Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-20
itCNMUNlC.tTED.

COMMUNICATED.
MISUNDERSTANDING By j. B. johnson. -
Misrepresentation is the knuveS refuge from
detection, and is the agency which he adopts
TO control the simple minded. and to circum-
vent the purposes of honesty. Although truth
finally prevails. ii seems even then, to be more
n. an assurance than reality; and, notwth,,
standing great many men have We'll iGrned
and ulI-sizcd hea Is, their minds appear to be
- irrauahc Of the high duties # reason, as
ar4~1hose OF infants; and they are constantly
erin. in their Judgment and acting absurdly.
IT, is upon such intellect> that the knave loves
10 practice his art, and tn make by ml*repre-
&rliiatinn, his deep alA miSchleyou$ impress
.ionS. Men are thus caused to be cold and u-
charitable towards each other and ncighbor IS
ar,avc,l against neighbnr in domestic tclldS. In
tins way is superind,ced all the lrregillar:.r Of
tha: iealollsly which arises in social and blHl
hess intercourse, and the amenities OF llte SO
>oulrd that popular anger sometimes burst
forth with Scowlng mien,t to threaten the safety
nt lite and property. Hence spacious field Is
ever afforded misrepresentation IT, present. IN
:: false light, the system which II desires To
establish, or destroy. 1t hi, instlgatcd many 4
long and tedious war, which, after rcgnlng for
had, at last to !,e adjusted, rs it ought to have
hecn prevented. by equity and truth. 1t vitiatcs
public opinion, and taintng the judicial pre-
roeativc, bases justice itself 1t fills the books
of travellers, not With the history Of things
AS thcr found them. but as they would like
them to be- 1t alheareS 50 tenaclously 10 the
minds OF some authors, that their writings are
nought but presentation of it's hideous images
Novels are replete with it; and probably, no
class OF books has done so much to scatter its
seed as works Of fiction. An author being
anxious to express his like or dislike OF a Gus
tom or law clothes his views in fascinating Ian
yuage to Geguile the unsuspectlng reason of
his readers by displaying his arguments and
theories in the form Of charming characters,
and thereby wins by fancy, that which he could
never have attained by plain statement Of
facts 1t perverts the use Of school-books by
Introducing subjects for study calculated to viii
ate the youthful mind; and in this way, prema-
ture opinions are so frequently and firmly form
ed, that lifetime is insufficient to erase them,
and which, too often, follow the individual, like
apparitions through life to narrow his senti-
mcnts. and exclude that liberal view of every
concern that the understanding is called upon
10 examine.
The popular mind is not untrequently abused
bv those who strive to PROPOSES 1t IN laVor OF
n pet theory or project, by taking from the
speeches and writings of great men, certain sen,
trn;.,,s or paragraphs to make it appear rs il
sustained in their plans by the weight OF I'M
nortant uames, but when the extracts so ad-
duccd, are put in conjunction with the
whole subject from which they were
taken, it is found that their meaning
and intent are entirely different from what they
appeared to be when separated from their coIl-
text. Many garbled extracts are thus traVeSc
tied in the discussion OF almost all questions OF
common interest, and their mlSdlrected use not
only ISLANDERS the fame OF the lndlyldual from
whose production they We're rlyen, but does Sc
rous hurt to the judgment OF those WHO are
unthiukingly decoyed by the device. Books
and tracts with highly wrought illustrations,
hnrdcn the tables Of periodical stores to enlist
the sympathy of the readers in behalf oi
themes that are discussed with as little regard
for truth. as the iugglcr uses to deceive the
rv,s of his crcdulous audience. Painting,
s,,inture aud drama. are proStltuted TO appeal
in on aggravated manner, to the passions, and
are often made the sources OF impressions IN
consistent with Il due respect Tor the Eeraclty
,f history. The Press is not gultlcsS: tor II
sometimes embarks in schemes which 1t knows
TO be false. and now and then, not only cspouSc>
the cause of those whom It knows to be treactl-
crous. but makes miSstatcmentS, which passing
uncoutradicted, become a chronology that cor
rupts the avenues whereby one generation COM
ml,nc;,tcS with another.
1t forms the sum of the pcacchuntcr po-
litical efforts and availing himScf of its accu-
mulated work makes it the b,sis of his party
expectations BY various notices and devices,
he breeds agitation, and brings i'll active opro-
sition the various interests oi commu-
nity. lie carries it with him to the halls
Of legislation. and there moulds it into
laws of prescription and lntolcrancc II
hurricS him on SO prcciiHtatcly, that he not only
minerals his own rights, but Is blinded "a such
,u extent aS tu regard those OF Others who dll-
fer with him in sentiment, aS unworthy OF the
SLIGHTEST considerations Tor when actuated by
;,s powcr, he can neither reach the attitude ol
IN. statesman, nor lend his endeavorS to the
conservatism of the different claims OF society.
Ue cannot direct hisvicws to the passage OF such
laws rs result in the greatest good t" the great
est number, but is moved III all nstancys Ir, hy
,bs one ;Ica of serving his end in the fultllment
nr;ts DESIGNS 1t forces him to favor even the
,vtorm;nation of those who deny the wisdom
n his measures and, forgetting duty, lie con
seuts to the supremacy of such exparte laws as
;onorc the rights and property of those IN OPP
nos;t;on to him. This is the most despicahle
and ruiuous variety of Misrepresentation: Tor
no who seeks by implied, or expressed obliga
ions n giyen position, having in its relations
tTa i Ie]esated powers, wishes aud interest OF
tbe neonle, and obtains trust embracing tor &
.,e .meclfic fi time special duties and uses the aI
vautages thus acquired to further his own s.,
fish and conceited plans irrespective, of the de-
sires and interest of those for whom he is sctns
nc ne nol;tical trustee, is always to be reprobated
"nd "d Is ike craceless mendicant who would
hv l n;teous pleas of poverty beg few pennies
tEom nth the hand of kindness, for the secret ,pur
nose r Of purchasing burning fagott, to apply, a
m p ,,nsuspected hour, to the temple of charity
Int extremes work their own balance, patience
growing restless under the pressure OF the
bunders of inexperence anu presumption
.hoI;ne of the burden of repeated wrong and
nsnlt places the agency that oppressed it, be
nn,th the terrible ban of its indignation.
IVERPOOL FINE SALT.