The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-06-12
For the Jeiforsonian Democrat
Midnight Musings.-No. 8.

@hAuuA5 ht N uoAn SS'-NV' ~
have been musing for the last hour, upon
man in his relations to society, and upon
the vide difference there is, in the society
of to-day and that 10 the time of the fathers,
who laid the foundation of Republican great.
ness. Simple and retiring in their manners,
they possessed fountain of generosity 10
the heart. But, at present, the principal
feature is show and glitter, with but little of
substance One peculiar trait of our fore
fathers was simplicity. In their manners,
was that genuine frankness, and strict OBJ
servsnce of philanthropy, which Is one Of
the many accomplishments of people,
TO the English Courts than the honest face
of Benjamin Franklin. He was SO plain in
his manners, and so pleasing 10 his address,
that no won the confidence OF the entire
English people. This same ingenuousness
was visible, in high degree, in the character
OF John Marshall. With bis plain home.
made suit, he graced the Supreme Bench Of
the United States.
person possess cd of we'll. balanced
mind avoids ostentatiop. Show in dress is
beneath the eye of gonius. Gaudy dress
may do for the savage. aud, indeed, wo nrt.
urally associate with il the painted savage,
equipped in his habiliments of war.
The city is where all this extravaganza
and useless show has its origin. Its influence
tends to destroy the noble ambition of man,
creates selfish rivalry, lowers ones es,i'
mate of human character, aud insinuatet
into tho mind kind of inertness, the more
monstrous because it it is On tirely unnatural.
We see young men of intelligence lamenting
that their lot was cast with that unfortunate
class upon whom fortune has nevor smiled
regretting that they are not the possessors
of opulenco and wealth; deliberately casting
aside those golden prospects of success
which present themselves to the ambitious
lamentiug that they are not rich enough tc
buy honors; wasting the better part of life
in vain regrets that they are not million.
aires; suffering the vigor of their years tt
pass in idle sorrow, and, a. last, dyipg,as they
have livod, without having accomplished
{ any thing worthy of life. Among the you'll
0 of to-day there is so much of that careless
J waywardness that it becomes settled prin
ciplo of their minds, and weakons every in
telloctual feature. Thus we see, in tn,
early period of life, when an unalterabll
character is formed, an almost total disre
e gard of the ennobling attributes of man
The mind is left entirely uncultivated, o
else filed with absurdities.
This is doplorable state of society, foi
= without education, man is a mere blank. :
knowledge is power. 1t is that which give
the people of one nation supremacy owe
those of another it teaches man tho art
: living in conformity with nature gives biz
q correct understanding of the things I
a which be is surrounded, so that he may
b. enabled to live in harmony with them co
rects the false estimate of man, in regal
to that which constitutes the true relatic
. of man to man.
There is too much of this selfish indiy
uality entering into society. This coDditio
may never be entirely recovered from, bl
e, it may be improved. Man is not, by natur
's, a selfish being, but it is the influences whiC
~ are exerted upon him from the cradle, thu
make him what he is. When these fall
= notions shall be corrected, the condition
the many. who are controlled by the fe,
may be made consistent with truth and ju
toe. SCRIBE
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