Delaware Democrat. (Wilmington, Del.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-29

Morals are often taught falsely, and
there is false moral code of laws upon
which they are based, as well as there arc
false principles of religion upon which the
theoretical clergy often build their super.
structure of a pious life. To expect pco.
pie to be good, to be just, to be temperate,
Gc,, without stoiriag them how to become
SO, seems likt-the Intellectual charity men.
toned by the apostle, which consisted in
saying to the hungry, be ye fed to the
cold and naked, be 20 clothed, be ye warm
ed, without showing them how they should
get food, fire or clothing. Most people
naturally have some virtues. but none have
naturally all the virtues. To acquire those
that are wanting, and 10 secure what VIC
acquire, as well as those we have natural.
ly, is an art 1T is as properly an ant as
painting, navigation or architecture. liza
man would become navigator or an ar.
chltcct it is not enough that he is advised
to be one, that he be convinced by the ar
gnment of his adviser that it would BIO for
his advantage to be one, but he must also
be fought tue principles of the art, be
shown all the methods Of working, and how
to acquire the habits of using properly all
the Instruments; and thus regularly and
ppssaaseiiton h lie fsr aFs eis d0t
oeed thus, be is sPste meet with Difficult.
ties that discourage him and make him
drop the pursuit. We may as well say to
tie house be ydmoved from your present
location without the aid of physical power
as to say to men be ye reformed without
showing them tue methods Ivy which that
reformation is to be brought about.
1t is readily admitted that it is an easy
matter to say TO one addicted to inebria.
ton, be ye teetotaller, alb. tain from all
stimulants, overcome the in6rniiics of your
own nature by no other process than the
exercise Of your own will. Thus the indi-
vidual is to do, all things without the aid
of teacher, when it would FIRST he neees-
sary to convince his understanding :hni
his in6rnities, aud appetites, and weak
ness, we're rot the creation of bis own will,
but having ilhcfitcd them from a long line
of ancestry through generations for thou
sands Of years, they became an inherent
part Of his nature, and as there is an inn
possibility in working out perfect cure,
moderation Of desires is the only safe road
to peace, prosperity and happiness; for it
is au undeniable fact that be who aims at
perfection has placed before bin cntitely
too high all aim, and as surely will fall
far below bat he might and ought to have
attained. If, for instance, manis to alb
stain from the5ase of all intoxicating liquors
whose habits have grown upon him to an
injurious extent, he ought to be taught the
use of ether ssimulants to keep up the ex.
element, as there is no vacuum in the bu-
man mind. If the individual has been
one who was fond Of boisterous mirth, he
must come down to the more reasonable
enjoyment ofsinging, and the social enter.
tainment consequent on such change; while
others, who are fond of midnight reyel and
licentousncss, must abandon the senseless
schemes of the ,debauche for the more ra.
tional enjoyment ofthe social hearth. The
gamester must abandon bis pack, and by
more industrial course of life employ
himself 10 some useful occupation, whereby
he may gain his daily bread by the honest
employment Of bis physical and mental ca
pacities. Thus every vacuum of the human
mind must Instantly be filed up as fast as
created, or tAat being most assuredly will
run to waste, and more than likely return
to the old practice.
There is no absolute necessity to say to
a man, become teetotalcr. This is stretch
ing the peroSutive of mans authority too
far; for no .lan has need of becoming SO,
but every man has much need ofbecomiug
moderate in his desires, and by judicious
training discipline his mind to temperate
use Of all things Mans appeiites and in.
iirmities are not negative as supposed by
those who enormously espouse the senti-
ments Of lhs prohbitory law. Man in bis
first introduction into this world was bless
ed with all that was necessary for his COM
plete felicity, and in Paradise was allow
ed the whoh range of his desires and ap-
petites, with the exception Of one tree only;
and yet. inpn unguarded moment of temp
tadon, be tasted OF that also--henee the
fall. We fnd even in this transgression
the divine iawgiyer did not say, you shall
now DO locked up from sunshine and mir
until you have expiated this crime. mol
He said, fog this you are now henceforth
and forererSto go forth and labor for a
livelihood, and BY the sweat Of thy brow