Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-14
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
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This is lovely world with its revolving sen
sons, the bright flowers of Spring, the full blown
beauty Of summer, the sober livery of autumn aud
winter clothed like bride in her pure and spotless
robes yes it is beautiful world. What is it
that prevents it from being happy, pacific and
social world? "Man's inhumanity to man" an
swers the poet ; and in this instance he is a
true philosopher. 1t is the omission of those du-
ties which owe to others, and more especially
the commission Of actual injuries which makes
the otherwise bright world so dark and gloomy.
If all men would take the trouble to explore
and understand their duty and perform that duty
when discovered, how much more felicity would
be impaired to the sorrowing, grief-stricken!-
This is n fact which we oil readily admit, be-
cause it is sef-evdent-it is the daily experience
Of every mau-it is the leading idea that lies at
the basis of all wise legislation.
II the man who wraps himself up in the exclu-
sivencss of pride, could feel that the humblest fell
low creature that crouchcs before his gaze, was as
precious in the eyes of Heaven as himsclf-that he
was not merely strutting before the wondering
eyes of mortals, but that the orbs of angels COM
pretended his littleness--th to them he was in
a luminous atmosphere, and all the cells of that
hidden heart lay open in repulsive nakedness,
would he not bow his naughty head and esteem
himself with all his wealth, his lineage long, his
talents, his fame deserved or undescrved, what
ever, in o word, pampers the pride or vanity of
man, but dependant being like the unfortunate
brother by his side If he would but consider
that the recording angel with one stroke Of the
pen, one d" damnng drop" might change his
situation from affluence, luxury, the applauses Of
men, to level with the lowest spirits in hell,
would not his hauteur be diminished-his pride
humbled?
But there is another idea, less appreciated and
less thoroughly understood, yet in fact more i'm
portant and which should have more influence
in producing salutary changc-the idea that the
way to be happy ourselves is to do our duty to-
| wards others. The fact admitted by oil, that we
could diminish the aggregate of human misery, by
studying out and performing our duties, loses
much of its force and beauty if we do not likewise
estimate the increased felicity of those who feel
conscious of having done their duty-of having
met the responsibilities of life, fairly, honestly,
bravely, whether by sacrifices orby labors of love.
And we have often thought that it is the non-ap
probation of this sublime and cheering TRUTH that
makes the miser grind down shs neighbor; the
arstocrat pass by haughtily the poor but honest
man-n word that causes every phase of 'man's
inhumanity to man." How few there are who
experience daily or even casually the luxury of
doing good?
But we have spoken only of the sins of omission.
| In none of them do we find the immediate cause
of the prevalent misery and unhappncss-so that
the uuestion-"what is il, b is still unanswered.-
1t is the sins of commission, not the neglect OF an
obvious duty but commission Of positive wrongs
on individuals and on society that makes this
beautiful world, often but deformed and hideous
carcature of what it should be, and of what the
christian and the philanthropist yet hope to see
it. We can overlook the negative wrong, OF the
man who neglects his duty through Incidence or
ignorance, but how can the widest charity forgive
the diabolica wretch, who makes it his business,
from year to year, to ensnare and seduce others !;
who not content with amassing wealth by penu-
rious, close-st avarice, seizes upon some popu-
lar vice as the highway to fortune, and adds fuel
to the flames, in order to hoard up few doll!Ss
the price of so many souls? Such is the case
with the manufacturer and vender of intoxicating
drink 1t is his interest, his desire, his ambition,
to encourage and stimulate the low animal appe-
tite of those around him. For every soul that he
tempts to perdit;on, he expects to realize hand
some sum. 1t follows, therefore, that the man
who makes most by this pefarious traffic, has the