The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-18

habit of saying true things in aphcristic
fashion, remarks:
what the world really needs Is an eleventh
commandment Thou shalt not gossip
There have been suggested at one time
or another a good many amendments to
the decaIogue. but Inasmuch as that code,
unlike the Constitution of the United
States. is not susceptible of amendment
by popular vote, none of them has as yet
been adopted There are two, however
which, if it should ever come to q
vote. would certainly receive the votes of
two large classes of society, and they are
quite opposite in teaching. Somebody
once said that the eleventh command
mcnt was
Thou shalt not be found outs
Another said it was
Mind your own business
The latter IS considerably like the opin-
ion expressed by the "Atchison Globe"
The character Of person. or the tone
of a community. depends largely upon
what the person. or the cOmmun it.-
thinks the eleventh commandment ought
to be, and it is generally, in principle,
conceded to be one of these TWO. If there
Is any reader OF these COLUMNS WHO -
anxious to be retrospective, and discover
what his spiritual condition really is, he
may do so by the simple process of ask
ing himself which of the two command
ments he thinks should be added to the
original ten They are so nearly contra
dictory that they cannot very well both
be added. 1t may be that the question
will be somewhat like that famous one
Lady or the Tiger He said that he left
the end of the story in doubt because any
reader who was able TO determine which
came out of the door. the lady or the Ii
ser, would find out what kind Of per
son he was himself; but most people
cannot tell 20 this day
There are whole countries in which
the rule that thou shalt not be found
out has practically been adopted as tie
eleventh commandment IN these places
there may be a vast deal of vice, bat It
| is mostly covered up. Most people know
it is there; but they do not talk about
it; it IS not popular TO talk about il.
They consider that to acknowledge its
| existence would be TO encourage it
Young people are brought up TO suppose
their world place quite different from
v HI II lGe1A4A Is anu NILt-A ltAtE t4SCpk-
er their mistake it has various effects
upon theem. and most of these effects
are sad But the keeping of the com
n1andment has unquestonably a great FL
feet upon public morals. Nobody dares
TO sin where anyone can see him; and
as it IS not always possible 70 arrange
for the amount of secret misdcing which
one may desire. many people are re-
strained from shining at all There are
individuals IN all communities who owe
their reputation and influence largely TO
the assiduity with which they have kept
/ this important commandment II IS
great safeguard Of conservatism.
! The other commandment does not do
much toward making public opinion The
/ only place in which it IS ever strictly
! kept is one which has no public opinion
worth mentioning. like mining camp or
! one of those outlaw towns beyond the
/ reach Of extradition treaties. in which
everybody does mind his own business
/ because it would be sudden death for
him TO mind his neighbors- When an in
dividuaI sets about keeping this com
Inandment he is usually q busy man
! and often useful one. for ii is sUrpris-
/ ing how much time is released from occu-
patton hIltLl q yltCt IIiStfAt bAL MINUS
| 10 attend 10 nobody affairs but our own.
! The influence which such a person has
/ depends upon himself and upon the place
/ in which he lives. If he be a wise and
strong man. he is apt TO have a great
/ deal, for when q man once begins TO
/ mind his own business thoroughly, Peo-
| pie are apt 10 think it must be well worth
rninding. since he is willing to disregard
all their opinions and go his own road
! On the otker hand, this course sometimes
1 leads to misunderstanding, qUarreIs. and
much opposition. for there are people who
can forgive anything sooner than dis
regard OF their own views. It is impos-
sible to decide. off-hand. which Of these
two commandments is really best for the
world; but they viii probably both be
obeyed for many generations to come;
and, as has before been said, the indi-
vidual can arrive at quite an accurate
estimate of his own character by decid-
ing which Of them he wants to keep.
It Is a pity that the Venezuelan Gov
eminent is not possessed of more common
sense than TO imprison the United States
Consular Agent at Barcelona, at this
time Public opinion in this country is
Yet strong enough TO make the Admins
tration think twice before invading Ven
ezuela for the avowed purpose Of com
! polling that State to aGcede to the de
nands of the Asphalt Trust. But when
! the Caracas officials are foolish enough
! to make colorado opening for a war,
/ which will not be on the surface for the
| benefit, but only TO the benefit, OF the
| trust. they need only thank themselves
! in case il should be utilized Little States
which interfere with our consuls. take a
i considerable risk IN so doing
As reported the latest Administration
scheme in connection with the canal
question. IS to induce Congress TO give
the President discretionary power 10
choose either the Nicaragua or the Pan
anna routes. A commercially neat and
appropriate plan, But would MI Nc
Kin!ey care TO assume q. responsibility
which would expose him 10 the criticism
OF the country which would be excited
were he to seem 70 lend himself TO the
designs of the New York Panama syn
dicateZ