The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-16

Ftom fhe PhiladeIphla Ledoer.


To have"respect unto the recompense
of the reward" it is said in Scripture,
| "to be the mark of a good man." that
is to say, such faith in the invisible
and the future as impels to present self
restraint and self-denial, is an excel
lence of character well pleasing In the
eyes of our Maker. To look beyond
the present life into Immortality, and
conduct ourselves here with a constant
thought of eternity, WAS one OF the
great aims of early Christianity. 1t
was this that made st. Paul declare
that life and Immortality were brought
to light blythe Gospel. 500 iaF
There is a sort of Immortality con-
uected with this world, by the science
of the present day, that exhibits con-
nection between it and dChristiantty, be-
tween natural and revealed religion, OF
the highest Importance TO the aims and
ends OF both. What DIR. Maudsley of
England has just shown, In his work
on the brain, and Combe years ago in
his writings and lectures on the consti-
tuition of man, is, that individuals and
families, nations and races, are all the
time either progressing or deteriora-
ting, the most improving types living
and reigning, glorious on the earth,
while the deteriorating races are crowd
ed at last out of existence, like the
Canaanites of old, or the North Ameri-
can Indians on this continent.
We know that this Is the case with
fruits of all kinds. The best are natu-
rally chosen for their size, flavor, per-
fiction, and are cultivated until in all
our gardens, they'supercede the poorer
kinds. Weknow how this has affected the
culture of choice vines within few
years. The most vigorous of all plants
and trees survive In seasons and
through difficulties that are fatal to the
less thrifty, and the latter, as Darwin
r. oh thua rnntinnallNy hninD
crowded out of existence.
The same law holds in regard to ami
mails. The best horses are carefully
preserved, while the poor hacks are
worked to death. Up to man there can
be no doubt that all orders of plants
and animals become more complicated
in their structure, more excellent and
and rare in their properties. And 1t is
certain that In the struggle for existence
the most complete men-strong and
healthy in body, clear and wise in
mind, and with the broadest natures,
full OF love to God and man-these will
be most likely to rise and be preserved,
while the diseased and siokly, the ig-
norant and the vicious, die out most
readily. In this country, where all
start upon a level, a superior man car
ries his patent to nobility in his consti-
tuition, and the permanence of his inhu-
erce and that of his family, in the State
and nation, will be in proportion to the
combination of physical endurance, in
tellectual vigor and moral worth per-
petuated in that family. --..Ha7i' --t
We know that all eXcesses are
deteriorating, whether of mind or
body, and these often produce their
worst effects on the old age, or the de-
scendants OF those who practice them.
Sir Walter Scott, stimulated by enor-
nous rewards, wrote excessively, and
not only broke himself down by it, but
his family has almost entirely died out.
"a daughter of his son n-in-law, Lock hart,
being, we believe, the only surviving
grandchild. The children of men of
genius, too, frequently thus die out.
But where Intellectual excuses destroy
tens, physical errors and excesses cut
off hundreds and thousands prema-
turely. There are many vices that
seem to spread and grow with civih-
zltion, and to threaten for while the
extinction of the race, and then they
die out in measure. These having
caught In their deadly meshes those
nos strong enough in virtue to resist
their enticements, while new families
of healthier mould spread rapidly and
take their places.
Let every poor, virtuous, well educa-
ted family, rejoice. Health is always
blessing; moderation and freedom from
excuses are, q source OF power, and
strong power of -self-control to resist
present indulgence for the sake OF
health, OF mental progress and success
or for the attainment of a moral stand
ard as an example TO family or TO
mankind-all of these present self-con-
quests for future good extending be-
yond the present lie In their effects here
on earth. They descend to children
and to children's children. They go to
form a seed mighty in the earth. Thus
il Ia that the ways of virtue are ways of
pleasantness and all her paths are
peace. This wisdom is tree of lie to
those who take hold upon it, Length
OF days is in her right hand, and in her
left are riches and honors. The endu-
rance or this Republic Itself depends
upon the continuance and growth
among US oflfamilies of increasing vir-
tue and purity OF life and manners.
And those who would hand down pow
er and influence to their children,
science Is now showing, can do SO only
by higher cultivation of the perpetua-
ting virtues.
The POne and the Roman Catholic