The Asheville Citizen

ON FOURTH PAGE.

SLANDER.

A case was tried last week in the Inferior Court under the law punishing the slander of an innocent woman in which the party offending will learn the wisdom of putting a bridle on his tongue hereafter. We only know of the fact of such trial and such act of the court, without knowing who were the parties in the case. But we express our satisfaction in the result, while regretting that the law had to be applied to vindicate the cause of innocence.

Woman ought to have security from assault in the manliness and chivalry of the other sex. She stands alone, unprotected save by that generosity of sentiment which not only should shield her from assault, but imputes to her no wrong, and cherishes her as the ideal of that purity. Character is all in all to woman. Its maintenance is her very existence. If she falls, society is merciless in its unforgiveness. There is no retrieval of a fault or a sin. Is her character be stained, the effect as deadly as a sin. The victim goes through the world marked with open scorn, or withered by the suppressed whisper of suspicion. Causeless, wanton or even careless slander is therefore a deadly crime, because it is the doom of character. The blight that falls on the unhappy subject is the most pitiable that blasts the human life. The bright hours of youth are blackened by the gloom that can never again be enlightened. Hope and happiness are gone; all share in the pleasures of the innocent are rejected, and the pathway of existence is forever trod in lonely misery.

Men should reflect on the consequences of careless words and thoughtless speech. The idle hours of gossip, the possibly meaningless remarks on acts or words may possibly bear upon them the sharp arrows with which malevolence may slay a spotless reputation. Mischief irreparable may be done unintentionally. When it is done purposely then we take pleasure in knowing that the law has power to vindicate the innocent if there is not manliness left to save it from attack.