Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-18
A LiberalIzing Element Needed In
Society.

Livery INDIVIDUAL possesseS
social character. Each one seeks the 30
ciety of his kind, and the heart yearns fol
the sympathy of a kindred heart. 1t il
through the social element in human
nature, that very large proportion of the
real improvements in the hearts and lives
of men are effected, and through the same
medium they are depraved and society
corrupted. ..
In the society of the present era there
Is much GOODNESS and Indifference exist.
ing between individuals of both sexes, il
not downright enmity and ill-will, grow.
ing out of the artificial distinctions of So
ciety. Much, if not most of this, undoubt-
eddy, Is to be attributed to their want Of
acquaintance with, and a proper under
standing of each others real motives and
feelings Separated from one another in
their social relations, and oftentimes
viewing each other through the mists OF
party or religious prejudice, or the worlds
scandal, the eye becomes fixed almost en-
tirely upon the defects or shortcomings
there may appear to be in the individual
manner, habits and principles. The Of
fensive in the man alone attracts our at
tention. As consequence they become
magnified and exaggerated so that mole
hill appears a mountain, while all the
better, more amiable and agreeable points
in the individuals character are entirely
overlooked and forgotten. In some in
stances the very virtues and excellenoies
Of men are distorted into vices in the eyes
of those viewing them through such q
false and deceptive medium.
To bring together men of different par
ties and scots and make them acquainted
with each others principles and feelings,
operates like the removal of film from
the eye of preiudice-it brings everything
to its true position. That such is the
effect of the association of men with their
fellowmen, and neigh5or with neighbor,
no one from observation can doubt. 1t is
only needful that men should become &C.
other. No matter how opposite the par
ties to which they may belong, or how
wide their differences of opinion, they
cannot help feeling an interest in each
other as men. Let the good and true men
of all scots and parties, trades and profess
sions, conditions and positions in society,
meet on a common level and become
acquainted with each other as men. The
rich and the poor, the merchant and me-
chsnic, the day laborer and professional
man, the farmer and the gentleman of
fortune should be brought to mingle to-
gether on terms of equality of feeling, and
80 receive one another wherever they may
meet.
1t is one OF the defects of our social
system that we are too much engaged in
the rush for loaves and fishes, and too
little inclined to cultivate our social re.
lations. We mingle with our fellowmen,
but it is in the hustle and confusion of
business. Intent upon some object, we
hurry past each other in the sharp contest
for gain. When the labor of the day is
over we sit down to count over our cent
per cent, and form plans for the morrow.
Possibly an hour may be spent with few
select friends, but they are individuals of
similar pursuits or similar political or re-
ligious opinions, and all the world beside
are as heathens or barbarians In con-
sequence society at large becomes unso-
cial, and the people bigots to a creed or
slaves to party.
Who is the sour-he arted bigot and par
titan, but the man who knows nothing of
the world save what he has learned from
his communion with his own sect or own
party. Who is the Ishmalite whose hand
is against every man, but he that in the
midst of the thronged world dwells in a
desert alone. 1t appears evident that
there is need of removing prejudice and
enlarging and liberalizing mems minds in
the present condition of society, SO that
men of various pursuits and different par
ties and scots may be brought together,
giving them fellow-feeling by uniting
them in one society interest. thus laying
the foundation of broader field of charity
and more extended field of social union.
This association of interest among men
tatters eff the rough corr ers of prejudice,
and the sharp features of hard faced big
otry is smoothed and softened. Men thus
learn that there is virtue in every party
and in every sect, and begin to indulge
more far-reaching and expanding feel
Jugs of sociability and humanity. The
reason is obvious: There grows up natu-
rally between individuals who commune
freely with each other, in free yet dig
nifiea association, feeling of unity of
spirit in action which cannot exist be.
tween men WHO merely jostle each other
in the crowd, or in the confusion of bust
ness.
II charity of feeling and goodwill to
our fellows and neiehbors, are worth |
possessing, it should always be remember
cd that they will not grow up aponta-
heously in the cloister of the monk or the
cell of the recluse. They must proceed
from or rather be drawn out by the social
principle of our individual natures, In
wide sense. Furious and vindictive
party-feelipg exists alone in the man who
associates with the kindred spirits of his
ewn party. Narrow minded and dark
browed religious bigotry, scowls most fu-
riously in the face Of the man who associ.
ates only with those of his own creed.
Let the one and the other come out from
the enclosure and mingle with votaries of
other parties and they will soon learn
that virtue is not confined to names and
their bigotry and acrimony will wear
away. They will be better men and bet
ter christians, for they will imbibe more
OF that fret and greatest Of ell eraces
charity toward others and be led to a