Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-05-28

tnOuSn siW Pn0
ent state Of existence, ard yet At the
best disagreeable necessitiesa and annoy
ing restrictions. diminishing their hap
piness and crippling their ambition.
They imagine that, could they once be
free from tho restraints of duty and
responsibility, life would become com
paratively easy, and, thus unfettered,
they could expand into something
great, which the restraining hand Of
obligation now prevents. Such persons
make a fatal mistake, which, II not cor
rected In time, will take from life the
purest of Its joys. There Is in reality
the most perfect harmony between our
obligations and IL happiness, and to
discover this harmony and blend them
together is the secret Of all good and
noble lives. In our physical natures,
this truth is self-svident. If we ignore
the obligations we are under to take
care of u bodies, II we indulge In
injurious food, or stimulating drinks,
or exciting designations, OF unlimited
brain work, although We may enjoy a
temporary qualification We are tread.
ing the path that will o 70 lead us far
from real happiness. The ruined con.
stitution, the feeble frame, the faded
cheek, the premature loss of vigor and
decay of vitality, will loudly proclaim
the Inevitable and mournful results Of
forfeited obligations. Equally are the
obligations laid upon DIR mental and
moral natures the sources Of happiness.
The judicious scholar reaps the reward
Of his earnest efforts, in enlarged ca.
pacities and increasing powers, while
the idle and careless, who neglect their
duties, can know little of life's real
delight. The question whether obliga-
ton be a blessing would be at once set.
tied, could we conceive Of existence
without it. In such q state there could
be no civil laws, for they are all found
ed on the obligations we owe to each
other. Theft, murder and arson would
cease to be crimes, and become only af.
fiictions, and peace and safety would be
at an end. The Intercourse of society
would be uuguarded by truth, justice,
mercy or love. Selfish interests reign
ing alone, all the lovely virtues would
be extinguished, and the joys Of social
life banished. It may be said that
without obligation there would be no
guilt, but neither could there be any
virtue. Did no conscience urge us to
utter the truth, we should cease to
value it. Were there no restraining
force to keep US back from impurity,
purity itself would lose all its charm.
Life itself without the sense of duty
would be simply a confused and USE
less panorama Of vapid and unmean-
ingleSs scenes. This bond of duty that
binds every one Of us is only felt to be
painful In its violation. Even then
its penalties. though for the time so
distressing, really constitute an ele-
ment of happiness. They are as neces-
sary to the well-being as the penalties
Of wise laws. Obligations obeyed are
the well-spring of happiness. The
consciousness Of pure motives and of
worthy aspirations is, Of itself, n joy
so pure that its temporary loss is to
the good the keenest of all penalties.
In the midst Of the shifting scenes Of
life, and the changing phases Of our
minds, the great fact Of obligation is
the only element that Is fixed and un-
alterable. Here we no longer drift in
every varying current, but are an
chored safely. 1t is the only standard
by which questions can be settled and
thoughts tested. The confusion and
distress that would follow, had we no
Dond OF oollSatlon 10 1all Dack upon,
would be like that of the mariner who
has lost his compass and Is drifting he
knows not where. II obligation, then,
Is so great a boon, and the chief source
of best happiness, it is wrong to
chafe against its wise restraints.
Rather should we welcome those
already recognized, and strive to dis
cover those hitherto hidden from view.
The inner conscience, If obeyed, will
reveal higher obligations with each
advance in our moral nature, and to
accept them as privileges, and fulfill
them with gladness, will confer dig
nifty on life, Tightening Its enjoyments
and soothing its trials.