The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-05-28
Che Cssal:ist.
For The Cecil Wing
Scraps from a Notebook.

On,ne ignoium pro mdgHiGco hnbeinr.
Human influence is co-cxtcnsivc with the
communications of man. The operation Of
this principle extends to all parts o the earth;
and the products Of llcct and the force of
example alike tend to form the character,
excite to action and thus mpcrccp'ibly to
change the destiny of millions. Take, for
example, any character, whether renowned
for his warikc, his moral. or his intellectual
achievements, and ask what influence he has
obtained over the minds oihS fellow. creatures,
whenever his name and actions have been
known, they have called for the exercise OF
the various faculties Of man; so prone are
we to initiate othcrs-so slight are the means
which tend to form our charactcr--so liable
are VIC to be swaycd by circumstances and
events which have passed in review before
us. In the earlier stages Of society, when
art and science are unknown, the passion for
war possesses an uncomfortable influence
amongst al nations. To celebrate the exploits
Of their anccstors--to record from time to
time the daring, and very often heroic
actions of their chiefs is the occupation OF
their idle hours. The young are thus carly
initiated into familiarity with scenes ofblood,
and excited, by the cXtravagant praises
bestowed upon successful warfare, to initiate
the actions of their fathers. sart. literature.
and science beam upon the human mind. the
sphere of influence is widcncd and those who
arc remarkable for their dcvotions to intellcc-
tual pursuits, divide the praises bestowed upon
the warrior, and become, in turn, objects of
imitation. Considered in this point of view,
how awful is the responsibility Of those who
are makers Of manners to nation at large
how necessary that authors and public teachers
should be circumspect in conduct-pure in
morals clearand pcrspicuous in thcirstandard
or right and wrong. Because the secret, If
rcparablc, and extensive evil which they may
inhict upon generation cannot be calculated
it may extend not only through this life but
through the circlng ages of eternity. An idle
convcrsation-an evil principlc-a confused
notion Of immutablc truth; or determined
effort to subvcrt the very foundation of morals
may mislead thousands. Who, then. that has
tanity to be true--who is anxious to promote
the welfare of others, but must at once &C.
knowledge the necessity OF ever being vgilan
over his own conduct, lest at any time hC
should set an example to others to do evil B.
And is thcle an author or public teacher con
sidering the influence Of his writings OIL
sayings, who does not at times trcmhle les
he should inculcate wrong notion anC
deprecate that which is lovely and pure?
1t has been observed by celebrated poe
that writer of original genius has to create
the very taste in the public which is necessary
to enable it to enjoy the beauty and force o
his writings. If this be true, the responsibility
ofwritcrs is increased since it depends in
great measure upon them whether the age i,
TO be corrupt or moral, irreligous or other
wise. That this is the case, it is only neces
sary to refer to the different cras of literature
and we shall find that, when the writers have
inculcated loose principles Of morality, the
nation has been proverbially licentous, ant
when they have been pure and correct in the
standard of duty, the people have been mora
anu rcnSlOuS. IHcfc can nc only one Oblcc
ton to this statement, and that is, that tho
manners of the age form the principles of the
writers. To certain extent this is true, bu
ii is below the character of an author, ant
degrading to the dignity of public teacher
to form his principles ny the ever varyin;
standard of worldly cxpedency.
Authors ought to form, to guide, to correc
the taste ofthe people and to be in thomselve
a perfect criterion of right and wrong. Ant
this is the more easily attainabe, when w,
reflect upon the nature of truth it is fxet
and unchangcable; it viii admit of no com
promise; any deviation, therefore, from it.
dictates is wilful, and attended with NOR,
labor than close adherence to its commands
o of what immense importance it is to have
our authors and public teachers holy, pcacea
bic, learned, and Jealous men because whcr
they are otherwise. the morals ola nation
must be deprecated, and its independence
and responsibility impaired. Pnno.