
perversion or fraud.
The old divine, when preaching in his
day from David's remark, wherein he
sadly expressed himself thus,"l said
in my haste all men are liars" quantity
commented thus, had you been here
David, We might have said it, at your
LEISURE" caustc though this may be, 1t
is far from unlikely, that truth is much
less valued today than it was in the days
OF the outspoken Psalmist,
The spirit OF greed, OF speculation, OF
unmiiigated selhshness, is doubtless at
the bottom of much OF the ialsehood OF
modern times; rumor affects trade, a
perverted fact changes the price OF
stocks, commodities rise and fall on
fictitious reports OF crops or prospects
thousands OF miles away, every slight
controversy between nations rouses to
innrdinate action the manipulators OF
stocks and bonds, actual war would be
deemed godsend to the cormorants
and vultures OF society which fatten on
controversy, and grow rich on the bare
shadow of a clash OF arms.
Wild rumors OF calamity are given (
currency because OF the ascendancy OF
this or that political party. and false
prophets proclaim disaster as sure to
follow inhnitessimal and uninfluential
things, with all the assurance OF those
who come with a, Thus saith the
Lordi'
No community on the civilized earth
has suffered more from this devilish mis- |
representation than has this; the Oldest,
the best OF the community have endured !
ii for a life time. and when this con.
umely was transferred from individual |
leaders in part, the people have been
denounced enmasse, their religious |
rights have been denied, their political |
rights withheld,a and their intentions have |
been SO persistently misrepresented, |
that this nation and other nations looked |
upon them as the pariahs OF mankind. |
fit only Tor exrecation and extefmina-
ton.
'How this world is given to lying,r
said one Of Shakespeares characters,
and from one standpoint few need |
marvel, particularly where as in this
otherwise favored country, there is SO |
and untamable spirit OF |
party, a spirit which hesitates at nothing |
which may stand in the way of success, |
the more fragrant statement the more
readily is it swallowed, in the fever and
delirum OF contending factions, and in
their lust ior power.
The simple homogeneity Of the Latter
day Saints FIRST prompted IN the political
realm the hostility OF party; and with
their increase in number, influence and
this spirit ragged unrebuked
and unchecked until in the program
OF divine purpose this acerbity and OPP
position was in great part neutralized
and rights too long withheld were grant.
ed, each party hoping 10 receive OF their
suiirages as sin qua non for conces-
sion.
There is really but little credit due to
politicians for the present situation, the
reason given above was the surface one,
the real cause was the moving OF spirit
tat Influential gtr-lag |