Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-06-04
81 EVENING NEWS.
rsyLu1No1 OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

There Is nothing In which we betray
greater inconsistency than In the diff
ferent estimates set upon the power Of
circumstances, when we review our
own failings and those Of our neigh
bors. In judging ourselves, the thought
quickly arises and finds frequent ex-
preston, that had our circumstances
been different, our lives would have
been more worthy. We believe our
lapses Of virtue and failings in duty to
be chiefly attributable to the external
surroundings that have been brought
to bear upon US, and thus palliate and
excuse our own faults, and shade them
from the strong light which would re-
veal their true deformity. But when
we discuss the sins Of others, how sel-
dom do we urge the same plea. we
are quite willing that their failings
should be seen. in their most repulsive
features, and forget to throw over them
that mantle of charity by which We
have 80 ingeniously sheltered our own
from censure. An earnest desire for
the improvement of mankind would
prompt US to reverse u standpoint OF
obversation. In the personal account
ability Of any individual, no circum-
stances, however pressing, can excuse
him for having failed to do the best he
could, and no one but himself is COM
petent to decide upon the extent Of his
possibilities. This knowledge that we
possess in regard to ourselves Is denied
US in reference to every other human
being. Each one may decide justly
that be could have resisted a tempta-
ton to which he yielded, or accom-
plished a duty which he shirked; but
he has no means Of equitably pro-
nouncing the same Judgment upon an
other. We can never fathom the de-
gree to which circumstances have pro-
duced and are perpetuating the wrongs
and errors against which we so loudly
declaim in our neighbors. In matters
Of opinion, whether Of a political,
social or religious nature, the world is
divided into parties, whose chief prin-
ciple sometimes appears to be antago-
nism. They view all things from a
single standpoint, and being themselves
conscientiously convinced Of the truth
they hold, fall into the grievous error
of supposing that their opponents
maintain opposite views in defiance of
their convictions, or at best utterly
neglect the means ut hand Of arriving
at truthful conclusions. Perhaps most
of the battles now waged against OPP
posing ideas, and the fierce contests
which divide and embitter men against
each other would be at an end, could
each side for a time change places, and
experience the effect which different
outside influences would produce. On
returning to their places they would be
more charitable, and while holding no
less firmly to their own convictions Of
truth, would accord to others the like
In estimating character,
this allowance for circumstances Is es-
sential to correctness. The same act
which may be meritorious in one, may
be disgraceful in another who has en-
joyed superior advantages. The poor
outcast, trained to nothing but to steal,
who, In q struggling effort to reform,
stands begging the pence that he for
merly pilfered, has taken n upward
step in his moral progress; but the
same act by another, who has been
brought up honestly, and who only
acts out a spiritless Incidence, would
be q downward step in degradation.
We cannot rightly judge Others, even
by the position they hold In the scale
of goodness, until we know whether
they are ascending or descending. 1t
Is not uncommon to witness lapses OF
in those who have hitherto COM
manded our respect for their upright
ness and honor. How common Is then
the cold look, the averted eye, the
harsh judgment that does not pause to
consider the temptations that must
have assailed, and the circumstances
that must have conspired to effect so
sad a fall. But until these are under
stood and appreciated, we are not fit
to pronounce upon the extent OF the
dereliction, nor car we feel any GER
tainty that In similar exigencies we
should not have fallen into similar sins.
To produce any effectual reformation,
this spirit Of charity Is essential. No
one can accomplish any true mission to
the tempted without approaching the
temptation. Those who have welded
the greatest moral power over the
hearts and lives Of men, have them
selves had strong and tender sympa-
thies. We are all in different ways
rising, falling and struggling, some
times gaining a noble victory, and at
other times suffering an ignoble de-
feat. When we remember how far we
fall short of what we might become,
we may gladly extend the helping
hand to those around, the extent Of
whose temptations we can never fully
know. While We may not boast of the
light that msy be portion, coming
as It has to US mainly through circum-
stances over which We have had little
control, neither may we too harshly
blame the evils deprecated in Others,
coming, as does the greater part, from
circumstances and surroundings equal
" beyond their influence.
THE great fire in Quebec, recently,
was only stopped by a sudden and
heavy fall of rain. The clerk Of the
weather must be a regular fire Jakey-
and knows how to "douse the giim',