Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-05-17
4 -WHEEl. ,G wv. VA. WEDNEsDAY.MoRNTNG MAY I7 1855

get that when party or faction fails a,
the ballot boz, tits folly, utterly futile, to
attempt to accomplish their purposes BY
force; for, in the nature of things, the ma
jority can rule by force ifneeds be. 10 =
But it is my purpose to speak of the
most startling and lamentable incident OF
the war-the assassination of the Presi.
dent. a.. -.
The public mind has been stirred by this
event IS perhaps it was never before in our
country. @ ri .r-77'1- - ;
Great agttatiOus quicken thought, and
bring forth wholesome truth. And it ia
not improbable that the people shall Inquire
whether the calling Of q tragedian tends
logically to lead him, to blood shed and
etlme.3aii asatLs%1-4aa1f= iiIi,,.-t.. "A .s,1,,r
5oEt toeEeai11Y ts ipdfscri rimins1ey. stUDt1st
to wholly condemn dramatic performances.
The drama is simply thing Of power; and
may be used powerfully, either for good
or evil. Bat it would seem that tragic
plays are gravely demoraliziug, and, per.
haps to this evil effect OF them may be
traced the sad calamity of nation mourn.
ing a murdered President. If this is so,
let the power of the Press be brought
against them-let every editor who loves
his country. liberty and humanity, and who
mourns the loss of our murdered President,
lift his voice against them.
As every cup has its bitter, so, it seems
equally true that man is Of mixed nature;
that every human has inherently within him
antagonistic propensities. five have good
seusibilities, we have also bad ones-if
we have feelings of kindness, we have also
those of cruelty. In'some the better na-
ture predominates, in others the worse.
The innate cruelty of our species is exem-
plifed in the delight child sometimes
takes in torturing even fly; in the saw
ages pleasure 10 torturing his victim, and
in the morbid desire of people now for
scenes and recitsls of bloodshed. The bet.
ter nature of man is shown in the many
instances of kindness even to animals, and
in the many acts of Good Samaritanism
which all of US can bring to mind.
1t is also true that mans propensities are
capable of culture or suppression. Hence
the great care prudent people manifest for
the Influences brought to bear on their
children. In, view of these facts. it is inn
portant to know what is the influence of
tragic plays. s7"'fs.AE ~
Moral men generally condemn public ex-
ecutions, and the spreading before the pub.
lie sickening details of tragic crimes, as
being very corruptipg to public morals !;
and common sense tells US that this view is
correct. If this is true, it seems irresisti~
BILE, that bloody representations on the
stage, are equally corrupting. 1t is true
that these representations are only plays :;
but the effect is like that of reality. In
proof of this, it may be said, that Booths
father, in his favorite play, became 80
identified with it as TO imagine himself the
person represented. i''m -1
It 1s common for men who have natu-
raj talent for their pursuit in life, to have
an almost fanatic passion for it. Z" Hence ii
is not improbable that to . man like Booth
some bloody deed was most worthy of
mans highest ambition; and who knows
but some foolish idea of this kind had its
influence in inducing him to commit the
foul crime of assassination. r.-,s
In view then of the evidently -baneful
effect of tragic plays on performers and
beh olders, is it not the duty of all who love
virtue to discourage them7 WI.