Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-12-07
sELF-APPoINTED JUDGES.

Few, If any, of us get our just deserts
in this life. In nearly every instance it
is case of over-praise or over censure.
Passion, bias, prejudice, are usually too
strong to admit of an impartial judg-
ment. In forming our estimates, the
factors of love and hatred are far more
potent than truth and justice. When
there is question of friend, We often
wilfully blind ourselves to his evil side
and see only the good. Or, If We can
not close our eyes to the bad, at least
we manage to put the best possible con-
struction on his intentions. On the
contrary, If the subject under discussion
be an enemy, or one for whom we have
an aversion, our methods are just the
reverse. We can see no good in him
or if the good is too manifest to be
denied with any show Of reason, We
proceed to question his motives. 1t 10
the same old gag adopted by Christie
enemies in tho matter Of casting out
devils. The facts are patent to all. But,
said the libelous Pharisees, He has an
understanding with himself-Hs is in
league with him; "He casteth out devils
by Beelzebub, the prince of DEVILS"
So long as we maintain one standard
for friends, and another for foes, 30 long
as ws rest content with shallow and
superficial judgments, so long will men
fail to get the verdict they deserve; it
will be ever either too lenient or too
harsh. The world ut large, as we'll as
its jails, is flii OF the victims of circum-
stantial evidence. 1t is the comparative
few Gf any who are properly labeled.
We pass by the rough diamond as of
little or no account, and treasure the
glittering gewgaws. The world fouts
some of its greatest heroes while living,
and srects noble monuments to them
when their eyes and ears are closed to
the sights and sounds of popular ap-
plause. 1t strains to it's bosom, and
claps in fond embrace, the sleek and
fawning hypocrits only to find out all
too late that it has been cherishing a
viper. As the late Father Tabb 30
charmingly puts it:
Their MONDAY never knows
What names immortal are.
'Tis night alone that shows
How star surpassed star.
There is no blame attaching to man
for the fallibility Of his judgments.
They cannot be otherwise fallible or
defective, since he has not the proper
date to work on. But the very fact that
our human judgments are so fallible,
should at least make us a little more
modest and diffid ent, and induce US to
form our opinions more slowly and eau
tiously. Some must Of necessity pass
judgment on others-their position de-
mands it. And all that can reasonably
be expected of such is that, in forming
their judgment, they make the best use
of the materials at hand, and strive to
be just and impartial. But for him who
undertakes to decide without authority
or competency, there is no valid excuse.
If he be a Christian, his religion will
tell him as much. The gentle Christ
was rather severe ON self-constituted
judges: Judge not that you may not be
judged; for with what measure you
mets, it shall be meted to you. Judge
not before the time"
Life is hard enough at its best, with
out trying to make it uncomfortable by
picking out microscopic flaws in the
lives of our associates. And, unless
grave public or private interests are at
stake, the principles of human brother
hood demand that We put the best pos
sible Interpretation on the conduct OF
our fsllow-men. True, there are ex-
ceptions. Duty--a regard for the we'll
being Of society at large-may some
times compel the ministers of justice to
incline to suspicion and severity. But,
as rule, when the arguments for and
against are equally good and strong,
why not apply legal methods. and give
the accused the benefit Of the doubt2
En-. MOONEY.