The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-15

be- 10 all appearances an Isolated. indie
ucndcut and voluntary act, the simple
ptoduct Of n wifu and malicious premedl
tatlcn. And the law must take TINS view
OF It, But In reality It Is largely due to
the long ana subtle cooperation OF va
riety of unseen Influences acting upon an
Uniformed mind and upon a weak ana plia-
bio Will 1t Is almost. though not quite
thc mans mind and conscience have been
bvlpg from his you h until now Ana VINO
is responsible for the existence OF TINS AZ.
mcspHcrcy Not l." would be the answer
Of most OF us. Il do not deny that have
many shortcomings nave undoubtedly
demo sonic harm 10 others IN common WIN
the generality of men and women, ana
1 have my own limited sphere OF response
bilty. But this man Of whom never
heard OF hefore--thls embezzlcr. This mur-
dc.er this robhcr this dciaulteF, ulls
forgrr this gambler whose home is atnr
distant from mine, and who belongs 70
an entirely different Nrlass of lifc--tbls
man !. crime | must Insist, does not aud
to my cxistln. moral responsibilities. But
nre we quite sure OF that! Doubtless
yuu have not contributed directly. or in
any way that yon cah trace. 10 d9tS Phis
Inl;rder. this perjury bestlal crime, but
tl,e you contributed nothing TO the eXiist-
lax state. of mind tue state OF feehng
WHEEL. made the crime naturally possible
The question Is not whether or not you
hlre been In sympathy with any moral
evil that has put Its spot upon society
ltlt whether YOU INV III nv W. ~ .iNHlNia''A
bic either by the negative influence of an
npa:hetic Indifference, or the positive IN
III ne, OF careless expression, for the low
tone of puhlic sentiment which 81 mace
the vel fruitage natural
Law is, theoretically, the emhobdlin,,nt
of morals Morality Is the soul OF ihw.
he aw ms 81 cd nv II. II IL IS 10 be snslaned
and moral sentiment In turn is the result
tant OF the manifold opinions ana sent
mcnts of the indiyldn49i |h,ddh M af fhis w we
arG All responsible. There Is but step ~
tween liberty and license. II is rom 'ne
tainted am"sphere OF inc low status ,r'or wi
social sem nent tnaN tue lnlIsIhH "i i""'"'
For Instance. there has prey allied more or
less widely the secret social sem 'I3
fhan n priyate or that the offense of him
who violates the trust OF a corporation ~
on a different plane from ahe en- me 81 LII np !
who hicks the lock Of a private house nhd
stenls the owners goods. Defaulter ana
thief are not synonymous terms IN tue
vocabulary Of social sentiment. lhey NJ
Of good society, with the advantages Of
education and moral culture. lie bethme
''lnvolved" and appropriated funds %
cover his disgrace or TO sustain his honor
or he secretly borrowed money RON ihe
bank for a private speeuiation III stoch,
and was unfortunate was slueuHe '
cotton or wheat deal. He X defanller
II you must call him 50; but this otnet iel
low This ruhhcr, ibis hufglaf-hf belongs
10 n lower grade Of humanity-he has beel
n thief and a gambler among theses an.
gamblers from his, Youth up. SUCH Is n,
distinction III not the difference. Again thli
yonng man III good connection and eysr'
social advantage has been living rather
fast'' no has been Somewhat imprudcnt.'
mn he will outgrow II and will soon setti'
down and society Will forget. But thli
Young woman his companion In guilt alns
never She Is branded with n socal ours
that will weigh her down To the neither
most hell OF lnfamy. Such is the dlstinc
ton n not The difference.
Again here Is what il called n gam
hing heli'' because ~ the mlscrles Of IN
told evil which II produces. and n con-
munIty AT last arises In It's righteous IN
difnafIon ii must he closed and the slo
n,Srhine must 20, and the street gamlI
niaylnr al craps In the alley must. he pun
Ished But this other Rambiing-this play
ING for nrizes under the sanction OF socia
approval in the drawing room-sys, 10