Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-09-30
From the Rising Sun.

mercantile integrity and enterprise.
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From the Rising Sun.
TIE DRAMA.
We have endcavorcd so far, and in as brief {
manner as possible, to lay before our readers s
short sketch of the rise and progress Of thu
Drama; it's opposcr and supporters. We have
acted imparti,ly and candily. However in
clned we may be in its favour, we do not, nol
would not arrogate to ourselves the right of die,
tating 4 course which any should or must plr'
sue; neither are We disposed to wage war with
the Clergy, or to find fault with him whose
"uricklinss of conscience are such as to forbid
his countenancing the Drama, provided he keeps
! himself within due bounds Of reason and " rcn.
ders unto Caesar the things which are Casars' .
The man who attempts or presumcs to direct
the public sentiment on any particular subject
as well as to sway and control public opinion by
abusing, censurins and condemning whatever he
may be opposed to through prejudice. without
argument or reason, is guilty OF an cgreg'olls er-
ror and only strengthens what he wishes to over
throw THUS it stands in relation toalmost every
thing.
Tileway to future happiness has been pcrpetll-
ally disputed throughout the world, and must
be left at last to the impressions made upon
every mans belief and conscience, either by
natural or supernatural arguments anu means,
which impressions men may disguise or diSsem-
BILE, but no mail can resist. For belief Is no
more in mans power than his stature or his
feature: and he that tells me / must change my
opinions for his, because tits the truer and the
better without other arguments that have to me
conviction may as we'll tell me that | must
change nv gray eyes for others like his that are
black, because they are lorelier or more in
esteem.
1t must he owned that the favorers of the ORA
ma are enphatically told, that they are wrong
that it labours under heavy imputations. We
are aware that it is difficult 10 eradicate preu-
dice or prcconceiveI feelings, but nevertheless
we cannot torbear from expressing our opinion.
One great difficulty which presents itself to the
mi.,d of the rigid christian opposer, is this: that
the Drama is only means of luxurious pleasure.
calculated to insti evil without yielding any
benefit whatever, other than is transient and
momentary. They cherish this opinipn--this
prejudice, without balancing or weighing the
matter properly. They forget, and what VIC
should saw most probably do not know that
tue "Drana is as history brought before the
eyes" That it has existed almost from time
inlmcmorial, protected by the laws, consecrated
by the teachings of divines and sages, and ac-
cepted as model of instruction, as we'll is Of
diversion in almost all lands. Itisa school most
important in its operations most potent in its
admouitions. The Drama is q branch Of art.
1t has its cvils-its good-its useS,--its abuses.
This we admit! Like sculpture, painting, music,
history: philosophy, tlc poem and the novel, it
can bc converted into On Instrument ol good or
cvil-l;.t sl.al it bc put down, crushed. ;snnihl-
lated because occasionally it has pror.nccd evil?
Books, vicious books. arc often printed, but shall
we extirprate the press? False doctrines have
been, and are still preached from The pulpit; and
MANY villain in saccrdotal robes las proclaimed
the GOSPEL. But shall VIC calumniatc the church
and the Bible? Corrupt Judges have polluted
the ermine. Shall the bench be denounced z
The most fragrant violators of the law have fire.
ouently escavcd punishment. Shall the law be
banished from the land? Physicians have de-
stroycd life. Shal! the science of medicine be
laid aside? Forgeries have been committed.
Shall pcnrnarship therefore bc wholly forbidden? ?
Steam, that agent Which has annihiatod distance
and bound together distant sections-has de-
stroyed thousands. Shall the Steamboat cease
to DIV and the steam car to run2 Now II IN
one case, abuse counteracts use, why not in all =!
Tie King of the Paatior's after interrogat!ng
DR.. Livingston respecting the arts in his toull-
try as well Us their christian belief, replied after
receiving the Dr's. answer: " that Us long as the
steam engine did not keep men from labourlnS
as the printing press did almost as much harm
rs cood-and as no man had ever returned from
the spirit world-that there was 10 use either
for the arts or rcligiOn--as it was all q hum
hurn Such was the view entertained BY an
African King. lie saw but one side OF the sub
iect. The Cenounccrs Of the Drama do precise
ly the same. If there are abuses, rs evidently
there must he in every thing used, does it hold
good, as strong argument, for the violent de-
ilunclations expressed against the drama ? This
is about as reasonable us King Behzah's oljcc-
ton 10 the progress of art and the spread Of
religion in his kingdom.
For our part VIC are disposed to think that
the Drama can be made a supplement to the
pulpit whose virtue, according to Plato's sublime
idea, moves our love and affection wien made
visible to the eye, and moreover, that as intel
lectua recreation, it is ncedful 10 the we'll being
and mental health Of man. The soundcSt of
philosophers have pronounced the stage to be
one Of tue highest sources Of amusement. Rest
and enjoyment says Pindar, 'are universal ply
Slclllis. lttpooc lil't S"HiS'', E"s" -AiiS'o'-~'
must succeed to cares and watching
"Whcn the necessity for daily labor" says
Sir Waiter Scott, sis removed and the call OF
social duty fulfilled: that Of moderate and timely
amusement claims its place as want inherent
in our nature" 10 relieve this want and ill
up the mental vacancy, games are devised, books
arc written, music is composed, spectaccs and
plays are invented and exhibited. And If
these last have moral and virtuous tenden-
cy-f the sentiments expressed tend to rouse
our love of what is noble and our contempt
of what is mcan--if they unite hundreds
in sympathetic admiration: OF virtue; tabh"r-
renee, Of vice or deriSion Of folly, it will remain
to bc shown how far the spectator Is more Grim
inally engaged, than if he had spent his time in
idle gossip, i'll the lcverish pursuits of ambition,
at the card table, ut the exchange or in the 'll-
satol and Unsuitable struggle after again.
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We have no sympathy for railway Speculation
who is reduced to his last shiiug. None for al
ill tempered man with the toothache. None fol