The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1905-09-27
Coincidence.

'AusAAs ~ SuAS pdSSAXe IRON
his Table Talk: Equity is a
roguish thing. For Law We have q
measure, know what to trust to;
Equity is according to the conscience
OF him that is Chancellor, and as that
Is larger or narrower, so is Equity.
Il is all one IL If they should make
the standard for the measure we call
a foot a C~hancellor's foot; what an
uncertain measure would this be.
One Chancellor has a long foot,
another a short foot, another an
Indifferent foot. IT is the same thing
IN the Chancellor's conscience"
Assuredly, the divergence between
equity and the statutes is no less
marked in the grand assize which
every human being is forever holding,
as between his actions and his moral
CODE. In other words, the average
mans conscience is. for the most
part, q matter of creed. education and
social environment. Most of us. in
the crises of our lives, are swerved
hither and thither by c~riteria taken at
second hand and our practice 10
shaped by the notions of our fellows.
We consider one deed right and
another wrong. because the church or
the caste into which we were born has
settled the matter in a particular
sense.
Here is Mr.. George W. Perkins. for
example, who finds no trouble in
representing opposite interests in
large affairs, though the impossi-
bility of serving two masters is
attested in Holy Writ. Asked to ex-
plain his anomalous attitude. Mr..
Perkins declared, with v~irtuous heat.
mat his course was always clear,
because he Obeyed his conscience at
every stage of the game. This is
simply to say that whatever this !
financial prodigy thinks right is right
Tor him. History tells us that al
most all great men have acted on this
egoistic belief. Napoleon threw the
decalogue to the winds, when some
decisive advantage in war. or in
.statecraft. was to be won by the
.postasy and Cromwell was quite as
careless of the religion he preached
With infinite junction.. The annals Of
race run red with the blood Of the
martyrs who have persisted at the
aecree OF inquisitions, of one sect or
another, which presumed to act under
The mandate of the Prince Of Peace
The impulse to cruelty came not from
me precepts of the divine Nszarene.
from the thought and temper Of
me age. We can not marvel, then.
hat Mr.. Perkins attributed infa,n.
bifity to . Wall Street conscience
ind broke the higher statutes. as his
lamiliars OF ia haute finance" are
accustomed to do.
Is there no test by which the sound.
OF . conscience, whether Of
or an individual. may h.
proved! Are we 10 be justified bv
merely taking the standards of our
generation Is finally Can the scholar
siwsys shin the burden OF sin to the
'houlders of his teacher? Il can not
y SO, else but . pitiful few could
VET % called to stand in judgment
the Sesrcher Of Hearts. and
ne countless millions Of criminals
you'd 80 scot-free, - having been
'be pawns Of the master players. It
'hOuld, therefore, be we'll understood
hat the conscience is truly quick and
authoritative, only when it bids US
ling aside the sophistry and the false
ehtes Of he people among whom We
It impels us to sal, "This
hing i right, and l will do it, in the
ace OF The whole world; this thing IL
vrong, and I will eschew It, though
y re world hold II for right As
q navigator . not spprove his
esmanship By simply boating With
y Gull Stream, 30 no man can be
ose that b has . real c-onscience TIL
2 has bu1eeed No waves and faced
= eempests whose stress 4 never felt
2 - lawdlocked harbors he loves.
e Il only TIE prophsts, Of hixh and
- degree, who ere privileged 70
lnko fhis 0ranA Anr;eicn - 4 al