The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-03
YloraI geadine.


Not only in the discussions Of philoso-
pliers, but in the minds Of all thoughtful
persons, has the question at times arisen,
observation-disclosures was based upon virtue,
or virtue upon intelligence; whether the
minds clear insight into truth and duty
will infuse them into the heart and life, Or
whether the sincere love Of goodness and
its habitual practice win ensure true opfn-
ions and just Judgments. On the one
hand it is urged that al sin Is only folly
only mistaken means Of following the
same end that righteousness pusues-thaf
IS happiness; and, that If we could but con :
vince men Of their mistakes and show
them the direct road to what they seek,
we should at once establish pure morali-
". According to this system, character
should always conform 10 intellect. The
man with the clearest head, the strongest
reasoning powers, the best faculty Of dis.
elimination and judgment, and the highest
culture, would always possess the pnrest
impulses and exhibit the most upright life.
while the most ignorant man In the com
nlnnity would ever be its greatest villain.
10 convince the understanding would be
equlssien. % reforming the ilfe, and the
ohly ioes ior man 70 resist would be ignor-
ance ana error.
rac's, however, 90 mot seem to confirm
.nls tneory. virtue does not always fol.
low .ho"ieoge' nor wee always attend
upon ignorance. oome VINO lead sincere
anu pure llle are yet me Victims of gross
s.rV's, #nhe some with intelhgent and
nighly cultured minds sink into degrading
vice : 5 q crimes, ~ y patent % all that the
" .l'hu snu lhe heaft 40 not always travel
,ns uv 1alie ,oau or arrive a. the same goal
mhoeser has tr,ea % reform the ev'i habits
q men ~ simple appeals 70 Their reason
w. ~. .haI tnere u something which
Dames ,hel, enor's. iney may show the
lnises ciesrly the ioiy OF asarice, without
nlAAing MN generous tney may convince
'ne sensua,isl OF tne impeciliiy OF his
Touise m''hou. making MN temperate
lnueeu' .ne tyranny q esl passions Tar
ol'enel Diinds ana peryerts the reason and
sa'p' .ne Juusincns in'o M attempted De-
ienos :. ls praeuces .n,n yields g the
cOnelus,ohs ~ ~ cam ana ae'iDeraie thought
on ,ne o1'ler manu- l1e opposise extreme
= ~ ieas erroneous. II virtue aoes not
aMsys spring from il'eiiigence, neither Is
,1'eliisenoe Is Always .he rum On virtue.
a kno"iecfe eanno. q i'seii produce ex-
csneuee y me- he'1nsr can righteousness
alone produce knowledge Il great
l. nlssAAe - suppose 'ha' ,o cohtfoi me ae-
sires ana 70 reform tne napits WIN alone
give samcient mental sigor ana intelli-
genee-,na1 y we only ao rlgnt, if - no
~ mater ~Ia' We .h'nk OF now We reason.
Z, ~ We nave seen, 70 NHo,o' does not a.
Ways IMPLY % 40, neither does doing al.
wAys ipciuoe knowing Inc truth would
= sesm y. = emolace Do,n .nese 1neories an
'ne'r essence, pu. neither N their extremes,
ana certainty neither 70 the exclusion Of
.ne oIner. lnteiiigence ana virtue are not
als'ineu.ely cause ana enect. Inc former
y no. punt upon the latter, nor Is the lat
.eI S.,, 'ne simple outcome OF the former.
pun 'ney are aepenoen. eaen upon tne
o.nef' u no. ior tner existence, yet for
tner perfection Ihey are twin sisters,
VINO alooP Wnen separated. Inc mind
nee9s 'ne heai' 70 inspire ~ tne heart
neeos ,ne mind 70 eniignten y, and the
,are us: wll pc .ne spoken language o. both.
msoom can only De truly wise o It seeks
.ne comPanionsnip oi virtue. ana virtue
can oniy De 'fu'y e1ceilen' as y asslmllates