The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-12-22
lori ina! essay.
HriIisn for The Ceei! Wing
Debating Societies.

These useful Institutions are no longer in
vogue, with a few exceptions. The liquor
bar is now the tribune whence genius dis
plays its wit AMI elolncncc to an admiring
y crowd. Nciohborhoods no longer have their
places Of assembling to discuss questions,
Z moral, philosophical, and political. "Young
y America has no taste nowadays for the
dull reasoning, and insipcd wit of Lycenm
Orators. His genius is intuitivc, and flashes
t" perfection hy inspiration, like the bead on
q wine cup. He has become of late, quite
too wise. and too rich. lie delights in cant
words and obscene jcsts; in cigar and gas
of grog. lie will, if he keeps progro ssing
ut the same rate. ere long repudiate his an
cestors, dub thcm stupid fellows, and like
tome of the nncicnts, claim his origin from
the gods immaculate.
This reckless extravaganza of time and
money mustdoubtcss lead to painful results.
This precious time-worsc than ldlcd away
-sqlndcred in dissipation, does not contain
SupcrhuouS moment--n single moment
10 waste. And this money SO cXtravaganty,
so proligaliy consumed in luXurics that
NiStaht ''hi "ChNtH tic CoilStltullDH, alltl
win show which is snare to the mind, is
the accumulation of toll, is the concentra-
tion "fstrengl, is 4 reserved power ready
10 be applied to good or evil purposes; ready
10 assist the body and mind of the present
generations; ready to advance civilization in
its proper course and supply mankind with
all useful temporal wants.
1t is Il painful truth, confirmed by ohserva-
ton. that the liccntions freedom Of the bar
room las more charms for the genius of the
present day than all things else beSidcS.-
BY genius, mean the controlling spirit of the
present day. Perhaps it would be b otter
expressed to say genus Of the present day.
Temperance men may lecture and s.Mainc
Laws" be enacted, hut fear they will be
without much good effect, while youth has
time and money to lavish at its disposal.
The knowledge to acquire seems to have
far outstrippcd the knowledge to diEusc in
the present generation. The pccuniar ele-
mcnt acts upon civilization, and is again act
cd upon by it. Like the ocean it can never
I've at rest, but is continually ebbing and
flowing. The one, however, is governed by
the Divine hand and moves with the rcgu-
iarily of the spheres; while the other is more
or less affected by the caprice of the human
will.
To guide this latter element in the way or
truth is, therefore, incumbent upon mankind.
Vice and iniquty flourish spontaneously in
Abe soil of Misunderstanding Indigenous plants,
the less they are cultivated the more perfect.
ly they are developed, and the consequence
is, the idlcncss and undiciplincd mode of
thought prevalent at the present day, dcprave
and corrupt the human mind, drawing it into
the vortex of immortality, dcbauchcry, and
ruin!
This bearing towards the internal is more
apparent in towns and cities, than in the
country, but is sufficiently manifest in the
country; and it becomes the duty Of those
who have the good of the human species at
heat, to cast about them, and devise some
means, if impossible, to instruct, to amusc
and to restrain the young, the confding, the
restless and inexperienced from rushing
hcadlong into the wide -moathed ruin which
awaits them.
For the country, Debating Societies in Tho
winter season, formerly, have been much il
vogue, and served, in high degree, as {
places ofinstruction, morality, and entertain
inent. But the subjects that were wont t.
be discussed in former days have lost thci
interest and be come trtc and insipd It
the multitude.
If Farmers Clubs, however, were cstab
lishcd instead of old fashioned debatin:
societies, and subjects connected with agri
culture in all Of its various branches, dis
eusscd, they would soon become places o
resort for the community, with charm
superior to those Of the grog shop.
1t is shame that old farmers and men o
influence whose names have prestige in thci
pcighborhoods, should be so supine-shoul'
make no eXert;ons to instruct and amnse tn
restless youth OF their families and ncigiihor
hoods Acorn.