Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-29
lCOMMUNICATED.
tPREJ UDlCE-BYJ. B. JOHNSON.

sPREJUDlCE-BY J. B. JOHNSON.
Prejudice is prejudgment, or the formation
OF an opinion of persons, or things from an in
adequate, or unjust examination OF their true
relations. 1t is an exceedingly obstinate irregu.
larity Of the mind and when it gains the mas
terry over the understanding, It's removal is al.
most an imposibility. 1t warps the just ex.
ercise of thought, and renders its operation
detrimental TO correct reasoning and banetul to
the objects of its attention. Its parent is mis-
apprehension, and its offspring error. 1t is
ever true to its nature, aud gives as much ua-
happiness to the one who possesses it, as it
yields injury to the one against whom it is d.
rected. 1t is untiring in its labor, and ardent
ly strives to bring all real. or fanc!ed opposi-
ton in tact obcisance to its mutinous wishes.
1t knows no limit save the qualification of its
turbulent spirit, and often snends its energy to
absolute fatigue in empty efforts to reach the
bubbles of its conceit it opposes opinions Tor
the sake of getting at the person, and no cir
cumstance delights it more than to have its
victim writbing in hel pless1ess at its feet. 1t
has no conscience; and that which it considers
heinous in opposing influences, becomes sanctl-
fed when adopted by it to further its ends. If
it has any regret IN consequence OF Its course, 1t
is occasoncd by the reflection that it had not
used harsher means to compass its purpose;and
when successful, it goes on to hunt other food
to appease its morbid appetite. Before one is
aware of it, it fixes itself upon his mind and
causes him TO make opposition to crcumstan-
ces with which he ia but little familiar.
SO prone arc the passions to excess, and so
imperfect is the reception of moral prccepts,
that very few are Tree from the sway of preju-
dice; anu almost every individual has either
et or displayed its influence Its force is not
10 sustain cGrdiallty, but to bcgct strife; and
not being content with its own rights, ,endeavors
to couple the grandcst truths with the most
absurd errors, in order to bring the steps OF
others to the narrow limits OF its selfish dictates
. 1t elects souc defect OF character or theme,
and separating it from its modifying surround.
ings, holds it before the gaze OF the public to
deludc the ignorant, and to catch the attention
OF the thoughtless; for it is not willing to accept
the relations OF lite as they are, and must ever
be, but hopes 10y chimerica reasoning to induce
mankind to select wrong instead Of right, and
iaIsehood instead OF truth.
1t mcGltates devices horrible even to dream
Of. and nurses its sccrc' !ongtnrs uri'll tney 40
generate into knte. 1t seeks it's pahulu,n IN
that creduliiy which the heart cvinccS 10y
ready adoption nf any representation That
caters to its evil propensilies, aud knows that
the will is determined Just as it. is iuchned, and
that passion readily accepts es true, any p'ausi-
bic description of the condition OF on otJoct
which it hopes to realize, and dlSdaniully re-
fuses TO entertain any appeal of q TACT opposed
10 its pre- conceived notions.
The mind shows wonderful aptltud. for de
ception, and the refusal to investigate every
subject Of interest, and reduce it to It's cgitl-
mate worth, generates. 10 all It's detormlty, inc
fearful amount of confusion which is every day
observed in the workings OF the various syS-
tens of religion and politics, but men will not
dive.t their feelings of prejudice, and history
abounds in examples OF its evil doiDgs. 1t ar.
rays church against church, and State against
State. and embttcrs the members OF society
so much against each other, that the phlloso
pher almost concludes that civilization Is moth
ing more than perfected scheme whereby the
respective classes of mankind arc brought TO
perpetuate scientific warfare OF spleen, hate
and opposition, towards each other.
Example is power. aud he who has the guild
ance of the wills of those who are controlled by
his influence, has fearful responsibility rest
ing upon him; for the dcceiver is more cu'p-
able than thc deceived, and he who devotes
his tiuc, talent or position to the creation OF
prejudlce, is much more repreheuslbic lhan ne
who is decoyed by its Establishments. The
good of mans lite is measured by the evil
which he prevents. and however ample the
e.,
should never commit, or induce others to essay
any set that will be shameful to manhood, ln-
furious to honor, or detrimental to his neigh
Dor. The bosom of right.thlnkiog man,
forms the best code for tho guidance OF his
conduct; and when he looks down into his own
breast and sees there the happy play OF hls
passions, he will not idly or mallcously, 90
ought that vii! add to another's pain; tor ne
knows the wall of helpless infancy, and the
Sroan of weary age. tell too plainly, that lie 3
very best, is but paGtivcness from the cradle
TO tho grave, and that the pleasure OF exlS-
tcnce is but momentary remission OF mental
or physical pain.
THE QUESTION SETTLED. The Norfolk
Journal not long ago Inquired :he origin OF the
phrase, "gone where the woodbine twincth.
We informed it that Jim Fisk, Jr., was the
author Of; Dom Piatt now tells how Fisk
happened TO use it, We quote from his last
letter TO the Cincinnati Commercial:
by tho by, my genial friend, the Hon. ).
S. Cox tells me of the origin of that mysterl
Gus bnt somewhat famous expression.
"What the devil, jim, he asked one day,
did you mean by the place where tho wood
bine twineth ?''
"Well l'll tell you Colonel. You see was
before that learned and dignitied tody, the
Committee on Banking and Currency, and when
Garfield asked me where tho money got by
Corhin went to, | could not make a vulgar reply
and say up spout, hut observing, while ped
ding through New England, that every spout
of house or cottage had a woodbine twining
about it, said, naturally enough, where the
woodbiDe twinctb. That is all, 1t seems the
Congressional cheese wakes did not understand
my delcacy nor my delicate auslon. "-Rich.
Dispatch.
On Friday last difficulty occurred in
Acorn county, Miss, between two brothers
named Nichols, during which DR.. E. N.
Nichols was twice wounded, when Mr.. Slope,
a brothcr-in law, nterIcrcd to stop the diftcul
.v, and was shot and instantly killed by W. H.
Nichols, who was arrested and committed.
In Gclt county, Arkansas, last week, boy
named Butler aged IA, shot and Instantly XIII
ed is brothers. bride, who had just arrived.