The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-25
the Alleged Decay OF
Lying.

Lying.
Prince BISMARCK, once. definitely and
irrevocably retired from power. had no
delicacy in describing himself as an
Incorporating liar. The quality Of
his mendacity was not strained; 1t was
bold, simple and unstudied. The old
Emperor WILLIAM was his apt and
proficient pupil. Between them, by
straightforward lying that would have
disguised MAcHIAvELLI, they made
history. The lie Of Ems was a pro-
digious thing, unmade n empire,
created a greater and deluged a oonti-
nent in blood.
There was no common knowledge Of
Prince BIsMARcK's achievements in the
art Of lying at the time OF his activity.
They were well enough known in high
places, but to make public such q charge
against so great a man we're to incur
great personal Inconvenience or expose
oneself to ridicule. Simple ~vereoity Is
resorted to by very great Statesmen
only when they are reasonably Ire
that they run no danger 81 being be-
lieved. BISMARCK was ono Of the great
figures OF tho nineteenth century. In
all his career he never told a trivial lie.
while for gratuitous lying he entertained
an ineffable contempt.
In the early part Of the last century
nobody thought Of calling NAPOLEON
BoNAPARTE a liar. II seemed too in
adequate None Of his syoophants Is
on record as describing him Al a gentle
man. His precious nephew gained his
twenty years Of ,precarious asoendency
by an effective counterfeit Of all his
unole's worst qualities plus his own un-
diluted depravity.
DIsRAEId, the most distinguished
Jew In modern history, was much the
intellectual superior Of BISMARCK. The
imputation Of lying was never sue
oessfully urged against him, ven by
the House Of Commons. On the other
hand, implicit belief In anything that
he uttered was held to be the height Of
temerity. II was maintained Of PALM
EBsToN that he never told a lie out
side Of the House OF Commons In his
whole life.
The statement OF an obvious untruth
does not necessarily impair a mans
character for veracity. Mr.. GLAD
STONE had a wonderful reputation for
truthfulness and maintained 1t even
to his death, in the estimation Of per-
haps a majority Of Englishmen. It is
only Just to his character to aoknowl-
edge that with advancing years he him
self shared the same conviction. The
preference Of the nation for euphoAy
at the expense OF matter, and their
curious susceptibility to' volubility,
gave him an opportunity which he cul-
tivated to the extent Of becoming him
self the victim Of the faulty which he.
engendered in others. Even the adj
mirable assiduities Of Mr.. MORLEY as a
biographer have left the Gladstone
mythology practically unshaken.
It Ia indisoreet, and for the most
part inexpedient, to call pointed atten-
ton to the inveracity Of the great. It
is a tactless thing to encourage the i'm
precision that you yourself have an un-
gracious and unreasonable proclivity
to implacable truthfulness. Even the
suspicion Of such a leaning has Its grave
inoonveniences. In the first place,
private and individual mendaoity must
be broadly Disseminated from forensic
or purely public lying. The one L. apt
to entail the contempt and mistrust Of
the vicinage, while the other IL nearly
certain to excite the applause and SYM
pathy Of the multitude. Much depends,
Of course, upon the choice Of q false
hood. II 1t jumps with a well discerned
inclination Of the public mind, II 1t CON-
firms or decorates a popular impression,
or gives point and illustration to an un-
worthy passion Or an evn continent In
herent In the proletariat temperament,
It will more advance a mans favor with
the mas than II he were to lay down
his life for q morality.
There IL no overestimatfng the sway
and oegency Of the blunt, frank and
timely lie well and OPPORTUNITY told.
But the man who lies ooarsely and