Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-03-12
CAND0R. NOT INSOLENCE.

pensitv to " speak out" every thing that
comes into ones head passion for" Ut
terng ones whole thought, as II IS cal
led.-iA other words, for stark impudcnce.
People that have not brains enough 10
comprehend what is really Profound nor
culture enough TO appreciate and set mo
It's RIGHT relations what is really bCa'uIu.
and true in that system of ethics based
on the supcl- sensual insiiNcts,-may have
lust the capacity TO catch It's phrases,
mimic its oracles, and render themselves
unspeakable disgusting by running about
in society exhibiting the contoruons ana
of the Sybil, without the IL
spirajon.
The only idea some persons Of th'~ class
have carried away from Jean Paul ana
CARLYLE seems to be, that they must make
uncomfortable speeches. And tins they
must do, under the specious plcaoi beng
:. true to themselves - We may be
wrong: we donot profess to be guided IN
the matter by any other than the vulgar
authorities of common sense and such old
fashioned wisdom rs Solomon's but we
should really dare to say that if our H.
tempered friend, in a fit ofhot pcuIance
or cold contempt, should feel that " truth
to himsel. requires him TO blaze away
in volley of abuse, or launch forth cool
malignant sarcasm, he would do better to
he so false to himsclf,-as to hold his
tongue. If "spcaking out his whole
thought is to render him manlleShy
charGeabIc with rudcncss, or ctlrontery,and
is to wound the feelings of half his
ouaintanccs and is to pain his bcnciactors'
and is to mortify the meri'oriouS, and Is
to impIicate friendly neighbors in quar-
rels, animosities and suspicious then
we do E, let loose our opinlon,-hoId Itno
LONGER. that he will be more OF Chris
tian. and f0rfiOri more of gentleman,
bv keeping his " thought, to himself.
Freedom of speculation is one thing
and personal insult is another. The has
tv proclamation Of immature or crude
opinions, even in the abstract realm of
ideas. is not the soundest wisdom. Some
thing might be said Of what is due TO gen
oral Truth and Human Progress in the
form of deliberate cogitation and careful
inuuirv. But this evil is III various ways
countcrvailcd, and is almost harmless
with the direct social injustice,
and the wrong done TO the common feel
mo and conscience of mankind, by cool
placid, conccilcd impertincncc.
It's a sad and perpetual rcmcmbranccr
of our imperfect condition, that every no,
bic quality must be dogged and aped by
by some miserable counterfeit. When
we think of what true candor IS, OF the
power it puts into its posscssor's hands,
of the beauty and grace with which 1t
adorns the strong and simple character, Of
the readiness with which all other hearts
fly open and unlock their secrets at It's
touch how it undoes the mlschicls that
selishness and suspicion have originated
how gates Of brass before it yield"
how it scattcrs the misunderstanding and
ieaousies that cmbroil an artificial socle-
tv and how urgently it needed to CHI
the tendencies to a mean servlllty, and
shame the hvpocritc, then that virtue RI ,
ses and opens before US into such magni-
ude that we find it difficult 10 do any
thing else butpay it honor, and plead for
its cultivation. And yet here we have
thrust into our face very day this wretch
ed parody of it, wearing lis tile, and
mocking its majesty,
We BEG our readers 10 understand that
we by no means confne these structures
to the sclfsalisfed nursliugs OF senti-
mental " fol w-your-insImcls' school,
whether fen. mime masculine, or mascu-
line. cminine. We have in our mind al
this moment certain individuals so emf.
nent for this peculiarly that we almost
fear we are ourselves passing the larlhcst
verge of candor in drawing f'C:f !ilcneS-
ses in a ncwspaper,-whO are by no
meaus guilty of belongi 9 to any Particu.
Lax philosophical school, but who suhjccl
the foIbcarancc and patience Of lheIr asso.
ciates to intolcrablc trials, by seiziug on
every possible opportunity, with sort Of
ferocious alacrty, for saving some disa.
greabe thing, and saying the most dis
greable thing that ingenuity can invent,
or the circumstances permit, under the
pleasant apology Of being frank,--PIain-
spoken, honesty. They tell You they
cannot bear 10 be false :--and so. for the
sake of being true to a disposition o d
that it ought forthwith to be cha1gcd, they
are fuse 10 every law Of k.ndness, ami
biliiy and gcoI,brecding, They VIII
fire off pop-gun of unpleasant abuse al
your head, and innocendy claim yoIr ad
miration for being so frank They Wi!
break up all the enjoyment Of a soci2l
circle by some ill-mannered blun'ncss,
and perhaps think YOU do them scaniy
Justice if You do not praise Them for t e.
,,-,,-r l,I-o salts-c-itice aDd Drotn rfii,tir