Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-18

4
quired; wrought out from the amor.
Phous materials within and around us.
Your position, gentlemen, does not seem
auspicious for the work. ss
1t is said of lawyers that their profes
sion brings them in contact with the
lowest, darkest phases of human nature.
The remark may be made with equal
justice of statesmen. Surrounded by q
menial throng, who basely cringe before
you; disgusted by their sycophancy,
deafened with their importantly; greedy
as the Sea in their cravings, relentless as
Death in their scent of patronage-you
are In imminent danger Of degenerating
into contempt for your species, of losing
all faith in the ideal Of manhood. 1t is
hard to cherish reverence for humanity.
to trace the image as God in man,
with the daily sight of independence COM
promised, honorable uprightness aban-
doned, and the knee, which should be
only bent before God, bent before fel-
low man, and that man yourself.
Nor is this all: You hold your places
as the gift of popular favor. Majorities
have their whims as well as children
Shall they be humored? Many a man
that would stand erect and dauntless be.
fore throned tyrant, basely licks the
dust in presence of the million. No.
where is manful straightfolwardness and
independence endangered more than in
Republics. The temptation is strong to
attest the verdict Of majorities as the fiat
of the gods, and ignore the sacredness OF
personal conviction. The holy realm OF
individuality, which should be girt and
guarded jealousy as the apple of the eye,
may be invaded and laid waste. Patri-
otism may be supplanted by love of party:
or on the other hand, selfseeking, NAV
come to stand in lieu of devotion to the
country.
Moreover, not the least peril of your
place is found in this-the liability to
confound Expediency with Right. Tact
seems great general-masterly as pre-
science. FEASIBILITY often appears to
win the day, when righteousness and
truth wear the sackcloth of defeat.
Scheming, to the worldly eye, is pro-
life of success. With these, and other
influences conspiring to belittle and de-
grade you, it is no easy task to maintain
an unfaltering faith in human goodness,
and godly manhood. Yet, whose would
be high, must aim still higher. A lofty
character can alone be achieved in conf
dence of loftier ideal.
Here, gentlemen, is your dis, ipline. To
this trial of your faith has God called
you. He berGaves none SO utterly as to
place them without the pale of bis help
full mercy and blessed grace. The finest,
fullest agencies for the attainment of rare
goodness and worth are at your disposal.
as at every mans. Throug gh the appar-
emily unfriendly sphere of political life,
you are to work your way to the very
pinnacle of virtue and greatness of soul.
Sublime truths has God given to admon-
isb you; mighty help has he sent to aid
you.
For the laws which guide the stars in
their course, and govern chemical rela
tons, are not more absolute than those
which regulate the formation of Charac-
ter. These laws permeate our being.
Yves stand upon them with jubilant psalms
in our hearts; or, they worse than crush
and grind us to powder.
One of these facts is retribution.
+" Whatsoever q man soweth that shall he
also reap" with what measure We
mete, it shall be measured to you again. )"
Such is the scriptural statement: the
proverbs of all lands; the infallible words
of the popular heart bear witness to its
accuracy. This is another statement Of
it: HE that sinneth against me wrong
eth his own SOUL" No evil can be done,
and the doer remain unpunished the
swift vengeance is there in the very com-
mission of the act. The quick wing of
Nemesis sends the black shadow into the
soul before the wicked word has passed
the lips. The deed once committed, The
word once spoken, can never be revoked.
They are the property of the future foI
woe or blessing. Eternity holds Their
ownership. We are selfregisters-our
soul bears the record of our lives. An
injury inflicted upon another is a deepel
injury inflicted to ourselves. The gains
of dishonesty are more than balanced b,
the loss of rectitude. "Cheating nevei
prospers." Every sinful word and deco
is death wound to the spirit; it ma,
cicatrize but will never heal. No liar.
or skulk, or lewd person; no demagogue
paltroon, or looose-minded coward cal
long stand unchastiscd in the presence Of
this law. 1t will amply, terribly vindi
cate itself.
But you stand not alone unfricnded il
the midst of these fearful forces. ii.
that appointed them, is your Father.
What his law requires, his blessing will
help to fulfil. l bring you glad tidings
God is reconclled to man: and through
faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ
you may be reconciled to God. Befo-,
your eyes is set the loftiest conception oi
goodness actualized. Before your feet j,
open the path to divine compassion and
love. In your houses, in the closet, whe:
you may draw nigh to the Father of wis.
dom and tenderness. Here, when tn,
soul is dark and troubled, may light b,
had, clearer than that shed from tn,
urns of the morning. Here, when tn,
heart is weary with the worlds dccei
and sordidness, may it be reimbursed by
the bounty of God S favor. Through tn,
humble, earnest prayer of Christian faith
shall the soul be reinforced for the struggle
and sorrow OF life. Believe me, gentle
men, this is your sanctuary: no ethe,
opens its portals beneath the armament