Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-09-20


of Satire. Read it.
DEBATING SOCIETIES.
"There are many evils in the presen, state
of society, which it is much easier to censure
than 10 eradicate. Modem Morahst.
One of the most pernicious mischiefs
of the present times, and one most prcg-
nant with the seeds of individual dis
comfort, and general unhappiness, is
the rapid increase Of Debating Socie
ties or, rather, societies for the annoy
ance of community might schools for
the education of youth in flippancy and
sophistry-se minares for the full de-
velopment of the organ of selfsuff-
ciency-arenas for The exposure of the
weakness of the human intellect, and
the depreciation of heavens creatures,
in the opinion Of all considerable poo
pie. These excresences are springing
into existence on every side, and are
productive of the most lamentablc con-
sequences. When l see (as / have
secn) a meek, innocent juvenile Of
eighteen or nineteen, of the right age
to imbbe wholesome, quiet wisdom
and nutritious instruction---seduced
from his darling books, and peaceful,
solitary chamber, to attend one of these
pestifcrous places, where what they
call qucstions," arc regularly dis
cussed when sec such an one led on,
step by step, by little empty applause,
to exchange the diilidence that would
gladly learn, for the misplaced conf
dence that would boldly teach, until he
becomes, in the course Of time, a con-
irmed, hardened debater, lost to all
sense Of shame and idea of propriety-
perpetual torment to bis more imme-
date relatives and connexions, and an
unceasing nuisance, to all the other
members Of the great human family
with whom he may be brought into
liuxtaposition, confess ! cannot but
feel a strong distaste for these repre-
hcnsible nurseries for bad speeches and
worse arguments.
Reader! didst thou ever mlsspcnd
few hours in debating society," IL
so, thou hast seen a "pitiiul ambition"
in all its infinite varieties, and almost
every degree of folly, froth, and faulty.
How ddst thou preserve thy serenity ?
Thou highest have looked indeed,
with calm, contemplative benevolence
on some piece Of leaden-headed ignor-
ance, who, after a weeks cogitation,
gravely and seriously set about build
ing up reputation, by announcing that
virtue was its own and best reward"
"vice eventually its own punishment"
and other similar originalities but
, there is a species of reptile to be met
with in those congregations Of raw in.
= tellects, that is, to mo at least, pecu-
liarly and distressingly rcpulsive. il
| is generally in the shape Of a good
, looking, smooth-iaccd, self-sulficienl,
young gentlemen, the leader, the
looked up-to Of the society, one skilled
in bubbles, quotations and paradoxes ;
he who thinks truth beneath his advo-
cacy, and makes point of taking the
i" diGcnH side of the question:" in
order to show of his surplusage Of I'M
common qualities, by coniuting his
+ humble satellites, who ingloriously con-
tent themselves with homely, obvious
view Of the matter in dispute. ] am
not naturally blood thirsty but still,
when | have seen an unwholesome
piece Of mortality of this kind get up,
all smirk, amiability, politcness, and
complacency. TO refute, in the most
urbane manner, some truism lineally
descended from Shem, Ham or Japhet.
or, it may be, antedeluvian, | confess !
have felt the destructive principle ris
ing within mel have acknowledged
my consanguinity to Cain-I have
but no man is bound TO be his own &C
cuser. "Our worser thoughts Heaven
mend"
Yet there are people who contend
that these dens for the dislocation Of
grammar, for the maltreatmcnto Of meta
phors, and the i'll usage of all tropcs
and figures whatsoever, these very de-
batting societies, arc not only innocuous,
but they are positively beneficial that
they sharpen the tongues and faculties
of young men that they accustom
them to view matters dispassionately,
and examine botIs sides of a subject
that they keep them in a certain de-
gree, from theatres. taverns, billiard