The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-15

few more desultory thoughts on the SUBJECT,
7 first admitting, however, chat I-hase no mar.
liable specific to Tecommend, for pnls on other
moral evils. warranted, like patent medicines,
to work miracles. On the contrary, fregard
| Rrofanitv with ali its kindred vices, as the le
Ultimate and inevitable result of the existing
condition of society as a whole. and conse-.
auently, any remedial measures which do not
improve that condition, areofI little or no avail
First, then, can thisscondition be SO changed
as to lessen materially the evils complained OFF
Ifsel the Strongest assurance that it can and
Will be done. If asked when, I should say
With equal confidence, when we are prepared
TO labor III this reform with the same spirit,
and zeal, and wisdom, which marked its sue
cessful Inauguration some is centuries ago
1 have no faith in modern labor-saving inven-
ton for sltcb work. bacause we are lGiSefgl
SO constituted that the, moral and spiritual
growth needed by all-the highest as well as
the lowest-is most effectualy promoted by,
this personal, individual labor, which is the
only human agency that can elevate the race.
y In my view, the human race, in very i'm
portant sense, Is a unit, and when it rises, all
must rise together That vast amount Of
moral power has been wasted on what isIterrn-
ed the slower stratum Of society," with view
70 is eeyatien,d think Is conceded This is
owing mainly, as believes to alsck of thorough
analysis and clear perception Of the obstacles
In the way of their elevation The first of
these that now occurs to me, I shall call caste.
Here shall probably be met with the asser-
.tOn, land 4 frankly admit it's truth inadvance,)
that IN no part OF the cieilized world, are peo-
pie $50 free from everything like caste, as in
New England. But let us make a tour Of OBJ.
seryatiOa 10 sithe fats.n Here we shall find a.
vast army Of lads, Of all ages and conditions,
capacities and procIivities.I keITHof
iJWhat is to be their future? WHAT'S thena-
ture and extent Of their aspirations and ptdlr-
poses? 1t is comparatively easy to- map out
the future course of some of them. In one
class, we find much of mental activity and
propelling power; and some of these, possess
{ an element that viii carry them triumphantlys
through all the barriers of cast, viz; an aptness
for "makng money" Some Of this same class
lack this element, but inherit, instead organ
izations better adapted to intellectual pursuits.
Here, again, we must subdivide; some of these,
distinguished for quick witt and retentiye
memories, soon attract the notice and secure
the Partially of their teachers and Others
And finding themselves appreciated, they have
motive, stimulant, to urge them on through
all the Q stacles incident to their early sur
roundings; while some are to be found vastly
their superiors, in other elements of character
elements more, solid than brilliant; powers
better adapted to delve in the Arcana of Ma
ture, and grapple with abstruse principle than
to dazzle the multitude with the flowers of
rhetoric. believe it Is admitted that persons
OF this type, generally find 1t very difficult 20
commit lessons 10 memory And since so
large part of what We call education, consists
in storing the memory with thoughts distilled
from other peoples brains, youths Fof this
stamp appear to great Disadvantages and often,
pass for very stupid scholars, and ail forlack or
that early appreciation which is the strongest
OF al stimuli, and which carried their more
SUI 'er6cial associates TO distinction.
but passing the few exceptional cases, what
of the remaining mass esssis asarS9ss4 80 "a
Pursuing our investigations, we shall find the
majority differing but little in. organic struc-
tuse or elementary composition from those of
corresponding ages IN the ahigher walks y
most Of the difference being traeeable to exter-
ma surroundings and want OF culture Hence
the conclusion that arrive at is this: That
thu most afaaffuo N, saoy,e x II,
would be the presentation Of suitable .lnofres,
ad apted of course to their capacity, in order to
awaken and deveiope latent powers whichtliey
will otherwise ever remain unconscious of pos
sessing,assh029 ssnsSsOuSo SnN seessss'l
= IN this way, it seems to me- multitudes of
children and youths may be lifted from the
deep ruts in which they and their sires have
run, and in which they take it for granted, they
are doomed to run, by the mex 3rable fate that
cast their lot on tliatllow plane. 3JAIHhl
It is a trite remark but I tliipk true one,
that call men are governed by motives" But
one vital point seems to be overlooked in prac-
ltice, if not in theory, VIZ: that every one has
a standard peculiarly hisIown, by which every,
motive must be weighed, and which, will de-
telnnine the exact amount of influence each
and every motive viii exert upon him, pro or
con. EgTU II -
! In other words, a preponderance of motives
as qceighcd6 BY ,Ahe iadiciduals o,oa stanatvd,
9oiH detcfnadae eceiy volstntafyact " hss IT'D
Hence, il I would influence man Oh: child, it
mltters not whether the considerations pre-
seat to his mind, weigh anything by my STAN
ia I'd or not; they must pass into his scales;
and if they there preponderate over all oppos-
ing motives, i carry my point, as surely as two
pounds of matter win raise one on an even
beam. The will regard, as subject to. this
Aw. What vast amount of motives in the
form of facts, and irresistible arguments, ac-
cording to the highest moral standard of, the
community, has been urged upon the erring
that did not weigh in their scales, So much as
the Sdust Of the balance
Take for example young man of this hope
less class, WHO has come to the conclusion that
the people in better clothn care nothing about
hi N, except to get all the money they can tout
OF him and a vote, now and then, and who
ia kes special pains to have it understood that
he in turn cares for nobody and don't mean to,
except to play his part of the same game.
You are wealthy, influential citizen; go
to that young man with patronizing air and
good advice; give him cause to suspect that
you think him not quite as good as he should
be in some respects, and not as good, of course,
as you Endeavor to impress him with the fact
that your sole Objects to make him better and
consequently happier. The chances are hun.
1dred to one, that he will spurn you and your
good counsel He throws his conscious free
dom from all hypocrisy into the scale against
your profession of superior goodness, which he
attributes to the favor Of Manmon. And what