Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-13
BASIS OF GENERAL GOOD.

general good. The regeneration of a
nation can only be effected by the moral
and physical regeneration of individuals.
How shall do good how shall
make the world better? These are que
ries which we trust and believe many
good and true readers of life Illustrated
PROFOUND TO themselves daily. The an
swer is, Know thyself" In conipre-
hending yourself, you know what is ne
cessary to your own happiness and good;
and, in knowing this, you know what is
necessary to the happiness and good Of
mankind.
The truth that society and government
are composed of individuals cannot be
too deeply impressed upon the human
mind; and that each individual, who is
component part, makes up in part the
character sf the whole. Every great
enterprise and reform that has ever bles.
sed mankind has been the result of in.
diyidual thought and exertion. How
many great truths have dawned upon
the mind of individuals who, perhaps
walked in obscurity, and have afterward
shaped the destinies of empires, and
wrought results as comprehensive as hu.
manity:
History abounds with instructive il
lustrations of this principle. In mo
narchial and despotic governments, where
the mass is lost in the ruler, this trutl
stands forth more prominently than in
republic like our own, where the ruler i
only Representation of the mass
Wherever in history we find man 0
great capacity and energy, we find hi
character impressed upon the entire M
tion--he is the life and soul of th
whole. When the weak aud vacillatin
George Ii. was King of England an
the unprincipled Sir Robert Walpole wa
his minister, the public moneys wer
squandered and the nation plunged int
enormous debts, that this designing ma
might subserve his own interests by ever
hspecies of bribery and corruption. A
length the government was upon th
verge of ruin, and the ministry in orde
to save their sinking credit, called th
r,nI,la pr,5 esa.4n--e>.,- c.. XU;lI:---- D:44
seat in the cabinet. Being themselvt
devoid of honor and integrity, they faI
cied these virtues fiction, and did NJ
, dream that there was a man who, flattei
ed By the distinction they had conferred
would not become the mere creature
their will, and the plant instrument
their infamous designs. But to their il
ter amazement, they found that Pitt W:
determined TO serve his country, and thi
he would not neither be intimidated M
bribed. Rather than prostitute his O
fee to their wicked schemes, he resigne
it, and retired from the ministry. B
the men whose corruption had drive
/ him from his place became odious to Il
people, and he was recalled. Pitt, henc
forth, was the life and soul of the Br
ish government, and it arose rapidly
prosperity and power.
In+Italy, which once gave laws 10 Il
nations, the people have degenerated
slaves, under the influence of despot
corrupt, and weak rulers. The spirit
freedom is almost extinct among I
:. children of Brutus, and the most crus
ing tyranny lays its iron hand upon eve
noble impulse and every free aspirati
of the human spirit.
In our country, the government, II
the church, and ike every organizatit
viii take its character from the mass
70 individuals. The old saying" take !
,r thing from nothing, and nothing
. mains" is highly significant. IF the D,
- pie as individuals are not themsel,
good, the government as a matter Of
cessity win be bad. II, on the contra
" the people as individuals duly appreci
o. the responsibility of their high tru
:, and are themselves virtuous, pafrio
and a pure, their government will Ia
the same character. They will not p,
NIT their Representatives TO belle the
but win indignantly frown upon, q
:. promptly hurl from power every corrt
- ruler who shall conspire against the
erty and good name of his country, q
er would sacrifice the pablic good upon
altar of personal ambition.
-, Is government, society, and the wo
is made up of individuals, it requires
elaborate argument TO show that the eli
di- acter Of each person affects the chara.
me of the whole, and the truth Of our :
ne position is established, that individ
virtue IS the basis Of all general good
The question, then, how shall
good ? Is answered. Make yourself v