Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-05-02
uMAH POWER OF CHOICE.

The idea that freedom from external
restraint confers upon men an unlim-
tied power Of choice, Is one which,
though plausible, Is fa%llaciou:. Al
though every conscious restriction De
removed, and no visible agent have
power to interfere with a single deci-
sion. yet ordinary life throws around
our choices so many limitations ana
restrictions, that but few opportuni-
ties occur for the perfect freedom OF
choice that is the boast OF so many.
The young man, about to select an
occupation, believes that his exemp-
ton from external control sets MIN
free to choose, from all the pursuits Of
men, m one. he may prefer. But he
aoon finds that his own various def
ciencies, want Of means or influence,
and opposing circumstances, shut him
out from many avocations as effectually
as could any external authority. His
choice Is thus narrowed down to a very
few, and even between these, it is fire.
quently the case that events and not
his own determination at last decide.
In the expenditure of money, though
We may submit to no dictation, we yet
find our choices limited at every step
by our necessities, by the various
claims of family and society, by the
obligations that press upon US. The
same Is true when we think to choose
our society, location, habits or opin-
ions. A thousand barriers arise on
every side to curtail within narrow
limits our power Of choice, and often
to compel us into paths we had never
expectedto tread. In marriage, though
no outside influence may be brought
to bear on either. party, the truest
union Is not where a cool, disposition
ate choice can decide, but rather where
the affections compel the bond. In
literature, the author can seldom
choose the subject Of his book. His
previous studies and habits Of thought
have already decided it for him. One
theme fills his mind, and that alone
can command his pen. Even in mat
tiers of tritling importance, where ii
would seem that free will alone can
accept or reject, we still find limita-
lions continually hedging us in, and
affording at last but a narrow
scope for choice. 1t is right for man.
kind that this should be so. Those
who do not recognize the natural
restrictions which limit this power,
who are vain Of their supposed liberty,
and anxious to exhibit 1t, seldom
choose wisely. A morbid desire tc
assert freedom Of choice often results
in the most vascillating indecision o.
mind. Such persons frequently de
liberate painfully on tritling matters
because they attach so undue an I'M
portance to the. act of choosing: while
in graver matters, lacking the judg'
ment necessary to form right decisions,
they choose hastily and mwisely,
Those who exercise the most reason
and wisdom in the decisions they are
called upon to make are the first to
discover how few and how greatly
limited these choices are. 10 show
to the world that we possess an unre-
stricted power OF free choice is a small
matter, and one neither desirable MOI
attainable. But to secure the necessary
habits of mind for choosing wisely and
well-the trained judgment, the firm
principle, the clear perception of right
this is a work worthy the best efforts,
Choices are rather results Of character
than acts Of free will, and the respon.
sibility that rests upon them belongs
more strictly to past habits than to
actual decisions. In matters Of i'm
portance, the judicious and conscien-
tious man knows that his grounds OF
decision do not lie upon the surface.
To hold the Judgment absolutely in
suspense until the entire points Of the
case have been carefully reviewed, is
an indispensable necessity where grave
matters demand our choice. Yet there
are occasions when all may depend OH
the promptness Of \ decision. Every
captain Of a ship or general of an
army, every one who meets danger
face to face, knows the value Of
promptness. When We reflect OH the
weighty issues that may hang upon our
decisions, and upon limited ability
to make them wisely, we may gladly
and gratefully accept the limitations
Of our power, desiring no o re-
sponsibility than falls to u share.
At the same time it should be the aim
Of every one to train himself in such
mental and moral habits as shall en-
able him, when duty presses for a
decision, promptly, judiciously and
conscientiously to choose the good and
refuse the evil.
SAMPLE FROM A MODEL Or