Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-11
Thoughts Oh Society.

IFor the Chronicle
Man is social beng. And there is not
an attribute OF which his nature is POSSESS
ed that conduces in a greater degree, per-
ihs ps, to his happiness and enjoyment, than
his delight in the society and companship
of his fellow. 1t is not good for man to be
alone, in the testimony of his Creator
And it is in accordance with this fact-this
principle of his nature-that he has in all
times, and in all places and circumstances
of life, entered into various combinations
and so cial comPacts, in order that he might
more successfully and efficiently advance
his interest Ut pleasure, furtherhis schemes
or crafty his ambition. And there is but
little, even OF the ordinary labo-s of every
day life, Tor the performance of which he is
not more or less dependent upon the as
sistance and friendly aid of his companions.
And the higher we ascend in the scales
of mans labors and ton the more forci-
bly, will we be convinced Of his great need
OF having an unia,ling source to which he
may apply for Inc requisite aid to carry
them on to the point OF complete success.
None of The great events OF past time-ihe
1 deeds Of memorials heroism, or the achieve
ments of science and art in their researches
into and elucldations Of the mysteries of
nature, would ever have arisen 10 their
present conspicuous hight, if this conf
dence of man in man-this fellowship of
feeling had been less than it is.
Z But it is from the proper exercise OF this
social principle in a moral point of view
that we may naturally expect the highest
advantage to be realized, the greatest
amount Of happiness TO be obtained. And
to secure these ends, and give full scope
, and privilege to his capacity for enjoyment
e in this respect, he has ever been engaged
= in the organization of societies, instiluting
d rules and regulations for their government,
propounding theories and planning schemes
T for the purpose OF moral improvement, and
s promulgating to the world the results of his
labors ard discoveries Many OF these,
t however, abandoning the only true b-sis
" the only solid foundation Of social happi
" ne SIS, have, like Fourier or Orven, succeed
ed only in raising a lasting monument tc
their own shameless folly, their deplorable
2 ignorance, or their ignoble ambition. Theil
h ius.its.iuns flourish but for a season-totte
to their ruin and decay, and finally vanisl
from the face of tn. world. But others
again, having adopted in whole or in par
the proper standard, or basis, have, like
n Robert Raikes and his compeers and i'm,
=, tatOrs, been successful in the establishment
of permanent organizations, that long hav'
been. and bid fair still to be, essential an,
powerful blessings TO our race.
Here. however, we should ever conside
that nothing of mans individual invention
creation or institution, can ever be place
upon an entirely immuvable or unchange
to able foundation. Mutability and incon
m stancy are written in ineffaceable charac
tiers upon all his works. The permanenc
and success of any organization depend
y upon the dignity and power of the author
to ity that institutes its laws, together wit
as its adaptation to the ends had directly i
We view. II that authority is of a nature @
he dignity no higher than the subjects fc
10 which the avs are made, and these law
not properly adapted to the proposed re
10 suit, it is a self-evident fact that the organ
lrt ~ization will necessarily be weak and inst
ce cure, be held together but slightly. An
cy just in proportion as The !aw-making powe
to arises in dignity and power Of au,horit
I'm above thuse that are to be governed. and
mt proportion as those avs are adapted to tn
en- design or end of the institution, or agre
oil with the wants or welfare of the subject
an for which they are made, just IN that pr
portion will the Organization become pc
manent, uncbanging or successful.
1t follows, therefore, ss natural cons