The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-26

Power of Ess,u.,,.

Inc ate Joseph r. Buclinoba,,
say 'hat a Nan will rise or fall to tho L. ~
the estimation in which society III vi
Inc ueSpiSel iii"n becomes despicable. Tho
slave assumes seville mind. If the mhlio
estimation were graduired in all cases accord
ing to the scale OF actual merit, the evil above
suggested would be much less than il now is
But unfortunately such is not tn. case The
good opinion and favor of the worlc are too
often bestowed OF witholden for reasoln of
wealth OF poverty, honorable or ienoble pan
entse and other similar considerations. This
error, we suppose, will always more or less
exist, but 1t becomes the duty of the wise and
the good to exert their influence to correct it.
we nave known young persons who, be-
cause they have been caressed and encourae-
ed, nave advanced to positions OF otbonor-per
maps to actual excellence, whilst others of
equal natural endowments, who. on occo,,nt
OF their humble origin and poverty varo not
allowed to come within speaking distance Of
the sons of fortune, have relreated disbean-
ened to the obseurity in which society would
confne them, deprived of the chief incentives
toihgh and honorable action and doomed to
spend life in degradation and shame. Such
things ought not be. The world is loser,
and the cause OF virtue suffers by tine exercise
of such false rule. No man should be de
spised for what is his misfortune. On the
contrary, the unfortunate need kinder in
dulgence and more prompt announcement
seeing that they are destitute of those ad-
vantages which Others can command -
Ought it to be disgrace to any young man,
that his parents are poor, or even vicious
especially if be has resisted the influence of
bad example, and maintains virtuous char
acter himself. Should he be reproached be-
cause he is Obliged to eat his bread by the
sweat OF his face? Most clearly--iIay. And
yet, disguise it as we will, boast as we do of
the freedom and equality of our own country,
there are causes which do operate in almost
every society, to depress and dishearten those
who are doomed to begin the world upon a
low plane, and to drive them back at the first
efforts they make-awkward they may be-to
advance beyond the obscurity in which they
We're reared. A more correct state of public
sentiment is demanded and if it were estab-
tablshed, the effect would be to allow every
meritorious individual the estimation he acl
tually deserves, and to bring into high and
honorable action the powers of many who,
under existing discouragements, are kept in
the shade. 1t is impossible for most men TO
rise again to the tide Of public opinion. If
they cannot obtain-what is most powerful
motive--the respect and praise of those around
them, they will be very likely to give up the
pursuit and become as servile as the law of
public opinion has unjustly decreed. The
cause'of virtue, then, no less than individual
excellence, requires that men should be esti- I
mated according to what they actually are or
are capable of becomins,-that due encour-
agement should be extended to genius and
virtue wherever they are iound,- that
counterfeited characters should not be allow
ed to pass as genuine coin. n.--~ TRAxl.