The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-24
The Family.

"Among the foremost, are the domestic
sentiments and morals. The Family is now,
more than ever, the first element and the
last rampant of society. Whilst, in gene
raj society, everything becomes more and
more mobile, personal, and transient. II is
in domestic life that the demand for perma-
nency, and the feeling Of the necessity Of
sacrificing the present to the future, is in
destructible. Ii is in domestic life that
the ideas and the virtues which form coun-
terpoise to the excessive and ungoverned
movement excited in the great centres Of
civilization, are formed. The tumult OF bu-
siness and pleasure, temptation and strife,
which reigns in our great cities, would soon
throw the whole Of society into a deplora-
BILE state OF ferment and dissolution, if do.
nestle life, with its calm activity, its perma-
nent interests, and its fixed property, did not
oppose solid barriers throughout the coun.
try to the restless waves Of this stormy sea.
1t is in the bosom OF domestic life, and un.
der its influences, that private, the basis OIL
public, morality is most securely maintain
ed. There too, and in our days there al
most exclusively, the affections Of our ma
ture.-friendship, gratitude, and selEdevo-
tion.-all the ties which unite hearts in the
sense ofa common destiny, grow and -four
ish. The time has been when, under othel
forms OF society, these private affections
found place in public life; when devoted
attachments strengthened political connex.
ions. These times are past, never to return
In the vast and complicated and ever-mov-
ing society OF our days, general interests ant
principles, the sentiments of the masses, an(
the combinations Of parties, have the entir'
possession and direction Of public life. The
private affections are ties too delicate to ex
ercise any powerful influence over the con
fiicts ofthat pitiless field. But It is neve
without serious injury that one of the vita
elements Of human nature is uprooted on
of any Of the fields Of human action; ant
the complete absence Of tender and faithful
attachments in that almost exclusive domain
Of abstract ideas and general or selfish in
terests, has robbed political life OF nobl
oAhoiiiSht ohu q SiOol cOuiCC VI otiCiistus-
1t is Of incalculable Importance to societ,
that there should be some safe retreat il
which the affectionate dispositions would
almost say passions-of the heart OF maj
may expand in freedom; and that, occasion
ally emerging from that retreat, they ma,
exhibit their presence and their power BY
some beautiful examples in that tumultuou'
region Of politics in which they are so rare
ly found. But these social virtues must b
nursed in the bosom Of domestic life; thes'
social affections must spring from famil,
affections. Home, the abode OF stabilit,
and morality, also contains the hearth a
which all our affections and all our selfde
votion are kindled; it is in the circle of tn
Family that the noblest parts of our natur
find satisfactons they would seek for else il
vain; il is from that circle that, when cir
cumstances demand, they can go forth t,
adorn and bless society. "--Guzot's Democ
racy IN France.