Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-03
PSYCHOLOGICAL PARADOX.
F,B. rs, 1862.

To he Editor Of The Whig:
Viii you please solve how il s that, though We theo
recslly admit that 'in union there is safey"-thlt "a
fellow feeling makes us wonirOus kind"-yet, when cur
e9emies arc dnwiug circle Of ire around US, we PI
hi5i. much personal and political s;rifes How is that
when cur fortunes all tied up in the same bundle
Eben sre al embarked on the ,me bottom and must
make sqf5 port, or 90 do6n together many leading
have not shaken of their pasy shackles their pref
eFents for the highest soAts, though more worthy Snd
more able on the steps below-.he hifelng op
pressed il his wages the face of the poor grourd the
simple decyed the sober tempted with strong drink that
they may b. cheated-the taken from their CHI
dreus mouths to be converted into liquor to maddc1
their fltheFs-he widows anl orphans tear unheed,d
wht those who do such things, know that every blow
given in this way falls at last upon their country aud o.
course returns in the haal result UPON themsovesg
arc told that when the words "Homo sum. nil hhmari
ne GlifHaa puto, Il am human being myself and
thing relating to humanity Il Indifferent to me; or,
freely one touch Of ,kes the whole world akin
we're uttered to heather audience, they moved the
springs Of human sympathy and brought them to their
feet with spontaneous appreciation. Shall Clrisin
muaiies have les< bowels Of compassion Does net
by rauding aud davOurng each oherS Naturalists in
orm us that the instincts Of some gregarous enimss
lead them TO unite agains. danger by formin2
serrei column or q circle that oanno. be broken BY
all he assaults of its enemies So We, the closer the
Danger pyesses should close up and with heart answer
ing TO heart hard in hand and shoulder to shoulder o
posa rIterna phelenI 70 every assault. But it re-
uures no IL spirson pronuuce that sraious disaster
Il bsfa the South II those who, Gvang tbems Ives
powerful by vicmzing GIL they can, are no. rebuked
aad reduced to their proper level.
Every philosophical aud logical reader Of history knows
tha. every upward movement OF society," every meiora
tol OF humlnty has been the purchase OF heroic en-
deAvor of self sacr6c, aud preference Of country to
every other consideration. Hence, email States are
mnre congnal he growth of these virtues than large
one' the former have frequently proved more than
match for the latter, whose cz more apt TO be.
cons competitive and selfish. Patriotism seldom glOws
intensely in large body polite, intense vitality and
activity seldom exist in large body corporsal.
Undoubtedly we have numbers, the physical strength
and courage Of great people. We can double them
by the exercise Of moral courage which cannot b, put
forth by the corrupt the supremey ish and yranni
os which are proofs of selH,h individuality, infrmity
of moral purpose and interOry Of natural gfs very
bad man cannot stand out against the blows of his an
,agons longer than his hot blood that Is his animal
courage lasts which fortunately for the preservation Of
the human race Nature has made a short lived passion
bat While II ass 1t s powerful enough to smother or e,.
lingaish fortitua ssysra' and abiding patriotism,