The record-union., 1898-09-05
FAULT FINDING AND ENVY.

Are we a nation Of fault finders and
back biters? Do we look with sus-
picion all the time? Have we come
into that condition when we believe
every man has his price, and if he has
not sold it, it is only because there has
been no bidder? Too greatly fault find
ing We are, tbs true, but after all the
critical spirit is corrective often, nay
most often, and the disposition to sus-
peet may conserve honesty by cowing
rogues. The Tulare Register" says:
But, unfortunately, there is in this
country class Of persons whose blood
appears to curdle at the spectacle of
success. Is a soldier promoted, it is
only another case of an incompetent
benefited by a political pull. Does one
meet with more than an average meas
ure of success in the business world,
straightway he must have stolen his
wealth or ground the faces of the poor.
Is good man selected for political
honors, nothing of the kind could have
occurred without corruption or railroad
inhuence- Does a preacher acquire
more than a local reputation for elo-
surely something deeayed in the State
of Denmark, and he Is working his
rabbits foot on blind chuckle heads
who do not recognize a pretender when
they see him.
Unquestionably envy gives birth to
hatred and all manner Of uncharitable-
ness, and criticism founded in envy
is the meanest, most despicable Of fault
finding, and most Of that Of which the
Register" complains is the fault find
ing OF envy. Cultivating to abnormal
ity the idea that the world owes every
man a living-than which nothing is
more unsound-and with political dem
agogues and yelIowism doing all that
viciousness may do to enlarge unwhole
some discomfort, It is not surprising
that there should be some ground for
the complaint Of our contemporary.
But when this IS said the people of
this country IN the long run honestly,
unselfshly admire success; they do
judge well and wisely between the pre-
tenders and the meritorious They are
quick to applaud valor. to reward devo-
ton and to pay tribute TO incorrupti-
bility. We do not believe that, while
we are too much fault finding, there is
a people on earth more generous to
real merit, or quicker to do honor to
ability and genius.
Nor is it true that our people be-
ueve all their fellows to be corruptibIe
and corrupting. The people on every
hand know Of hundreds Of good men
and true with whom self-respect Is the
first of all things. They know of men
and women all about them who
live modest. pure and true lives, They
know Of scores of their neighbors who
are scrupulously honest pay their debts
to the last cent, and do strictly by 9TH
ers as they would be done by. They
know Of deeds of benevolence and char
ity and self-sacriflce that are unherald-
ed to the world, but are writ down by
the recording angel.
They know that there Is buying and
selling of men, corruption. oppression
and back biting. suspicion and envy,
unjust and mean, but they know also
that the communities IN which they live
have the good and true in large num-
Der: pure lives and pure homes. incor-
runtible officials and devoted, tried and
answering, trustful and reposeful men
a,d women who honor life and steady
the social ship. however giddy. super
acial and vain are the many who pose
&C +he movers OF the world.