The Arkansas advocate., 1834-06-27
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feelings which, well regulated and kent in proper and moderate limits, produce the no- oiest results, and are the fountain of all h,l- man virtue, do, when carried beyond their proper extent, produce the most appallina wees and become fraught with inc most deadly consequences to society. The fact Is the same in physics and in the philosophy of the mind-for that which may at first be pleasure 10 the bodily feelings, becomes. when long persisted in and continued. the most excfuciating torment. It has been sad, and II may be true, that all corporeal pam IS only pleasure carried to an extenttoo gfeat-and perhaps most of our vices are at the beginning virtues, but, extended too far, they become fault and an injury.
 One of the blemishes in human character most frequently pointed pointed st with contempt and scorn, IS sel6shness-and yet this very quality of the mind Is, when rightly regulat- ed, and held in due bounds, the foundation of all human virtue and Of the law of nature itself. It Is true that we can hardly utter seYerer reproach against any man, than to accuse him of being supremey selfish, and yet we doubt if selfshness be not the ruling power which produces our every &C., ton and almost our every thought. The only principle in the human mind on which we can depend unfailingly, is the love of happiness, and from this one innate feeling spring all our actions and all our duties. V Q are taught by experience that order and good government and obedience to the laws are the most certain methods of securing to ourselves happiness, and fer this, and this only, do we value or practise either. Com mon sense teaches us that, while society is constituted as at present, the only way by winch We can expect to receive benefits and assistance from others, IS by rendering the same to them. We hear much of disinter estedness-but if we examine closely, we shall find that it IS only gradation of sel- 1 fishness: The man who generously yields ] up his interest 10 the wishes of another who sacrifices his feelings to those of an- other, does so because the act gives him more pleasure than he could receive from tie eonsummation of his own wishes. No man acts without adequate motives, and as soon as selhshness ceases to exist, no mo tive can operate. SelGshness, therefore, is the foundation of all human virtue. With out it the world would be a chaos of disor- l der and misery. Love and fiiendshie and good government would cease to exist The economy of the useful and respectable merchant, the generosity of the phiIanthro- pist, the proud works oi intellect, all spring 1 from the same source. And yet this same selfshness when too far extended becomes the foundation for baseness and meanness and crime. Economy becomes avarice- generosity becomes lavishness-and the word seltishness IS, and rightly should be, only another name for every thing degrad- ing and debasng in human nature. 1t Is not very honorable in human nature, and yet 1t must be confessed thai we are always dis appointed when we look too closely into the human mind--into the motives which influence mankind in their actions. What caused Milton to write his immortal poems. Was 1t simply and solely the desire Of bene- fiting mankind! An no. That love for fame which never was wanting in the breast of the poet--that seli-satsfaction which &C., companies the creation and embodying of brilliant and magnificent thoughts-and that high consciousness of proud superiori- ty, all show that the blindness of his exis- tence was only rendered light by selfshness.
 We are too much given, especially in the morning of life, to expected disInterested- ness and unrewarded friendship during our l journey through existence. We spring upon the stage of being with a heart full of belief in human goodness and purity. We look ffor f and expect friendship and favor at every turn-and expecting too much, we arc oi course disappointed. As life fades away and the heart grows older, we are taught the sad lesson of experience. We are deceiv- ed and forsaken. Friendship and love smile for time upon us, but they pass away, and the path of life becomes darker than before : and distrust and contempt creep over the heart-a cold disbelief in human virtue or q sneering scoff at mankind usurps the place of confidence and iaith--the idols of our youth are hurled down-and ghastly lma- ces take their places, till life becomes bit- terness and a misery. If we were called upon 10 give parting lessen to one just about 10 enter on his pilgrimage ot lite with full and con6ding heart--it should be, to remember not to expect too much of man. kind.
 We should remember that EGoTIsM rales in every heart. None are devoid of i've :, care not how pure or how d.sinterested they ,aav seem to be. We should remember this. and not put so much trust in disinter- ested friendship and unrewarded devoted l ness. Such things are rarely met with III
 the world. We do not mean to say thai
 egotisrn is always alike disgusting and con,
 temptibIe. Far from 1t. Unless carried
 too far. it is merit. It consists Tn pro
 o,,d t.acorn;ns valuation of our own tai