Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-02-18
ENEMIES.

F.. InGIC NlC wy AS |
through life without making some enc
mics. The man who never had one
and who knows nothing Of antaSo-
nisms, Is usually Of 4 feeble character
and i~rresolute will. and not unfre-
ouently Is incapable Of forming a firm
friendship or of carrying out with
vigor any settled purpose in life. 1t Is
true that this fact is due to the actual
presence of wrong In the world. Were
all men equally bent on doing right,
and equally gifted with wisdom to dis
err that right, friendly relations
alone would ensue; but so long as good
and evil coexist in the world, so long
must there be conflict and antagonlsm.
Still, although We may regard enemies
of some sort rs IN 4 measure inevitable
in our present imperfect state, we
should ever bear In mind that the iact
proves beyond all question the actual
presence OF wrong somewhere, and that
it also implies a duty for each to aim
at It's eradication. II we must have
enemies, let US ut least know the origin
of their enmity, and learn how to fulfill
the difficult duties that such relations
demand. Since all enmity necessarily
involves wrong, II first step is to dis
cover where the wrong lies. Every
wrong act, In proportion to its cnlpa-
hility, disturbs the harmony OF the
laws by which the universe is governed
and places its doer in a~ntagonism With
the good. II, then, we can trace any
thing wrong In ourselves rs the cause
Of the luminosity of Others, the hrst
step is to free ourselves from rhat posi-
ton. Even If We only half suspect
TINT some word or act Of r has
awakened enmity, we should promptly
and courageously remove all suspicion
of wrong on Il side by acknowledge
ment and PREPARATION. 1t Is seldom the
case that cnmity exists all OH one side.
Generally both parties share the feel
ing and partake of the guilt, and it Is
Of the first importance that we should
seek out our portion, and, by frank
acknowledgment, place ourselves i'll a
true position. TO conquer u enemies
implies the conquest Of wrong, wler-
ever it may lie, and it Is evidently tit
ting that this work should begin at our
own doors. 4 false pride, that pre-
vents the acknowledgment Of wrong
when we are conscious of 1t. Is but a
counterfeit courage, that is the origin
of much of the enmiry existing in the
world. On the other hand, we should
equally avoid a cowardly submissive
ness of s%pirit-that IL, Indifferent to
ones own rights, and even TO right
itself. When once convinced that no
IL Of enmity resides in u own
breasts, or when we have made COM
plete acknowledgment and reparation
for all that may have existed, 4 true
courage and ~seif-rcspect demand TINT
we should no longer fear any consc-
quences that may result. o yet sub
init from faint-heartedness to what is
wrong To wrong Of every shade, and
In every place, whether in ourselves or
in Others, we ought to maintain q firm
aud unbleuching opposition, and when
We shrink from antagonism to evil, we
have lost all true heroism. There are
occasions where the simple persever-
ance in right doing, coming in contact
with the evil deeds of bad men, will
awaken their animosity, and convert
them into enemies. Thus, 4 young
man frequently makes enemies by re-
flsing to join in vicious indulgences,
or to aid in some enterprise which his
conscience diSapproyes. In such n COLI
flict right must finally triumph, and he
who eSpouses its cause, though he may
be called OH to suffer for n time, will,
if he ~perseveres, reap n rich reward in
the approval of his w conscience and
the development of his better nature.
Such enemies are not to be feared.
Their censurc Is more to he desired
than their praise. They may, however,
he conquered by the force OF n virtuous
example, and won yer to better paths
by witnessing the steady adherence to
right of those who resist their influence.
IL Is said truly that the success Of 4
campaign can only be determined
when peace is concluded. So Il sue
cess in conquerlng our enemies must
he measured by the thoroughness OF
the reconciliation that follows. We
cannot be said to have overcome until
we have conquered the enmity In the
hearts of our foes. Love alone 4 do
this. Not Il cringing attachment that
~forfeits all rights and loses all self
respect for the sake of peace, but Il
noble and true love that shall pervade
the soul, eXaiting amt purifying the
whole nature. 1t may seem at first
sight that the command to Glove our
enemies Is n hard If not impracticable
one, but if we will a~ssiduously cult
vate the love of right and truth. spar
ing not ourselves, but acknowledging
faults, repairing errors, making reSti-
tuition for injuries, and seeking TO pro
mote good both in ourselves and in
Others, that love which now seems
almost impossible will well up in IL
hearts aud eiiectually conquer all tie
enmity that can be brought to bear
against Us.
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