New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-07-17
RESPECT FOB THE LowLY.

Greatness never shows more great than in
its respect for lowliness. For the noble to |
admire and love the noble is praiseworthy
but to bend their looks to their interiors in
kind charity and respect, free from any show
of their own greater qualities and with the sole I
and simple wish to do them good, is the sign
| Of lordlite and royal excellence of character |
| When superiority is known it is always respec-
ted by the inferior-tacitly or openly-not |
always willingly and often in an envious way
yet it is recognized, respected and confessed
even by the envy it awakens and the false
pride that it annoys. To look upward with
respect and reverence is natural and easy-it
is the habit even of savages; to look downward
with respect is the lesson which high cultiya-
ton only teaches and which magnanimous
minds alone can learn. Wise men and men of
high character know best that all they have is
gift, and they know best that their gift is
perishabIe. They in their better light see
best that tile difference between the best and
highest and the most lowly is after all, but
little. They who know much know best that
but little can be known, and in the dim light
Of human reason they do not scorn the deeper
shades Of the Light which their interiors
possess.
Respect and reverence for superiors within
due bounds and in just proportion to merit,
play an important part in the machinery of
social and political systems. It is too com
mon and too natural to be classed as virtue,
and even among the radest saYages it
is the product of that latent sentiment of
worship which peryades our whole race. But
a kind, magnanimous, considerate regard for
interiors, is a sentiment in all ways more ex-
,alted and noble as it is more uncommon. To
look upward to superiors with respect, free
from envy and servility, and to look at the
same time to interiors with thoughtful consid-
Grafton for their rights, wants, tastes and feel
ings, without that condescension which is a
standing and offensive declaration of superb
ority, but in real earnest respect for whatever
good may be seen or developed, and with
charity for faults and deficiencies should be
the aim and study Of all thoughtful men. Only
a few possess this faculty Of respect for what
is beneath as well as that which is above
their own grade, and the faculty when
possessed is badge of true nobility of char
acter. 1t is better than any talent or gift of
genius, better than any lessons Of dry philos-
ophy, better than the polish of society," more
useful than all tie precepts of courtesy,
more benefcent than wit and learning, and
more effective in reforming, elevating and
educating men than the wisdom of sages, the
songs Of poets or the eloquence of orators.
The exercise of this faculty ennobles its
possessor while it draws others up to his OWL
level. 1t reforms, it purifes it teaches, ii
liberalizes. 1t cheers poverty, it lightens
misfortune, it dignifes labor, it cures discon.
tent, it removes envy, it cultiyates gratitude
Its praise bestowed upon humble mer stimu,
lates to greater desert 1t brightens anG
> strengthens the golden chains of fraternity
and good will. 1t cultiyates obedience to Law
and reverence for authority, increasing tht
happiness of the people and cementing tn,
J. fabric Of government,