The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-08-10
Irreverance Of American Youih.

Irreyerance Of American Youth.
q In his address before the Old School
Presbyterian General Assembly, at 81.
Louis, OF, the .contumacious attitude OF
the Louisville Presbytery, Rev. Df'
Thomas made the following allusion TO
the alleged prevailing contempt for au'
thority: -.
"The great want of our age, sir is q
spirit of obedience to law, OF reverence
for constituted and legitimate authority
of respect for those who exercise author
ity, whether in the family, the state OF
the church. Lei nee illustrate the nap
its and temper of Young America, slr'
by an anecdote respecting the late hon y.
r. F. Butler, whose sobriquet OF Sanu5
HIP was familiar to politicians OF CMeu
tv vears since. He was invited TO MS
sion Sunday school in the city OF New
York The superintendent introduced
him Tn tbe bows as the Attorney General
nf tba Tnited States, one of the most
J;st;nofiished citizens Of their native
State and an active friend of friendless
youtb. adding, while he pointed to the
clock, that Mr. B. would limit his speech
to fifteen minutes. 90 .-Ff
"Well, sir, they listened with fixed o T.
tention, but thoy kept an eye on TIE
clock The orator, warming with ID
theme, forgot tho limitation of his tim 9,
and had passed the bound only a rev
seconds, when o tattered urchin, proba-
bly, newsboy, aud SO familiar with po-
litical slang terms, suddenly spraDg up,
and pointing to the clock, exclaimed
SANDY Hill, your time is out" Ihs .,
sir. is an illustration of our respect ioi
those in authority.
"Our political papers practice af .
cherish this pernicious and degradlt
habit. Cur people speak Familiarity and
contemptuously- of the President OF the
| United States of America, the highe'
dignitary on the earth, as Cd BUCK,
ABE Lincoln or Brandy Johnson. is y
| in the use of such epithets that we zeal
God and honor the kingP Is not thl'
the conduct of those that 'despise govern
ments?' Of whom st. Peter says pre-
lsumtuous are they, self-willed; they are
not afraid to speak evil of dignataries.
"Sir, the tendency of our times-per
haps it may be a natural abuse OF th'
nature of our free institutions-ls tx
despise government, to cultivate q spirl
of INSTRUMENTATION. Why, sir, II yor
will pardon me for relating it, l had once
q curious exemplification OF this Yonnl
Americanism in my own household. i
has already appeared in the public prin =
without my consent, and, therefore, l.
NAV not be indecorous to allude to it. :.
had a little son about four years Old
/ who. of course, thought very brigh
| and promising frllow During my tenn
porary absence from home for few days
on one occasion, his mother relieved TIT
weary interval with reading to him thu
story of the revolutionary war: Thu
little fellow treasured up the scattered
| facts and anecdotes, and narratives o.
the battlefield, until, until his youthful
patriotism was kindled to fame, anc
his blood began to boil. Returned home
late in the night when he was wrapped
in slumber He rose later than usual
While we sat at breakfast he came dowr
and seated himself by my side in silence
He withhold the familiar welcome-tht
customary kiss. Evidently his mind wal
engrossed with something, He Sal
brooding his topic for o few moments
and t tbs9 tpEHne to h. said aid ahs av
| the g BOD or bad fortune to be born il
England; but, like the 1rishman, / wa
brought over here so early that becam
native. We'll, SIR said he, his child
ish face all aglow, and shaking his httl
fist at me, NE ,chpped you once, and ca
do 1t again.