The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Register

"Of all the plagues of man's imperial race,
There's none like Avarice, so grovelling, and so base."

Among all the degrading passions to which mankind are subject, there is perhaps none more contemptible, or mischievous in its effects upon society than avarice; and yet tho' mankind have always appeared conscious of its baneful influence, they do not appear to be alike aware of its remote cause but have only seen and noticed every thing that is mean, absurd, and detestable- to name it properly only when they have seen it personified by a monster, whom it would be honoring too much to term a man. A monster deaf to the cries and lamentations of distress and misery, who is insensible to the calls of pity, or the dictates of affection; whose brains are of no further use to him than for planning means of accumulating vile dross, which will never benefit him nor society, and whose heart is insensible to every other feeling than a money getting avidity. A poor, wan, emaciated, squalid, diseased wretch, who possesses the means of alleviating misery, but is cursed with a disposition too sordid to permit their use or application. But although this character may appear the most vile and despicable that can be imagined, and is considered by all men as a fair object of satire and reproach, it is by no means the most atrocious or guilty form in which avarice presents itself, for its very aspect is so devoid of disguise, its deformity so obvious to every eye, that it appears rather as a beacon to warn mankind against the love of money than to excite it. Avarice is dangerous only in a far different and more common form, for few, independent of those who are or conceive themselves to be injured, suppose it their duty to contemn its votaries, if their behaviour is courteous, their coat good, and their equipage is decent, or their purse heavy: in fact, there appears no art so flimsy as to be incapable of disguising from us this degrading passion; for, though a lamentable stigma upon the human character, it is yet true, that the man who wrongs his neighbour, disregards the claims of justice and right principles, oppresses the orphan and the helpless, starves his household and considers every means of amassing wealth justifiable, though he cannot be respected, yet escapes contumely. Mankind, too generally culpable, treat avarice with extreme lenity, when they find it in possession of its object and elated by power, yet nothing surely can be more ruinous to youth than such conduct, or any thing (save the vice itself) more criminal in parents, than by mild phrases, to gloss over such enormities-to style a knave a liar, a hypocrite, and a wretch devoid of feeling or of principle, a smart or a good sort of man, &c. A moment's reflection will convince them, that by so doing, they lessen the attachment of their children to virtue, obviate the natural horror felt for vice, and place before them a picture of wealth gained by villany, enjoyed without appearance of compunction, and treated with respect. They must then be conscious that they are exciting an immoderate desire for riches, and become the great and principal, though remote cause, of this immoral and ignoble vice.