The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-07-20
FOR THE STAR.

There can be no stronger proof Of human de-
pravity than the disposition many feel to rejoice IN
the misfortunes and mserics Of their fellow-men.
willing to acknowledge the possession Of such q
disposition, while at the same time nothing excites
so generally an expression Of interest, as the tale
of fallen virtue, or blasted prosperity Twill own
that some are really affected with pity and sorrow
but this number is small in proportion to those
who feel secret pleasure springing up in theil
breasts, upon rejecting that one more has been re-
duced to their own level or sunk beneath their feet
1t is commonly of little consequence whether M
individual suffers for real IDEAL crimes; there il
always enough who will strive TO effect the same
blighting results in either case. And rather than
be disappointed they will explore the regions Of inn
agination and fiction for the weapons of attack,
which the storehouse Of truth fails TO furnish
The loudest in Glamour and invective, are those
whose general character is the least likely to claim
as right, the reputation Of virtue and integrity
While the man Of correct moral feelings, can hard
ly believe il possible that another should be guilty
of conduct at which his own feelings revolt per-
sons lost to vituous principle require but little to
make them believe the strongest obligations i'm
posed by society and morality, Ito say nothing OF
religon) may be violated, for the sake Of the low
est qualifications TheNjudge from personal feel
ings and conduct, without once stopping to think
that there are some who ente rtain higher regard
for moral principle. than themselves, and who
have infinitely more to lose by violating the obi
cations of Society, than those who make inclina-
ton the rule Of conduct And while the dissoute
and unprincipled delight in the diffusion Of their
own principles and rejoice to aid in reducing 9TH
ers to the base standard Of their own demerts,-
there are many of better principles aud superior
practice, who are duped by the artifccs of those
whose business is to deceive, and persuaded to
list in crusades that afterward occasion them much
remorse and unavailing regret
Past experience might teach every one the dan
ger offorming precipitate opinions of character
and the Importance Of tracing out the hidden
springs of human action, previous to the forma-
ton Of determnate judgment in every case involv-
ing the interests Of societies or individuals. Such
host of passions operate in creating prejudices on
all subjects, either for or against, that by univer-
sal consent the task of fixing national and personal
character has been assigned to the pen of the his
torian. 1t is only after the enthusiasm Of friend
ship and the malice Of enmity has been buried in
the darkness Of the tomb, that character appears
in its true colours, and receives the impartial SEN
tence of public opinion.
tLo c., ,o,,~
was on earth, were astonished at the malice and
cruelty of their fathers, who slew the ancient
prophets, and boasted how differently they should
have acted in the same circumstances; yet these
self-righteons men, blinded by rage and influenced
by malice, murdered the Lord Of life and glory |;
and exerted their ingenuity to sweep from earth all
that were called after his name. We, in our turn,
view with adherence, their sanguinary conduct
we look over the history Of every age from tha,
time to the present moment, and all along behold
the melancholy ravages Of bigotry and prejudice;-
we wonder at the infatuation which one hundred
and forty years ago possessed the people Of Sa-
lem, and then, after going the rounds Of ages, say
like the Jews, such things could not have been
done by us. But perhaps a little reflection would
| moderate the extent Of such vain conclusions
passions operate-the same prejudices exst-and
the sober, considerate mind finds little reason to
expect the history Of this age will be less obnox-
ous to the censure Of posterty, than the preceding
ones have been to ours Perhaps we have less
superstition than our sres, but have all sorts Of
mania vanished with them Have the discover
les of this generation, or its rapid advancement in
arts and science delivered it from all the excesses
of past ages A different system Of laws forbids
that violent and public expression Of opinion which
marks some periods of history; but the same spirit
finds other modes Of expressing itself, which though
of less dangerous character to personal safety,
are no less vindictve in feeling or demonsrative OF
real sentiment.
Prejudice and malice Of all sorts certainly &C,
with as much violence now, as in any other period
Infdei,y arrays sefagainst christianity generally
Catholics nd Protestants carry on an unceasins
controversy; and the various sects into which these
leading divisions of the church are divided, express
for each other but little, indeed, Of that blessed
charity which " hopeth all things and is not "ea-
silly provoked to bitterness and strife. From
these general remarks let us descend to the more
private relations Of society, and what sceges Of at
tack and recrimination will be witnessed Scarce
ly any seem open to conviction--or willing to a.
wait patiently the result Of investigation; the fash
ion is to draw conclusions in the beginning, and
then reason up to them. BY this process, whatev-
er fnvors" our side," however unreasonable and
prcposterous in character or origin is received and
all that tends to establish the opposite cause is re-
jccted as perjury. And yet we laugh at the preju-
dces of our fathers and boast Of our own berality