Year: 1876

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actions, saps faith in commercial integrity,
aud divorces interests that can only thrive
by union, sows seeds Of discord in fami-
lies, destroys friendships and kills affec-
tion. II is the great disintegrator Of
society, sundering all the cords which bind
men together, and driving them into for
lorn and wretehed isolation. Yet it comes
to us in no such repulsive garb, but rath-
er hides its real character under show of
dignity and truth, bidding us beware how
we become dupes and victims, warning US
against soft credulity and an unreasoning
confidence that must sooner or later suffer
shipwreck. Every error has its germ of
truth, and in attacking suspicion we must
be careful not to crush out that wise dis
elimination and prudent caution which
are needful guides in the affairs of life
These, however, are quite different from
the malicious or reckless disparagement of
others which scatters doubt and distrust
on every side. A certain shrewd sagacity
may characterize the suspicious mind, but
it is, after all, shallow, and will overreach
itself. There is SO much more good than
evil in human nature that he who trusts
everybody will, in the long run, make
fewer mistakes than he who suspects every
body. The former may lay himself open to
occasional thrusts from foe, but the
latter, with the shield of suspicion, bars
out from himself the embraces of many
friends. When we hear of lamentable
cases of public and private corruption, of
broken trusts, ruined characters and desc
lated homes, we are apt to lose faith in
human integrity, and bury our trustful-
ness in an untimely grave. But surely
this is an error Of the judgment, if not Of
the heart. We smile at those who are
afraid to trust themselves in the car or
steamer, because there have been collisions
and explosions but are we not guilty of
at least equal folly if we deem all men
rogucs because some have cheated =? 1t is
not sound judgment, or superior know
ledge of mankind, that produces the sneer-
ing slur upon human virtue, or the carp
ing suspicion of motives and purposes, but





rather a shallow and conceited assumption
that has its root in ignorance.


Nothing saps the principle of virtue
more effectually than suspicion. The child
who is always watched, and never trusted,
will surely learn to be deceitful; the work
man who is always blamed and deprecated
will never do his best; the affection that
is continually doubted will inevitably cool.
Encouragement, faith and confidence are
inspirers of excellence they keep up the
courage, give strength for effort, and power
to overcome obstacles; but the dark and
unwholesome atmosphere of suspicion and
distrust chokes all the germs of goodness
and dries up the springs of well-doing.
Much of the way in which men and
women develop depe nds upon the opinion
held of them by others. 1t is easier and
more natural to strive to fulfill hopeful
expectations than to overcome detraction
and live down criticism. The cheering
word, the cordial grasp, the hearty assur-
ance Of respect and confidence, and pro-
mise of help, have rescued many waver-
ing soul trembling on the verge of moral
preoipice, when the pointed finger of sus-
picion and incredulity would have sufiiced
to push them over.


Besides its direct influence upon char
acter, suspicion is most contagious dis
order. 1t is wonderful with what rapidity
bad report will spread, gathering some
thing new from every tongue that carries
it. A reputation once soiled by the breath
of calumny, quickly becomes defaced and
ruined by hundred stains. Suspicion,
however feeble at first, grows bold and
strong by being cherished, and soon de-
velops into scandal and gossip, which rush
in resistless torrent, desolating many
happy hearthstone, and quenching many
tiny spark of love and goodness. He
who is constantly imagining and predict
ing evil, becomes closely connected with
it. Our thoughts are ever forming our
characters, and whatever they are most
absorbed in will tinge eur lives. He who
meditates on the failings of others, who
dwells upon their follies, and coutemplates
their worst side, rather than their best,
cannot fail to retrograde himself. Beside
this, if he has conjectured and foretold
evil, he is somewhat committed to it, and
can hardly avoid feeling pleasure when
his sprnises prove correct, and disappoint-
ment when they are mistaken. Thus he
puts himself on the side of evil, as it were
forming sort Of compact with it, and in i
sensiby absorbing it into his very nature.


On the other hand, the frank, candid,
unsuspecting man, whose thoughts love to
dwell in the pure air of virtue, who marks
with pleasure the good points of his fellow
men, and prefers rather 10 cherish their
excellencies than to deplore their faults, is
constantly improving himself and blessing
others. He separates himself from the
evil and allies himself with the good; he
fans every spark of virtue into living
fame, and quenches sin and wrong, by
doomlng them to silence and darkness.
he loves his friends, without doubting
them, or demanding continual proofs Of
their affection; he educates the young by
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