The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-11-26
[From the n. r. Journal OF Commerce.
niscinIine of Children.

the man, and more than half the
crookedness seen in the adult is ow-
ing to the unnatural distortions of
the infant mind from the process of
training. We do not wish to be mis-
understood. We are not believers In
natural piety, and have little faith In
precocious development of saintliness.
We see enough in human nature to
convince us Of its natural depravity,
and we hold that all real virtue is the
effect of culture under the in
fuences and restraints divinely
provided for this purpose. Nor
would we limit the process of
training solely to the use Of moral
suasion. We believe that it is some
times necessary to resort to superior
force, and to inflict bodily pain to Sc
cure required obedience. Even if it
be admitted, as we think it must, that
in many cases the injudiciOus inhic-
ton of corporal punishment results
in lasting injury to the young dlsci-
pie, yet its occasional use IS justified
by reason and experience, aud it can
not well be banished from the nurs-
cry or school room. But whether the
rod is employed or not, coercion In
some form must be used to establish
proper authority, and enforce compli-
ance with reasonable demands.
We object, therefore, not TO the use
OF force for the purpose stated, but 10
its improper application to the pro-
cessess of the mind. As in the just
administration of civil law, the su-
preme authority Furnishes the overt
act of transgresslon, but takes no
cognizance of the evil thought,
although the latter is the real essence
of crime, so tie parent, guardian. or
teacher should use force if necessary
to secure outward conformity to pre-
scribed rules, but should never employ
it to enforce a mental assent to the
wisdom or equity of the established or
dinance. The physical nature can be
restrained and compelled by outward
pressure; the thoughts are often be-
yond the reach of any such influence.
The child that fatty refuses. ODE
dience to a just command should be
compelled In some way to yield its
will and to perform the required act.
To falter In this duty is to encourage
insubOrdination and to give ever-in-
creasing vitality to the seeds of evil,
sure to ripen at last into deadly fruit.
But coercion must cease. 1t is true
that the spirit of true obedience re-
quires the consent Of the heart, but
that cannot be obtained by external
compulsion. To extend human au-
thority beyond outward compliance
with the law is to usurp a higher pre-
rogative, and to encourage hypocrisy
and falsehood.
We never see a parent or teacher
with menacing gesture trying to OBJ
tain, by the use of force, a declara-
ton of penitenee from a child, with
out vision Of the possible future of
the soul subjected to such discipline.
The child may be taught the value of
penitence for wrong doing, and invit
ed to unburden its heart of such a
load, if conscious of guilt; but any
attempt to inforce cOntrition by
threats or promises, is the offer of a
premium for assembling, and direct
instigation of the almost inevitable lie
thus invited to the lip. Are you
sorry for what you have done?" asks
the offended authority of the tremb-
ling culprit; if be is inclined to be
truthful he will be silent, or family
whisper, No!' Such an answer may
show much innate depravity, but it is
a brave confession in the face of an
angry Judge, andas much nobler than
the craven Yes" which is not felt,
as truth is always above falsehood
g But [ will make you sorry, then"
says the stern ruler, and he begins
the process of coercion. The offender
is shut in a dark room. or sent to his
bed, or deprived of his dinner, or
lacerated with a rod, or worse still
for a sensitive nature to bear, held
under the shadow of frowning face,
until he adopts the lie thus offered to
his lips.
There is something more than
cruelty in such discipline as this
there is deadly blighting of the soul,
a price paid for dishonesty, which is
directly encouraged as passport to
favor. Sometimes the hypocracy is
easy. and the child will repeat like
parrot every word of penitence sug-
gested. Occasionally the courage to
hold fast to the truth appears to be
more than human, and this is set
down as most wicked obstinacy. One
poor child, it will be remembered,
not long since died under his fathers
hand, rather than speak the confess
| sion he did not feel. We are not OBJ
/ jecting to the Punishment, the fast, the
/ frOwn or the rod as punishmeuts for
wrong doing or as the means of en-
| forcing obedience to lawful authority;
| but we protest against these or any
/ other forms OF coercion to enforce
mental processes, however desirable
these may be to the ruler.