The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-11-14
The Lack of Manhood.

The Lack OF MANHOOD.
"But, we in this country have our own
dangers. And the greatest of all dangers
here, as conceive, is that of general pusil
lanimity, of moral cowardiee, of losing q
proper and manly independence of charac-
ter. think that see something of this
in our very manners, in the hesitation, the
indirectness, the cautious and circuitous
modes Of speech, the eye asking assent be.
fore the tongue can finish its sentence 1
think that in other countries you oftener
meet with men who stand manfully and
boldly up, and deliver their opinions with
out asking or caring what you or others
think about it.. 1t may sometimes be rough
and hard, but at any rate it is independent.
Observe, too, in how many relations politi-
cal, religious, and social, man is liable to
find bondage instead of freedom. If he
wants office, he must.attach himself to par
ty. He may have his eyes open, and may
see much to condemn, but he must say no.
thing. The edits q newspaper, has choice Is
often betsoeen bondage and beggary; that may
actually be the choice, though he does not
know it; he may be so complete slave that
he does not feel the chain; his passions may
be 30 enlisted in the cause of his party as
to blind his discrimination and destroy all
comprehension and capability of indepen-
dence." ..ss.
The above extract is from sermon by
the Rev. Dr.DEwEY. 1t was written many
years ago, and perhaps our readers may
lave seen it before, but it will do them no
harm to reflect how much more true it is
now than 1t was when originally written.
In these sad times there is nothing more
sad than the tyranny of public opinion on
the one hand, and the slavish spirit that
fawns and crouches before it on the other.
A want of political manhood is prevalent
now to a truly deplorable extent. There are
multitudes of men in West Virginia at this
moment, with boards on their chins, who
actually dare not vote for the candidates
they prefer, take the paper they soould like
10 ,ead, or utter the sentiments which in
their hearts they entertain. The great sue
cess of the Administration party is due in
no small degree to the two elements of in
timidation and corruption; the greedy are
bought and the timid are bullied. The fear
Of being denounced by some voluble dema-
gogue, or of being barked at by some yelp-
ing turnspit of the press, makes the knees
Of a man knock together, and his tongue
cleave to the roof Of his mouth We
have very great tenderness for
the poor man that sells himself
in order to get bread for his children !; for
poverty comes like an armed man, with
terror by his side But, when we see men
that have not the excuse of poverty, edu
Gated and rejecting men, whirled away by
the torrent they ought to stem, and bowling
before the blast which they ought to resist.
it is hard not to yield to despair. AS the
current is now setting, the time seems not
far distant when the majority will demand
ALI absolute uniformity of sentiment, and
opinions will be manufactured by the
Wholesale, like great coats for regiment.
In view of such a contamination, we ask
our readers to consider second extract,
from another writer, and written many
years ago: "When the predominace of
Que party in democracy has once been
fully established, there Is no safety fer
those who differ with it by ever so slight a
shade. The majority being overwhelming,
all opposition is stihed. No man dares
breathe a whisper against the prevailing
sentiments; for the popular violence will
bear no contradiction. Hence the suppress
sion of wholesome advice, the concealment
Of useful truths. 1t becomes dangerous to
declare any opinion, however sound, which
is unpalatable to the multitude. Truth
must no more be told to the tyrant of many
heads than to him of one; nay, mere flattery
becomes the food generally offered up, and
be who goes before others in the extrava-
gance of his doctrines, or the violence of
his language, outbids his competitors for
popular cavor This vile traffic is alike
hurtful to the people and to those who deal
in it; the former are pampered and spoilt,
the latter are degraded and debased"-
This is soinbre picture: is it fancy, or is
it fsct2
And is it not worthy of consideration by
rational and candid men, whether the
charge of Severity" or bitterness" or
what not, often brought against this paper
by the hostile or the moons derate, may
not simply be owing to the fact, that it is
conducted in a spirit so different from that
described by DR.. DEWEY? in fact, as we hope,
in manner not unbecoming journal suit
ed to the meridian Of prolessedly free
country? L3g...... 4'.-..