Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-09-17
LOVE FOR

lul 10 tilOSc WIZ uiu Us, W LlOuoi SChiuS
and worth; but to respect all men, to
love the unworthy and to esteem those
Of whom we are ignorant, seems so
impractical an undertaking, that we
shrink from attempting it. Were this
the case, however, 1t would at once
cease to be a duty, as nothing Is ever
required of us which we caunot per-
form; and it Is therefore important
that the ground Of this obligation
should be examined. 1t Is true that
we have no direct control over our
affections. No effort of the will can
compel the heart to love. That emo
ton must be involuntary, and its whole
value is in its spontaneity. Yet this
does not absolve US from the obligation.
There are duties which, If performed,
will so act upon the affections as to
create the love that is due and 1t Is IN
these indirect but efficient methods
that the means of fulfilling this obliga-
ton are found. In the family, If love
between parents and children or
brothers and sisters fails to warm and
elevate, It Il because the duties are not
performed that belong to the various
relations of the household. Let these
be conscientiously fulfilled, and the
affection which was DISTRACTED by
.~elfishness will flow In rich streams,
enuobling every life. SO with the love
that we owe to other, though We cam
not BY any volition call it into exist
eEce, yet by carefully observing the
duties that belong to the relation
whether 1t be that of neighbor, friend
or fellow Standardization will surely
follow. Equally does this truth apply
to the love we owe to humanity a
large. The bond of union between
man and man is that OF mutual respect
and there are two courses which, l
carefully observed, will implant within
Us that respect for every human being
which Is the foundation OF the love We
owe to humanity. One Of these Is
consideration of the real greatness o
human nature; the other n performs
ance Of all the acts Of kindness ant
GOOD will that are within our power
One need of our times is the appre
citation of tue real worth Of man. Th'
honor so generally accorded to grea
men is apt to be at the expense Of al
Others, but, rightly regarded, thes'
would cxalt our estimate Of the who'll
race. as showing some glimpses Of tn
power which exists IN 1t, and may b.
developed to far greater extent. w
reverence childhood because it contain
the germs ofall that Is noble in man, ant
we should likewise honor every man a
holding within him the principle o
growth, which in its further develop
ments 20 greatly excites our admira
ton. The sense of duty, the power o
discerning and choosing between righ'
and wrong, is the highest faculty o
which we can conceive, and may vel
serve to bind us in a common brother
hood. Before this great and universe
possession all distinctions Of wealth
or greatness will fade. Such reflec
lions, If cherished, and carried out
cannot fail to inspire 4 respect for hi
mainly, that will prove a fruitful
source Of the love which we owe t
our G But there Is another ant
more potent means Of Strengthening
that affection, which consists in activ'
efforts for the good Of all. Probabl.
there is no one who fully exerts all tn
power he possesses in any direction
but in the way Of benefitting our race
We all come greatly short of our pos
sibilities. Those Immediately aroun'
us claim our first regard, and the du
ties of friendship and citizenship bring
their own reward. But We also have
obligations towards those far yemoret
from us by distance and by character
Where our presence cannot SO, oul
charities may, and the spirit OF philan'
thropy knows no limit Of space. Es
pecially to those who may seem t.
have forfeited their claim to u regart
by their misdeeds, do We owe duties
which, II fulfilled, will excite within
us the sentiments Of compassion ant
love. Virtue is like n ladder, upoi
which all who are above should lend
helping hand to those below. Thu
spirit Of love for humanity will enabl
us to exert 4 power In raising tn
fallen or aiding the destitute, that cal
never be put forth by those who loo
downNnpon them with naughty supe
rio,ity. This respect and love for hu
manity will he a great means Of devel
oping and improving the race and i'll
creasing its happiness.