Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-02-10
LIES STRENUOUS STORY

LIVERY man claims TO De honest'
IL truthful and courteous. When
a man is defended, in books, in news
papers or in private life, it is denied
that he was dishonest, or untruthful,
or impolite. The worst men in every
community claim to be honest men;
they are always apologizing for their
bad actions. All this means that
honesty, truthfulness and courtesy are
virtues highly esteemed; that they
are virtues of the greatest value to
men. 1t means that when man does
4 wrong act, it is forever coming up to
humiliate him. This is worth think
ing about. That which men esteem
so highly, and which they quarreled
about in the past, is worth cultivating
in the present. II book records the
history OF man who did bad act at
remote time, and suffered for it, it is
worth remembering that bad actions
should be avoided in the present. All
history shows that men are ashamed
OF bad acts, and apologize for them,
and explain them away. Is this not
the best reason why bad acts should
be avoided in the present, to avoid ex-
PLANTATION and humiliation in the fut-
ure? There is a terrible warning in
the timid, frightened manner OF the
man who has done wrong, and is al
ways expected to be accused OF it. He
expects to be accused of it because he
knows that wrong is never forgiven;
if Christ forgives, the people do not.
Wretched men are forever crying out
in their agony, "Forgive and forgive"
but no man forgets. Believe that
punishment for folly is as certain as
the coming OF winter alter summer,
and order in the same interchangeable
way, but do not believe that men are
punished to satisfy revengeful Lord;
believe punishment for bad conduct
was ordered as an inevitable rule that
men might live in the easiest and
most comfortable way. Good conduct
is silent and industrious friend; bad
conduct is silent and industrious
enemy. A good act can no more be
hid than bad ore; most people know
the terrible combination that seems
to be at work to expose wrong doing,
and they should remember that the
fates are equally sure to bring to light
every good act. Men are always look
ing for investments that will pay a
profit; they should remember that
fairness, courtesy and honesty are in.
vestments that never fail to pay
profit, and such investn ents may be
made every hour in the day. The
great lesson men should learn is this
inevitable law Of punishment for bad
conduct and reward for good conduct.
Do not know that there is punishment
and reward after death, but do know
that there is punishment and reward
here on earth, and that if man earns
the esteem OF his neighbors, he will
have to earn the esteem of his Savior
II there is devil, he certainly con-
dennis a man on the testimony Of his
neighbors. All philosophers make the
mistake Of asking too much of a man !;
they demand perfect man, although
philosopher should know that a
perfect man never existed. No man
masters his passions until he outgrows
them, but every man may control
himself to some extent, and know that
the more he controls himself, the bet
ter off he will he. There is battle.
field in every mans nature; the more
he fights his natural instinct for do
ing wrong the greater the victories he
will accomplish.