The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17

humane and intelligent people were inter<
ested.
From the beginning OF the Dreyfus case
10 the end OF Il all France. except
couple OF dozen moral paladins. lay under
the smother Of the silent-sssertion lie
that no wrong was being done to a per-
secuted and unoffending man. The like
smother was over England lately. a good
half 81 the population silently letting on
that they were not aware that Mr.. Cham
berlain was trying 10 manufacture war
in South Africa and was willing 10 pay
fancy prices for the materials
Now there we have instances OF three
prominent ostensible civilizations work
ing the silent-assertion lie Could one
find other instances in the three coun-
tries? I think so. Not SO very many
perhaps but say a billion-just so as TO
keep within bounds Are those countries
working that kind OF lie. day in and day
out. in thousands and thousands Of va
rieties without ever resting? Yes, We
know that 10 be true. The universal con-
spiracy Of the silent-assertion lie is hard
al work always and everywhere. and al
ways In the interest Of a stupidity or a
sham. never in the interest Of 4 thing
fine or respectable. Is il the most timid
and shabby OF all lies? II seems to have
the look OF II. Tor ages and ages it has
mutely labored in the interest Of despot-
isms and aristocracies and chattel SLAYER
les. and military slaveries. and religious
slaveries. and has kept them alive keeps
them alive yet. here and there and ycn-
der. all about the globe; and Will go on
keeping them alive until the silent-asser-
ton lie retires from business-the silent
assertion that nothing is going on which
fair and intelligent men are aware Of and
are engaged by their duty 10 try 10 stop.
What ! am arriving at IS this: When
whole races and peoples conspire 10 pro-
pagate gigantic mute lies in the interest
OF tyrannies and shams. why should We
care anything about the trifiinS lies told
by individuals? Why should We Try TO
make II appear that abstension from
lying Is a virtue? Why should We want
TO beguile ourselves in that way? Why
should We without shame help the ma
ton lie. and then be ashamed TO do
little lying on our own account? Why
shouldn't We be honest and honorable.
and lie every time we get chance? That
IS 10 say why shouldn't We be consistent.
and either lie all the time or not AT all?
Why should We help the nation lie the
whole day long and then object To telling
one little individual private lie in.our own
interest 70 go 10 bed on? Just for the
refreshment Of IL. I mean. and TO take
the rancid taste out Of our mouth.
Here in England they have the oldest
ways. They won't tell spoken lie-no-
thing can persuade them. Except in
large moral interest. like politics or re-
ligion. I mean. To tell a spoken lie 10
get even the poorest little personal ad-
vantage out OF IL is thing which is i'm
possible 10 them. They make me asham-
ed Of myself sometimes. they are so big
oted. They will not even tell a lie for
the fun Of II: they will not tell it when
It hasn't even a suggestion Of damage or
advantage in it for any one. This has
a restraining influence upon me in spite
OF reason. and l am always getting out
OF practice.
or course. they tell all sorts Of little IN
spoken lies. Just like anybody; but they
don't notice II until their attention is
called 10 IL. They have got me 50 that
sometimes l never tell a verbal lie now
except in modified form; and even in
the modified form they don't approve OF