Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-03-22
RUFUS KING. J
5. NJ. BOOTH, Com.
HOK ACE RUBLEE.
THE CORRUPTION OF MANNERS.

he influence of current literature, Pc
riodIcai and other, upon the public ap-
preclatIon of virtue and vice, cannot be
over estimated. The press has taken a
place TO which almost every other power
Is but secondary. We cannot go ba OK to
the obsolete machinery of censorship to
control It's issues nor, If we could, would
any such control answer the purpose
The tendency Of republican institutions is
10 elevate popular opinion above all law,
and 10 make the enforcement of the le-
gal code, even IN lis most inportan; par
uculars, and those most essential to the
weIl-being of society. The great prob
lem OF government by the people, depends
upon the character of the governed. In
proportion as they least need restraint,
are they most wiling 10 submit; and
when the strong arm OF the law is most
necessary, 1t is discovered that there is
no such thing. 1t Is nevertheless before
the stronger pressure of popular judgment
or the tyranny OF the prevailing fashion.
Upon education, by which we mean
the whole training, moral and intellectual,
depends the safety OF free people. And
as upon the character of the women of
any nation, lis moral and religious posi-
uon, It's intellectual and all othcr emo
bling characteristics rest, In republic,
this IS emiuently The case. There was
something of the heroic and the noble IN
The Difference which Christian chivalry
paid 10 women. Ia the early days of this
confederacy, practical value was added
10 chlvairlc usage The Difference al
lowed and the respect paid TO women in
the United States, have been often re-
marked by intelligent travellers. The
women of America have been tacillv
treated as the chief power In the State.
They have charge of the education OF our
children they form the characters Of our
men; and III their hands rests the deter
animation OF the success or failure OF the
great experiment. now III progress upon
this cenunent.
Women have in this country q great
advantage. which Is forfeited only by
their own consent. As sort OF GiyinI-
religion, they are approached only with
kindness and honor, until their claim 10
is lost. Ii is not accident
which has gwen them the high position
which they have hitherto possessed. And !
/, Is not accident which, IN some classes |
Of society, IS deprivIng them OF the con-
servauye power which ;hey have welded !
50 happily. Our fathers prided Them |
selves upon republican simplicity out !
the boast oi many III tins generation has |!
been superiority to such an antiq quated |
n0:Iop. We have sought rather The luI-
portation OF foreign foIlies. We have
commended the intellectual elevation OF
our women IN overcoming old fashioned
prudishness, and In looking with 40 much
compoSure as any BLAsE European upon
beaeut4l enCrmllles, and the elegant lib
critics Of pseudo high life.
In art and literature a downward pro- !
steso has been manifest. A feeling of !.
lati.ude amounting, If hot to RIGHTEOUSNESS
IN fact, 10 the enjoyment OF the conlem- |
platIon Of Its phases, has been increasing. |
La literature. ladies' weep over. and ad-
mlrr heroines, and any of whose traits
would exclude living woman from So
clety, even now. Highly wrought tales,
and exquisite pictures OF passion are pre-
sented Tor their admiration. Music and
the drama Pen and pencil, furnish TO the
educated and, by courtesy, the refued,