HUMAN nature is human nature, and nothing more. The natural man is a natural monopolist, whenever the opportunity is presented, because he is naturally selfish. The divine mind, the mind of God, is benevolent, actuated only by love; but “the carnal mind is enmity against God.” In the history of the human race perhaps nothing has more aptly illustrated this principle than the current contest between capital and labor—or, rather, between organized capital and organized labor. The capital trusts were becoming so oppressive that organized labor undertook to offset them by forming a labor trust. The capital trusts had aimed to “freeze out” every enterprise in their respective lines that did not yield to their demands. So the labor trust adopted the same methods, and where successful, the unions became more oppressive than the capital trusts. Their intolerance toward non-union labor is even worse than the selfishness of the capital trusts, for these do admit the general right of men to work where opportunity offers. So oppressive was the labor trust becoming, that employers devised the citizens’ alliance and employers’ association movements, in order to protect themselves and their business enterprises from labor extortion.
And in places where the battle waxes warmest these protective associations have adopted the union methods. So it goes; organized extortion and oppression is met by retaliation in kind. Men seem to recognize no means of overcoming evil but by the employment of more evil. The methods condemned in the capital trusts by the labor trust are in turn employed by the labor trust, and even extended to a greater extreme. So the methods condemned in the9labor trust (called unions) by the alliances and associations of employers may be adopted in carrying out their purposes. All this seems to have been demonstrated in Colorado, where the conflict predicted in prophecy concerning the last days is so far in advance of the progress in other localities. The principles of the Golden Rule, the Gospel remedy for every species of threatened discord, are apparently ignored, while the bitter spirit of “fighting it out” pervades the social realm. The trouble lies in the fact that all seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ’s.” In contrast with this condition of things in the world, the true disciple of Christ will seek first “the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” More and more will he do this as he realizes that “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
A SIGN OF THE TIMES.
As it was with backslidden Israel in ancient times, so it is in the world to-day. The Lord, through His prophet Isaiah, complained that “judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey; and the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment.” And as to justice and equity in our own time, the San Francisco News Letter has this to say on jury-bribing:—
Jury-bribing scandals are exploding so often in the courts of San Francisco, and are so seldom followed by the punishment of anybody that they have ceased to be regarded as sensations. They point out, however, so many defects in the system, and argue so loud a state of public morals, as to raise anew grave doubts concerning the merits of that Anglo-Saxon institution—the right of every man accused to trial by his peers. Lately we had in a certain case a flash-in-the-pan charge of attempted embracery, and still more recently there has come a much more direct charge of the same kind—this time a specific accusation against a person plainly identified. To make the case more aggravated, the man on whom black suspicion rests, is an officer of the court, whose justice was sought to be tampered with. Moreover, it was an affair of the Chinese quarter—an affair of murder done cold-bloodedly for hire, and there was, and is no lack of money in the case to procure the commission of any degree of crime. It is significant that the bail of the alleged briber, $5,000, was put up promptly in cash.
ARBITRATION AN UNCERTAIN REMEDY.
THAT arbitration as a peace proposition is but a temporary make-shift, is shown by the dissatisfaction of one or the other party that always follows a decision, despite the formal acquiescence in the award. It is noticeable also that arbitration is always an arrangement that is virtually enforced upon one side or the other, and enforced settlements never are satisfactory all around. This has been illustrated in the various treaties that have been entered into by the European powers concerning the “Eastern question.” The parties having special designs in that connection have submitted to the treaties with the well-known purpose of merely biding the time when they could safely evade their provisions.
Referring to the recent arbitration conference, held at Lake Mohonk, N. Y. (the tenth of its kind), Hon. John G. Osborne, of Illinois, comments on the fact that the decision of the Hague Tribunal, in the Venezuela claim cases, has tended to impair confidence in that court, and consequently in the arbitration scheme itself. That decision establishes the rule that where there are several claims, a powerful claimant, by a sufficient display of force, may secure his claim whether the others get anything or not. Further on this subject, Mr. Osborne makes this general statement:—
It is an easy, and, therefore, a favorite method with arbitrators to “split the difference,” giving to each party a portion of its claim. Anticipating this, the principals “load up,” and overload their cases, bringing in all manner of fictitious, extravagant, and unfounded claims and conditions, so as to secure a larger share of the award. These practices, if permitted or encouraged, will bring arbitration into disrepute, and may result in its abandonment. Arbitrators should relentlessly set aside all such inflated pleas and conditions, and at all costs decree impartial justice.
Moreover, arbitrations are never sought by any nation that has sufficient power to dominate the situation and carry the point. In such case the arbitration is always sought by the weaker contestant, and if admitted at all, it must be through the influence of some friendly power physically able to influence the stronger contestant. Such a reed is a poor support for the proposition of universal or permanent peace. Some high American authorities are expressing doubts that it is safe to submit questions involving American interests to European arbitrators, owing to the increasing jealousy of America’s growing power and influence. Be this as it may, there is no reason to suppose that arbitration courts—being human—are more honest at heart, or free from sinister influence, than other human tribunals. Satisfaction of all parties concerned is the basis of real peace, and, whether a nation or an individual, no ambitious party is ever satisfied with less than all that is in sight.
Arbitration may delay, but it never can preclude the general clash of nations, foretold in the Word of God. We might as well assume that some human scheme could forestall the edict that “the wages of sin is death,” as to expect that the universal preparation for war, and the universal lust for war, and the universal desire for supremacy, could end in anything but war. This inevitable result of persistent conditions was clear to the Infinite when the prophecies of a general clash at arms were uttered. In the last days the people will be prophesying smooth things and saying, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” See Isa. 2:1-4. But when the Lord’s prophet speaks of the time when the “harvest is ripe,” he tells a different story: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong,” etc. See Joel 3:9-17.
THE COST OF STRIKES.
THE Denver Republican estimates the cost of strikes in the state of Colorado during the past sixteen months at $23,000,000. The Western Federation of Miners is charged with responsibility for the strife that has affected every business and trade in the state, and caused much bloodshed. The strike originated early in 1903, in an attempt on the part of the federation to force the introduction of an eight-hour day in the mills and smelters of Colorado City, Denver, and Pueblo. With the exception of a few brief periods, the National Guard has been on duty at one point or another ever since.
The Cripple Creek strike began ten months ago. The men were earning on the average $3.25 for eight hours’ work. They had no complaints of their own, but went on strike in obedience to an order from their executive officers, for the purpose of shutting off the ore supply of the mills and smelters, at which an eight-hour day was not granted. In this connection it should be noted that by an overwhelming vote the people of the state had adopted a constitutional amendment, authorizing an eight-hour day for men working in mines, mills, and smelters, but by some means the passage of the law necessary to make the amendment effective was defeated at the ensuing regular session of the legislature. This is the reason given by the executive officers for calling the strike.
In Cripple Creek about 4,000 union miners were called out. Had the question been submitted to the men themselves on a secret ballot, it is asserted that ninety per cent of them would have voted against going out. Many of them have renounced the union and returned to work, the mine-owners, with the exception of the Portland Company, refusing employment to members of the union.
Western Federation officials admit that the loss to Cripple Creek unions through the strike has been $4,000,000, and the total loss in that district, $8,000,000.
The loss through the suspension of work in the Telluride district, which was also a sympathetic strike, is estimated at $2,000,000.
President Campbell, of the Colorado Mine Operators’ Association said that while the cost for the state militia being in the field would possibly reach $1,000,000, the loss to the metalliferous miners, who stopped work, and others forced to quit, would be five times that amount.
The strike of the Southern Colorado coal miners, who are members of the United Mine Workers of America, was ordered for different reasons, and has no relation to the strike at the gold mines.
Our Great Drink Bill.
While less distilled liquors are drunk in this country than in England, our liquor bill is certainly an enormous one. The American Grocer puts forth its statement, whose statistics are based upon official United States reports and carefully-gathered data, and are not compiled in the interest of temperance, but is simply a cold calculation for business purposes. According to this report, one-fourth of all the people in the United States drink alcoholic beverages, and the total intoxicating drink bill for 1893 was $1,451,633,379, or an average expenditure for each drinker of $62.16. The bill is inconceivably big, but the most alarming fact about it is the rapid rate at which it is annually increasing.
There has been a steady growth in the use of intoxicating drink for more than twenty years, and the consumption per capita is now about twice what it was twenty-three years ago. In 1880 it was 10.50 gallons, and to-day it is 19.98 gallons. The great bulk of this drink is beer, the consumption of which last year reached the enormous amount of 1,449,879,952 gallons, or an average per capita of 18.04 gallons. The total expense to the nation for its beer alone last year was $727,042,245. The year's consumption of distilled liquors amounted to 120,000,000 gallons, an increase of one-tenth gallon per capita, the largest increase in any single year in our history.
The government tax on imported liquor alone amounted to $128,000,000, and the total expense for distilled spirits to drinkers exceeded that for beer. The total average cost a head for coffee, tea, and coco every year is $2.61, while for intoxicating drink it is $62.16, or twenty-four times as much. These words are a powerful temperance sermon. If their inner history could be disclosed, what a revelation would it be of poverty and suffering, vice and crime and death! What a great and bitter cry would we hear from wrecked homes and hungry children and heart-broken wives and ruined lives! The ghastly disclosure would appall and overpower us. The most terrible war that ever desolated our land is not half so frightful. This enormous drink bill is our greatest shame and our greatest peril.—Christian Work.
Louisiana Sunday Law
A stringent bill providing for enforced Sunday observance is now before the Louisiana Legislature. Under its provisions any corporation, firm, or individual convicted of violating the Sunday law shall forfeit the license to do business for one year. So, if this bill becomes a law, it will be another step in the fulfillment of the prophecy of a time coming when “no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast.” Sunday observance is the mark by which the Papacy claims authority to direct the actions of the people. Rome claims that the recognition of the Sunday institution is an acknowledgment of her authority, and, as she originated the institution, no one can consistently deny her claim. The measure is being supported by clergymen who profess to be Protestants, but in this work they are—no doubt unwittingly—aiding in the restoration of the Papacy to its former universal power. The prophecy of Revelation 13 is to be fulfilled by just such laws in this country.
Mobbing at Fashionable Marriages
A number of instances have been reported recently of the mobbing of fashionable marriages. In two of the most recent the newly-married couples were boisterously handled by the mobs. The couples had gone to suburban churches to have the ceremony performed, but they were followed by vast crowds who hustled them, pulled their clothes, threw water and other things upon them, tore the clothes from the janitor of the church, and committed other disgraceful acts. Many persons in these crowds were fashionable dressmakers who desired to get the style of the brides’ clothing. Not long ago a similar disgraceful scene occurred in New York City when an American girl was wedded to a foreign count. Such things speak in no uncertain tones of a deterioration of principle in the people who participate in the proceedings, and a servile aping of the fashionable which is certainly not of credit to any people.
One of the tendencies of the times that is increasing in the world is well illustrated in the following item of news, which says: “One of the richest women in the world and one of the most tender-hearted and most charitable is Miss Krupp, daughter and heiress of the great gun-making millionaire. She has played the part of the dispenser of charity in her native town for years, and, since her father’s death, she has been especially busy with charities, schools, and hospitals. Yet so bitter is the socialistic feeling in Germany, and so intense the hatred of any one who has wealth, that this young woman has to be protected by a strong body-guard wherever she goes.” We will continue to see more and more of that spirit to the end of the world, and it does not tell us of the approach of a time of peace and safety.
Cardinal Satolli’s visit to the United States, according to a report from Washington, said to emanate from a prominent Washington ecclesiastic, is for the purpose of establishing diplomatic relations with the United States, in order to have a nunciature at Washington. It is said that if he should succeed in this long-cherished aim of the Vatican, it would greatly enhance his claim to the papal throne, when the death of the present pope shall make it vacant. There is no doubt that the time will come when such relations will exist between this country and the Vatican, even tho Satolli’s diplomacy should not be able to bring it about.
A new apparatus for detecting sounds through the sea has been perfected recently, which, it is expected, will be of great service in preventing collisions at sea. A vessel equipped with this apparatus recorded the sound of the paddle-wheels of an approaching steamer when it was three miles distant. At the same time it was impossible to detect any sound coming through the air. The captain of the vessel thus equipped declares that the invention will be of great service to battle-ships and cruisers in detecting the approach of torpedoes and torpedo-boats.
General Bobrikoff, governor-general of Finland by Russian appointment, died on June 17, as the result of an attack made upon him on the previous day at the entrance to the Finnish senate, at Helsingfors, by the son of one of the senators. The assailant, after shooting the governor, turned his weapon upon himself and committed suicide. The governor was exceedingly unpopular among the younger Finns and the Swedish party, owing to the stern and tyrannous manner in which he ruled Finland.
Steamship owners whose vessels ply between American and European ports have recently greatly reduced the steerage rates to passengers coming to America. As a result thousands of persons from the lowest strata of society are being landed at Atlantic ports. The government is investigating the situation; but it is expected that, in spite of all that can be done, thousands of the most undesirable element from the vicious centers of the Old World will be landed in America.
By a decision of Judge Adams, of the Illinois Appellate Court, rendered on June 13, all “closed shop” agreements are held to be illegal, as is also the picketing of boycotted shops by members of the union. The decision makes the use of threats or intimidation in labor controversies criminal acts, as is also the combination or conspiracy between a number of individuals to ruin the business of another.
Late reports from Armenia indicate that comparative quiet reigns there. Russia, England, and France are co-operating to prevent a recurrence of the terrible massacres that have been perpetrated in that country. The consuls of these countries are now located in the districts hitherto distracted by the terrible events that have occurred there, and it is hoped that their influence will help in the maintenance of peace.
A chemist of Philadelphia is said to have discovered a process for producing radium which will greatly cheapen that newly-discovered article. This new process, it is expected, will make it possible to produce radium at a cost of only $500,000 a pound. Its present value is about $16,000,000.
An attempt to perpetrate a terrible dynamite outrage was narrowly frustrated at St. Louis, Mo., on June 13. The lighting of the candles in the church of St. Anthony was to have ignited the dynamite at a time when the church was filled.
Many lives have been lost and much property destroyed in Cuba as a result of a four-days’ storm which ended June 13. It is said to have been the worst storm that has visited Cuba in the past ten years.
The Republican National Convention is now in session at Chicago.
THE FRUIT OF OPPRESSION.
The assassination of General Bobrikoff, the governor-general of Finland, is the natural outgrowth of Russian tyranny and the determination of the imperial Government to Russianize the province at any cost. Until recently Finland had a constitutional government and a representative Diet, which it inherited from the cession of the grand duchy by Sweden to Russia through the treaty of Fredrikshamn, negotiated Sept. 17, 1809. This treaty guaranteed to the Finns the Swedish Constitution of 1772 as modified in 1789. It was still further modified in 1869 and again in 1882. By a special grant the constitution was guaranteed, however, by Alexander II and the guarantee has since been renewed by all successors. Under this constitution Finland maintained a military system, and enacted its own laws through a national parliament representing the four estates—the nobles, the clergy, the burghers, and the peasants. The emperor reserved, however, the right of veto. This parliament was convoked by the emperor as grand duke for four months. Its constitution has been suspended, however, for over two years.
In 1899 the imperial policy toward the Finns underwent a radical change. The constitution was, practically, suspended through the issuance of a manifesto, declaring that Finnish legislation, bearing on Russian interests, could be autocratically brought about without the consent of the Finnish Diet. In 1900 Russian was made the official language, although only about 8,000 of the inhabitants of the province spoke it. In 1901 the Finnish military system was abolished and the Russian substituted. The Finnish rifle battalions were disbanded, and the Finns have since systematically evaded conscription. In 1902 the senate of Finland was stripped of many of its prerogatives, and these were transferred to the governor-general, while Russians were installed in public posts, and all state functionaries, judges previously irremovable except by judgment by a court of law included, were made dismissable by administrative procedure. This was followed by still more arbitrary and unpopular decrees last year, one of which prohibited the use of any language save Russian in the Finnish senate and in the military service. These arbitrary measures, which aim to destroy the Finnish language and all the rights enjoyed under the old constitution, have created a bitter hatred of everything Russian among the people. General Bobrikoff was intensely unpopular because of his opposition to the convocation of the Diet and the severity with which he enforced the imperial policy of Finland’s Russification.—San Francisco Chronicle.
THE BURNING OF THE GENERAL SLOCUM.
ONE of the most terrible disasters that has ever occurred in this country was the burning and sinking of the steamer, General Slocum, in Long Island Sound, on June 15. The steamer had on board about 1,500 persons, mostly women and children, comprising the Sunday-school of St. Mark's German Lutheran Church. It was a Sunday-school picnic, and the excursionists were happy in the prospect of a day with the trees and flowers and birds. The boat was just well under way when the fire broke out. The steamer was old and seasoned and burned like tinder. In a few minutes the whole vessel was enveloped in flames, and the frantic passengers, in attempting to avoid the fire, crowded hundreds over the rails of the three decks into the swift-rushing waters of Hell Gate. Tugs hurried to the help of the burning ship, and succeeded in rescuing many from the water and quite a number from the steamer; but before she was beached the majority were either burned to death on the ship or had plunged into the waters of the Sound. Almost as soon as the vessel sank divers began bringing up the bodies of the dead. One of the saddest things connected with the terrible catastrophe was the perishing of hundreds of little children. Those who were rescued tell heart-rending tales of the terrible experience through which they passed. The latest report states that 632 bodies have been recovered, and that 300 persons are still missing. It is believed that a considerable number of bodies are still held in the clutch of the wreckage of the burned vessel. This would make the loss of life considerably over 900.
This disaster illustrates another instance of criminal negligence in the matter of steamship inspection. The life-preservers were found to be utterly worthless, and the cloth too rotten to hold together. The fire hose was also so rotten that it burst under the first pressure of the pumps. A rigid investigation is to be made by federal, state, and local officials.
THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.
A GREAT battle is evidently approaching in the vicinity of Liao Yang, between the armies of General Kuropatkin and General Kuroki. A battle of considerable importance was fought at Vafangow, in which both sides suffered great loss. The Russians were finally compelled to abandon their positions, and the Japanese are following them in a northeasterly direction toward the main body of the Russian army. The Russian loss in both men and officers is placed at 2,000, and the Japanese is believed to be fully as large. This Russian force was attempting the relief of Port Arthur, but is now retreating northward to rejoin the main Russian army. It is reported that General Kuropatkin is moving down toward Port Arthur.
The Russian Vladivostock squadron made a cruise southward during the week and shelled one Japanese transport and torpedoed another. There was great loss of life on board both ships. Later they shelled and sunk the Japanese transport Idzumi, which was carrying a number of sick soldiers back to Japan. It is probable that a great many were killed on this vessel also. In the fog the Russian squadron succeeded in returning to Vladivostock without being intercepted by the Japanese war-ships. Both Russia's fleets are said to be now ready for battle, and are expected to attempt to join forces and give battle to the Japanese.
EVILS OF GOSSIP.
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
Did you ever stop to think that the name of the first real gossip who ever lived was Lucifer.
Gossips are not apt to pause very long to discriminate between truth and falsehood. Lucifer never stops to find out whether his accusations are truthful or not; and he is called “the accuser of the brethren.”
Once, a good many years ago, there was a wonderful meeting. Many great and famous personages from all parts of the universe were present. The place of meeting was around the throne of the Most High—the audience chamber of the Almighty. Among these happy and intelligent worshipers, who is this strange being who comes from the regions of darkness on the wings of night, and presses his way among the loyal sons of God? Straight up to the very throne he urges his way. What wonder that the Almighty turns to this hateful, frowning presence, and questions, “Whence comest thou?” His business is as hateful as he—to accuse the brethren. One by one he croaks his evil stories which he has concocted while walking up and down in the earth, into the forbearing and long-suffering ear of Omnipotence.
But there is one—a dweller in the land of Uz—whom he does not mention.
At length the Almighty speaks: “Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
In fancy I can see the fiendish scowl of hate grow blacker at mention of that name. Ah, yes; he is well acquainted with the man of Uz. He has had many a battle with him and been defeated, until he has come to the conclusion that indeed “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him.” This he is forced to admit; for he has more than once vainly attempted to lay his hand on either the household, the property, or the person, of this godly man.
“Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about all that he hath, . . . and blessed the work of his hands?”
Then, with a scowl of hate, he turns mockingly upon Jehovah, and defies Him:—
“This pious man of Uz is no whit better than the rest. He serveth Thee from motives of selfishness and gain alone. But put forth Thine hand now,” he hisses, “and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face.”
This is not the language of charity, for charity thinketh, or mistrusteth, no evil. We all know the outcome of the narrative; how, when he has failed in this attempt, the arch-fiend still insists that Job will not stand the test of personal bodily affliction, still insists that this faithful servant of God is fickle and insincere. With what intense interest must the “sons of God” in all those worlds whose representatives attended this wonderful meeting, and heard this false accusation, have watched and awaited the outcome, until it is proved beyond doubt or question that the accusation of Lucifer is only the false and cruel gossip of the “accuser of the brethren.”
I wonder if there are any whom this narrative reminds of something in their own lives. Have we not all known people who have been followed to the very grave with persistent, cruel slander?
Happy is he whose nightly pillow holds no thorn of accusing conscience.
“Well,” says some one willing to justify himself, “I never tell tales about anybody unless I know they are true.”
One day I took my Bible to read my accustomed portion. I turned to the fifteenth psalm. Probably I had read the same scores of times,—at least, I could repeat it by heart. But somehow to-day it seemed invested with a new and sacred meaning, some message direct from the Master to me, seemed waiting to be found and appropriated:—
“Who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
“Now,” I said, “I shall see if I can pass inspection. I will see in what particular I lack preparation to dwell in the holy hill of the Lord.” Slowly I read the first requirement:—
“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
The self-imposed answer quickly came: “Certainly I am trying to walk uprightly and to work righteousness; and surely I trust my heart is innocent of falsehood.” I went on:—
“He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor.”
“That’s coming a little closer,” I said, “but still, I am perfectly friendly to my neighbors, and am trying to do them good,—no, I do not lie about them, I’m sure I don’t,” I exclaimed, virtuously patting my own back. I read on:—
“Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”
I stopped short. How many times I had heedlessly read those words, and gone on, taking up reproach after reproach, until now they stood out before me as if in condemning letters of fire. I was shorn of self-complacency in a moment. I had not thought so far as this. I had at least paused only long enough to ascertain the truth of a report before venturing to repeat it if occasion seemed to require.
Ah, we are all poor, unworthy creatures at best. Why should we find pleasure in repeating a tale of reproach, even tho it be the truth?
My brother, my sister, if you and I would dwell in the hill of the Lord, we must do this thing no more. We must cease looking for evil and defects in others, and look for something good in them. Depend upon it, we will find what we are looking for. Shall we, like the vulture and the buzzard, be carrion hunters? The bee finds plenty of honey even in the plainest flowers.
“But what can I do with Sister A——?” says some poor soul whose conscience is already pricked by the sharp needles of memory. “What can I do with Sister A——? She is so queer; she isn’t a bit like other people. It’s very hard for me not to take up a reproach against her. Why, she wearies me beyond endurance; she’s so unlike any one else.”
Across the street is the office of a skilful physician. Ask him to show you his case of operating instruments.
“What is that for?” you ask, pointing to a case apart from the others, and utterly unlike them.
“That?—O, that is a costly instrument, which is of no use except in very rare cases. I have owned it for a number of years, and never needed to use it but twice, but it has twice saved human life. A valuable instrument.”
Even so these queer people—these strange people, these people who seem so odd and disagreeable to us,—are perhaps filling their place in the Master’s great workshop,—who knows?
It is much better to speak of the virtues of our fellows, than of their evils; praise is better than censure; commendation than reproach.
When tempted to speak evil of any, even to tell only the truth, let us remember that the Book which says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor,” says also that if we would stand at last on the glorious hill of Zion with the redeemed, we must take up no reproach against our neighbor.
“Guard well thy lips; none, none may know
What evils from the tongue may flow,
What guilt, what grief, may be incurred
By one incautious, hasty word.”