American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-19
[For the American Republican,
RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS.

,MesSrS. Edit0rS:-l am pleased with the NOR
al bearing of your department, and especially
with the anxiety evinCed by you for the rising
generation, and particularly for those of that
class, who have no one to care for them. The
condition of degraded adults is nearly hopeless,
and that of many of our youths will soon be-
come SO If no prompt remedy is applied. will
now say nothing of House of Refuge, or re-
form for juvenes-that subject has been talk
ed over till it has become stale and | fear will
end in talk. An efficient and expenseless mode
Of reform and restraint is within the power of
every guardian and parent. AS pass along
the street and witness the behavior and hear
the slang and bldsphemics of the neglected
class, as they are called my heart is panied on
their account, when think they have no one
to advise them or warn them of the consequent
ces, and an disposed to make allowance in their
case, rejecting that many Of their misdoings
are the result of ignorance, or of causes over
which they could not possibly have had any
control. | often ask myself what will be their
destiny? how can they be disposed of with adj
vantage to themselves or with safety to society?
But there is another class for which (and for
those especially whose responsibility is deeply
involved have far different feelings ltrem-
bic for such, when think that God, in his
providence, has so ordained their lots, that no
facility is wanting to the discharge of duties,
concerning which, they cannot put i'll the plea of
ignorance.
How is it, Messrs. Editors, that we hear pa
rents so often complaining of indoclity, wilful-
ness, INSTRUMENTATION, or obedience with an i'll
grace, in children? You know the oit-repeated
truth, "every effect has its cause" Let those
parents who are panied sometimes, at even lit
tie Indications to say nothing of glazing de-
velopements in their children, take time to look
back and sec how different was their training;
how much more faithful, and guardian, and con-
sistently authoiitvc was the conduct Of their
parents, than their own has been
do not intend TO give directions to parents
for training children, farther than to say-bring
them up in the fear of God; teach them to
keep holy his Sabbath, and to st high value
on the institutions Of religion. But this in unc-
ton would impose on them, with the sympa'
thy Of parent and the authority of an old
man: keep your children al their homes or under
Jour oton eye al night. At this tme and in
what to the view seem very harmless groups
originates, oiteptimes, what determines the fu-
ture character of the child, and that which
causes deep anguish to the hearts of parents
even if it does not embitter their remaining
days. | know parents, who felt the RESPONSE.
bility under which God and society had placed
them, and who were willing to meet the re.
sponsiblity, whose children loved their home
better than any other place, and who, without
being considered by their companions as want
ing in sociability, felt that father and mother
were their truest, dearest friends, and best asso-
cates. This may be realized in every instance
Children have their wants and will have their
amusements--then let parents unbind (this
relation imposes the duty,) and meet these
wants (they will be reasonable, if you train
early,) and furnish the amusements; it will
save you-at least the anxious mother-many
an hour of painful suspense.
| know families in which this question was
never asked-"Whero can William be, at this
late hour? or where do you suppose M Isl
She has not been in since dark, and now it is 10
O'clock" | know families in which this ques-
ton was not unfrequcnt, and the next day an
swered it. Let parents do something more
than feed, clothe, and educate their children
something besides paying their bills. | mean,
let them take the entire direction of these mat
tiers; have things in their own way; and if they
at all keep pace with the times, it will be the
best way, and will most assuredly commend it.
self to the Judgment OF their charge.
The remark has been made more than once,
that no difference can be observed in the de-
pertinent of the children of parents who have
taken upon themselves relig obligations
with regard to their offspring, and those OF pa
rents who have not assumed these engage
rnents. There is, perhaps, too much occasion
for the remark; and the cause, Iapprehend, is
TO be found in the fact, that a majority of pa
rents, nowadays, are notthe moral instructors
of their children, and by consequence, exert
but slight moral influence over them. Not
that the youth of the present day are neglect
ed in this respect; the quantum may be equal,
perhaps exceed, that of our early days; but II
comes from source not hallowed by parental
affection and authority. No man should do by
proxy what he himself can do much better.
Parents are too apt to imagine they have full