JOHN SUTCLIFFE. 157 



or given themselves up to the current until they are un- 

 comfortable anyvv^here else, and so drift about from one 

 camp to another as agents for good or evil, making up 

 the well known characters of mining regions and crys- 

 tallizing into rich mine owners, ranch owners, mine 

 managers, mining cranks, prospectors, saloon keepers, 

 stage drivers, gamblers, sharpers, desperadoes and 

 bummers ; all are known, and strangers are soon sized np 

 and take their places among their class, and are 

 generally well known for all they are worth. Now 

 among these denizens of the mining regions the 

 moral law is quoted in many ways to suit the re- 

 quirements of different communities and to ease individ- 

 ual consciences — hypocrisy being generally looked upon 

 as one of the worst sins known, in fact, as the unpardon- 

 able sin. Principles are flung out to public view like 

 flags (a la Bob Ingersoll), and then the followers of the 

 flag or principles are easy in mind and conscience, and at 

 least fully represent all they profess. As an example of 

 this assertion, I beg to mention some of the versions of 

 the golden rule as used in this manner, which I have 

 named and described, thus: 



1st — The Christian version, representing the era of 

 spiritual manhood, the pure gold lying in the bed-rock of 

 Christianity : "Do unto others as you would they should 

 do unto you." 



2d — The old law — the animal representing the era of 

 mammals : "Do unto others as they do unto you."" 



3d — The survival of the fittest — representing the rep- 

 tilian age : "Do others or they'll do you." 



There are followers and representatives of all these 

 versions in all mining communities (even if nowhere else), 

 and they are easily known by their fruits, and their works 

 follow them. 



I have mentioned all these surrounding conditions of 

 the mining business because all those conditions must be 



113 



