The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-05-23
self.Loye and Selflshness.

1t is generally supposed that selfshness is
only selflove running to seed. 1t is thought
that the natural affections which each man
bears to himself, and which all admit to be
necessary and right, if not controlled and kept
within strict limits, will swell, till finally be-
come
A monster of such frightful mien,
That to be hated needs but to be seen.
Most of the crusades against selfshness are
attempts to set the limits of self-loVe-to attix
the bounds beyond which it may not pass, and
to find the point where, as is said, it begins to
degenerate into selfshness This point will,
however, never be found, simply because the
two things do not run into one another, but are
distinct and really antagonistic in their nature
All admit that at least some amount OF self-love
is both inevitable and necessary. Our very ex.
istence depends upon it, and consequently all
our powers for good in any direction. But
what is self? WHO can define it? Who can
limit it9 1t is body and soul, matter and mind,
substance and spirit 1t includes sensations,
passions, desires, faculties, thoughts, powers,
IDEAS. will. affections, emotions, conscience.
Our conceptions of its possibilities and our
knowledge of its varieties are ever increasing,
and will continue to do so with very fresh in
sight into its mysteries. There is, however, an
aristocracy among these various portions
They must all be recognized and provided for,
but some are higher and some lower, and the
lower can only fulfill their true mission or at
tain their own perfection by ministering to
the higher. Thus the appetites are to be re-
spected in proportion as they subserve health
of body and clearness of mind; if they are
made an end and not means, they sink into
vice and produce degradation. So with all the
rest. Self-culture is the due apportioning and
regulating of these various parts, and true self
love is the spirit that induces such culture
The mistake that is made is in regarding self
as including only the lower nature, the appe-
tites, passions, and desires for pleasure or rich
es, or fame, or power. These, it is true, taken
alone, come often into conflict with the happi-
ness of others, but to love them is not to love
SELF but only small part of it, ard that part
the least worthy of honor. Macintosh says
"the weakness of the social affections, and the
strength of the private desires constitute sell
fshness," and true self-love will tend to
strengthen the affections and regulate the de-
sires, thus becoming itself powerful foe to
selfshness. There is no antagonism between
an enlightened self-love and pure benevo-
lence If their motives are distinct, their ef-
fects are similar. The command to love our
neighbor as ourselves imposes no limit on our
self-love. On the contrary, the increase of the
one necessitates the increase of the other. All
history shows that the permanent good of the
Individual is also that of the community, and
that of one nation is also that of the world
This truth is becoming recognized and acted
upon. Peaceful negotiations or arbitrations
are superceding the horrors of war, and the
most profitable commercial dealings are now
known to be those which recognize the com.
mon interest of both parties. The modern sys-
tenn of insurance we'll illustrates this law. The
heavy burdens which loss by fire. shipwrecb
and death infiict, are now shared by the many
instead of descending with crushing weight
upon the few-yet each man, both the insurer
and insured, enters into it for his own benefit
and his enlightened self-love makes him pub
lie benefactor.
We are indissolubly bound to one another
and no man is by himself complete or indepen'
dent Directly he regards himself so, he sac
rifces his own highest interests. We lean ano
depend on each other, we prune away each
others redundancies, and supply each others
deficiencies. Our affections are as truly OUR.
selves as our appetites, our social nature as oul
physical, our moral sense as our desires. In
deed 'ur higher natures are most truly our
selves and he who sacrifices them to anything
less worthy can not be said to have, in his full
meaning, an enlightened self-love. In this
large and true sense, selflove will lead US to be
Just and honorable in all our dealings, kind anc
faithful in all our intercourse, merciful anc
compassionate to the unfortunate, benefcicnt
to the needy, loving and true to our kindred
and friends. If man love not his neighbor
he can not truly love himself for he ignores hi
best and highest self, and only indulges in in
ferior nature at the expense, not only of hi:
neighbor's good, but also of his own.-Phita
delphia Ledger.