Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-08-05
Self-ConlmIand.s'
b X i a.. HIN f.


Idedby the dictates Of enlightened reason
and refined conscientiousness, is always
prompted TO action by some1audable induce
ment. lnducement is of two kinds that
of reason, and that Of passion. Let us be
able at all times to s'render reason'' for our
conduct; and as we are urging upon all the
attainment ofa uniform Self.command, we
will state in tlfs paper the inducements to
its acquisition.
l. Freedom. Probaly more breath is
expended in uttering this word than any
other of equal import in the language.
Freedom is the boast Of all-the prince and
the beggar, the saint and the sinner, the
virtuous and the vicious, the intelligent and
the ignorant, the rich and the poor, the
high and the low, the white and the black,
the strong and the weak. He, who is
under the dominion Of base passion and an
absolute slave to his animal nature, is ever
ready to yell ''liberty! freedom!' with stem
Itorian voice. The drunkard as he crawls
out of the gutter all covered with filth, will,
as he reels along under the guidance of less
sense than tadpole, stammer out, "hurrah
for freedom and independence" although
he has no more freedom than the veriest
atom that floats in the stagnant pool OF cor
ruption. We do not speak thus of the per-
son, as such, but against the misfortune by
which he is enslaved. This term with 9th
ers of similar import, is the cause Of much
superhuous breath on patriotic occasions
such as fourth of July celebrations, the an
niversaries of revolutionary heroes, &C., as
well as in times of political excitement
when one party is attempting to rob anoth-
er by the wholesale. Demagogues make il
their watchword when they are attempting
to cheat the people. School BOYS thai
think more Of robbng hen-roosts than Of
expanding their minds and improving theiI
morals, dwell loudly on the theme when
called upon to write out nodicum ofwhat
they know. Oh, Freedom! what is not
done in thy name! How art thou associa-
ted with every thing that is groveling and
base! Murder and rapine stalk on the
earth sanctifed by thy holy JUNCTION. Con
tending armies raging for revenge and
painting like hounds to be led on to the
strife Of blood, pretend to act in the name
of"God and Liberty" andas the deafening
shout goes up, they charge upon each other,
pleased with the sight OF a brothers blood!
Did they possess the first shadow of a claim
to freedom, they would never be found in
the field Of wholesale murder: the rulers of
nations would always act justly and abhor
wrong. War however, is the only alter
native, when one nation is determined to
wrong another. We only speak of these
matters in their true light, that wo may
have some idea Of what it is to be really
free. "He is free man whom the truth
makes free, and all are slaves beside -
There is mental as we'll as physical free
dom. Should any man or set of men at
tempt to make us obedient to his Or their
will, we should repel the indignity and vim
dicate our manhood, though we die in the
attempt. He is coward and false to God
and Humanity, who, knowing his rights,
will permit the chains of slavery to be fast
ened upon him. But not less so is he who,
aware of the dignity Of intelligence, virtue
and a constant self.control, still wears the
manacles ofignorance and passion. Many
are so situated that they cannot if they
would, become entirely free; but they car
do something, and the ability is with the
: mass to emancipate the rising generation
) and establish mental as well as physica,
: freedom. He is free man who commands
hinself---and hence the inducement to ac-
quire self-command. b,
Q. Pleasure. Let us enter that palac,
of the wealthy;-we discover g. family sit
ting in idleness, or what is worse, busted il
ministering to their vanity, and they call
pleasure. Now, pass along some dark Ian
and enter that dismal den where we hea
the din ofrevelry; there are the young an
perhaps some of the middle aged, making
: free use of the inebriating bowl, talking al
: sorts of foolish gibberish and acting ever.
species of indecency;-alas! they also lv
for pleasure. Now, it requires but littl
reflection to disgust almest any one wit
either of these extremes, as we'll as wit
y all the intermediate grades Of foolish apol
s ogies for pleasure. He who will expen
e his time and money for that which is not @
positive benefit, but rather ofpositive injury
y knows little ofhis own consequence in tn
world and the high position OF intelligenc
and unimbittering pleasure he might attail
Q Nature furnishes unreasonable sources
n lasting enjoyment to all who prove then
Q selves worthy Of their enjoyment; and VIII
/ ever draws his pleasure from natures cry
$, tai fount, is Disguised with all that which
most generally termed pleasure.
I, 8. Our reputation. tits very essenti
" to our happiness that we sustain a 60
,r reputation among our acquaintances.-
There is no reason why we should not; f