The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-07-05
Reflections for the Time.

ITO one who has loved and felt proud of this
city. who has felt at home here, who, when he
went into the street. met only friends and saw
| none but friends meet, the change which has
come over its society," is painful in the extreme
We are no longer brothers. We are no longer
community of friends, whom like adventures
and pursuits, and rather checkered life
have united in brotherhood. Once it was so:
| it is not SO at present. Distrust has succeeded
confidence, GOODNESS has come like an unwel-
come ghost between friends.
Doubles many good men have unwittingly
contributed somewhat to this condition of feel
| ing Goaded almost to desperation by many
acts of lawlessness and crime, by finding conf.
dence often misplaced and betrayed, they have
gradually lost that belief in human goodness
and reliability which had previously been part
| of their nature as we'll as Of their education.-
They have probably gone to the opposite ex-
IRENE, and from believing and trusting too much,
they have come to believing and trusting not Ats
all in men. This latter extreme is worse AHNs
the first. 1t saps at once the foundation OF RE
sirabe society for that cannot exist where
confidence is lost by its members.
Is it not time for us all to pause and re1ect?s
Society, OR the community at large, is not so
bad, as, under excitement. we are apt to think.
! Il is certainly not likely to be made better by
believing everybody, except ones self, base,
selfish and unprincipled, and treating nm &C
cordnsly. It is not the part of all good men,
all orderly citizens, all patriotic people, to re-
feet that others may be quite as good as 1hem-
selves. and quite as anxious for the good of the
public. and yet differ dramatically as to the
best means of securing that good? Good men
differ about all things; about principles, about
creeds of faith, about questions Of morals, bust
ness and craftsmanship.
But with the wise and candid all these differ
ences do not destroy, Or prevent friendships, do
not necessarily seperate brothers and friends,
do not dismember communities, do not change
peaceable and orderly citizens into bitter an
tagonists Such should not be the case in this
city; but, it grieves to say that, such state OF
things is fast becoming ours. Friends of years
pass each other on the street without recogni-
ton. Men ask the keepers of restaurants to
which party they belong ere they will order
their dinners Animosity, heartburnngs, anita
gonisms of all kinds are succeeding the kindly
feelings aud influences which have so long ruled
among us. 1t is a sad picture, bat too true
It should not be so. There are many good men
I ~. e. viz
tues and patriotism should make them fast
friends, but whose different views as to policy
are carrying them farther from each other and
deeper into bitter hostility. There is not sufli-
Gent reason for so great change in the social
tone of society. All good men agree that great
evils have existed, that criminals have been
among us, that an end should be put to these
wrongs that those who have committed them
should be punished. Nearly all agree that
most, if not all, of those sent away by the Com
mittee, deserved such fate. Why, then should
those who agree as to the justice of the acts
DONE become enemies of those who have been
instrumental in doing it? Or why should they
who have done this good, grow bitterly hostile
to men who would have tried other means for
a remedy?
Is it not time for us all to ask ourselves
frakly and answer candidy to our own
questions. what have we individually done to
create this present unpleasant if not dangerous
safe of feeling, and what is it our duty to do
in order to allay it, and as far possible culti-
vate the kindly sentiments, without which
community resembles pandemonium? Know
inc that we are not perfect, all of u.s. how much
are we willing to allow for the imperfectons OF
others? Why may we not agree on remeding
the evils without becoming enemies on account
of the process? Why may we not, as hereto
fore. cultivate those sentiments of confidence
and kindness towards the great body of our fell
low-citizens, who doubtless, at heart, are as
anxious for the welfare of the city and State as
are we?
IF thew or we, can abate evils, acknowledged
by all to be so, why need we quarrel SO bitterly
about the means? itnot time that this insane,
morbid thirst for excitement, for something
startling, something terrible should be checked?
Are any of us happier for any of the dreadful
events that have occurred? Some of them were
necessary, it is true, and therefore need not be
regretted. But even they have not made any
of us happier. Anything done except that
which stern duty has required is wrong, lamen-
table, injurious. Anything hereafter done only
upon the spur Of excitement, would be equally
so.