The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-01-26

SOUND ana the arJlSJlc dance OF the stage
which may be so exquisitely performed as
to excite enthusiastic admiration, has lit
tie to recommend it except the perfection
to which this correspondence Of harmo-
mes can be carried. But IN the social
dance, affection for associates, that is, the
Partlallty which, though it be but a pass
ing and temporary one, Is sure to exist in
a greater or less degree between many of
of those who are thus brought successfully
into contact with each other, is an impor-
tant element, without which the ordinary
dances of the parlor and ballroom would
be spiritless and tame.
But the dance furnishes US but an i'm
perfect example of this incentive, which,
by reason Of the complexity of human i'm
pulses, IS manifested under such diverse
forms, that 1t scarcely ever exhibits itself
without large admixture of other ele-
ments. In its lower forms it enters, in a
sensible degree, into those associations
which men sometimes form for purposes
connected with the common welfare,
where, without expectation of any reward
except the consciousness of beneftting
others, they undertake some enterprise
relating to public roads, public schools or
other public purposes in which their neigh
boring fellow citizens have all common
interest. In some of its higher forms it
manlfests itself as a sentiment which is
not only the noblest, but is also the most
energetic, which can actuate the human
soul. In one of these higher forms it
takes the name of patriotism, and becomes
that spirit of devotion to our country of
which history furnishes so many signal
examples. Elevated to this point, it is
the sentiment that produced few years
ago, IN our very midst, that wonderful up
rising of great people which, those who
witnessed 1t can never forget when re-
belhon maugurated intestine war within
our borders, and threatened the very ex-
istence of our beloved republic. 1t is the
same sentiment which, ages ago, animated
Leonidas and his immortal Spartan band,
the three hundred intrepid defenders of
the straits of Thermopyl@, who devoted
themselves to certain death to stay the
march of Persia's invading hosts
In its highest form, it is the true reGg-
lous sentiment, which, however, has been
as yet but exceptionally manifested in hu-
man history, partly because it is in an i'm
mature and undeveloped state, and partly
because the conditions most favorable to
Its manifestation have never vet existed.
In this form 1T is the sentiment by which
man asplres to make the universe his
country Cherubim and Seraphim his COM
panlons, and universal space and time his
field of action. When exalted to its ut
most height, 1t excites craving for fell
lowship with superhuman beings, for asso-
clatlon and cooperation with higher intel
hgences than those of earth 1t kindles
a patriotism more sublime than that of
Leonfdas, and inspires a heroism of
grander type, because its sphere, instead
of a narrow peninsula, is the boundless
realms Of universal being. Under its in
huence, the martyr braves the terrors of
the dungeon, the gibbet and the stake, rather
than betray trust which he deems sa-
cred, because committed to him from on
high. They calumniate the martyr and
tarnish the lustre of his crown, who
charge that his valiant endurance ofsuffer-
ing IS due to the near prospect of those
eternal Joys to which he believes a cruel
death to be his passport /; for he only de-
serves the martyrs need of praise who,
inspired by a sense Of communion with
the celestial hierarchy above him, forgets,
or remembers only to despise, all personal
considerations. He only is the truly no
bic martyr who refuses to compromise the
truth which he persuades himself came
down to him from heaven, and exults IS
the blaZiug fagots consume his flesh, be-
cause he imagines that he thus makes
himself a worthy co-operator with angels
and archangels, IN vindicating the insul
ted majesty of heavens Almighty King
There is no aspiration of the human
soul which is not destined to be fully and
abundantly satisfied, and to a height of
frultion surprising its most glowing antic-
ipations. But l can only throw out the
hint OF ,,VacnrF anI ,aor, br,f faspA1- bona
that may, at some future time, be able
to explain this inspiring truth by an ex-
position not unworthy the dignity of the
theme. 1t matters little, however, what
any one individual may fail to do, for SCI
ence is preparing to reveal to man his true
relations, not only to his brethren on this
planet, but to the dWellers on other plan
cts, and to the more exalted inteligences
which inhabit suns & other globes of higher
rank than ours, with whom human
ity is to become fraternally associated in
the maturity of its development. All this
and more, science is preparing to unveil to
human view, and by this means to con-
struct system of theology consisting Of
plain and indisputable truths, which will
dissipate the fancies and ictions on which
the religious sentiment ofman has hither-
to been fed
In thus referring, though in an obscure
and unsatisfactory manner, to the future
destiny of man, ! have scared into regions
of thought which my purpose did moi
( strictly require me to enter 1t is incum-
/ bent upon US to descend from this eleva-
tion to the modest level of common exper-
( ience
The affectional sentiments of the human
: soul are incentives to action which have g
wide range, and, being themselves com.
plex and intermixed with each other IL
varying proportions, are manifested under
a prodigious variety of forms One char
acteristic which distinguishes them de
serves to be constantly borne in mind, tha
they command greater respect in proper
ton as their scope is more universal, tina
Is, in proportion as they embrace large
numbers within their range, and exclud,
fewer from the circle of their benefcence
Thus, the impAssioned ardor which impel
an enamored pair to conjugal union
though it may stimulate each to great ef
forts for the others sake, is but one re
move from pure oelfshness, and, acting il
its own narrow sphere, it is utterly re
gardless Of all external interests, and of
ten remorselessly sacrifices the happines
of others to the nerest caprices of q favOr
ite Parental affection, extending over
field scarcely more enlarged, is a fruitful
source of wrong and injustice to thos
without the family circle, often aggrava
ting. for the sake of children, the fraud
and extortions Of trade, and the crueltie
of fseryitude. Yet men honor efforts mad
for the purpose Of doing good to Others, c
even to one other IN certain cases homo
rises TO admiration when the good is don
to multitudes, excluding few; and admirs
ton reaches its highest point when th
human benefactor initiates that all embrs
: cling divine benefcence which exclude
Z none, however lowly or even debased i
! ! mans esteem. from its provIdential car
SAME SUBJECT TO DE Continued