The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-09-26
MORAL EFFECTS OF THE PEsTILENCE.

There is deal of valuable philosophy in the subjon-
ed article from the Pittsburg Daily Union When We
fleet upon the awful ravagcs Of the cholera and yellow fe
during the present season, may at the time
recall hundreds of instances of courage and devotion
the part Of those who animated by the spirit of be-
nevolence alone and who calmly, though rreverenty
defed the blasts of the pestienccs We this
Knoxville Tennessee at Marnsburg, Virginia, at Column
ba Penns ylvania at Savannah, Georgia, and it
daily in Ptsburg, Pennsylvania Such examples AS these
purify minds OF distrus and dislike of kind
and teach that manhood and courage not yet
tinct
at has been common observation among writers who
have described the occasional ravages of malignant Diseases
that the most fearful feature Of their manifestation has been
the depraved state of morality which they have generally
posed Thucydides in describing the prevalence of the
plague at Athens, which to have borne
bance small pox than other of the diseases which
have prevailed extensively in modern times gives
u picture of the abandonment of all moral restraint which
its sad accompaniment He says that the errors of
the law had power to restrain, because they
swallowed mp in the greater fear that had upon
ALL Those who knew motive of virtue but the dread
of temporal penalty thought lightly of risk of
punishment which, in comparison with the prob
able fate seemed utterly insignificant 1t Is related by
writer concerning the great plague in London 1861 that
awe spirit seemed to pervade society and every species of
crime and indulgence wild in riotous confusion The
vivid pictures which have been given of the effects of the
disease at Florence in l3S represent still de-
porable absence Of all correct moral feeling The
obligations OF life forgotten Friends abandoned
friends husbands deserted their wives and even mothers
left their children perish alone in selfish struggle
life.
The rayages of cholera in this country compared with
the mortality many the plaques mentioned in history
have occasionally been for short time nearly equally
gnan but the continuance of this epidemic is seldom pro-
tracted through as many months in any particular spot 1t
is however, while lasts speedily fatal and cacu
lated to create alarm by the suddenness of its vistaon
But though undoubtedly its tendency drive some into
dissipation have yet heard of its appearance being
the habnger Of that terrible absence of moral restraint
which graphic pens have portrayed the incident many
previous scourges We look in vain to thing te
acer of the disease itself that will this differ
ence.
The question of the contagious character of cholera
is hardly considered more doubtful than that of
plague The rapid nature Of the former disease in &C
complsng It's work of destruction should be reason for
expecting its moral effects those attacked to be more
decisive And yet there is difference which no mere physi
cal influence account for The Athenan fought with bis
neighbor for possession of funeral pile and dragged one
body from the flames to dcpoe another its place During
the plague at London known the diving to get
from their lips information concerning locality of what lit
tie money they might leave, which speedily away
while the owner was left to perish see no such ba
rowing exhibitions. Very rarely now do men or women
perish unattended by kind hand last sad Offices
of friendship Husband and wife cling to each other to the
last and children hang the loved parents and
take their last long look of iondne follow them TO the
grave needless of warming danger Noony this
but in every city and town hundreds men and
found to attend and watch the sick helpless
sit through the long night by the bcsdes of those
bound to them by tie but that OF humanity Here
ind there noble edce erected and sustained by the
contributions of all classes citizens throws open its
loors to the afflicted stranger and beings never
zen or known bear to his lips the healing cordial or soote
MS lass moments end become the faithful executors of his
bring wishes.
Nor does the benevolent spirit OF the present day stop
'ere 1t prompts the enterprise which seeks the eoae
children whom sudden calamity has left homeless dries their
ears provides them with the Of subsistence
md gudes their steps into the path Of truth 4
In the outset of these few remarks adopted view
If those good who tell that extraordinary ebulIton
II vice. snch have mentioned only the natural
of human nature when relieved from restraint Oh
xample the saluary check of civil authority take
What theory please there must have been change in
he human heart since the times of which we read The