Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-01-14
NEW SERIES--V0L. Is, NO. 8.

/ will say just here, that after listen.
ing to the very learned and classical
lecture of DR.. Cattell on last night, and
in view of your anxiety 10 hear the
distinguished gentleman who is to sue
coed me, ! can scarcely hopc to inter-
est you as l would desire.
Public opinion, as We understand it,
is that verdict which the people render
on any question before them. II is
the conclusion at which they arrive
upon any question ofpublic or general
interest. know there is diversity
Of opinion very often on the same sub
ject, but in all these cases tbero is q
settlcd conviction fixes itself upon the
public mind, to which expression is
given in the general speech Of the
people. This we call pupic opinion.
You ask me then, after such defini-
ton as this, can public opinion ever
bc wrong? will endeavor to answer
this question, and show the influence
exerted by this opinion on classes and
individual character, and point out The
remedy.
First, It must be observed that
there is a marked distinction between
public opinion in its general acccpta-
ton, and what we may term the pre-
uailing opinion in community. Now,
we are all, in great degree, creatures
OF imitation. The teacher under
stands this fully when he takes a lit
tic child that does not know one letter
from another. He points to a charac-
ter and says that is A-the child says
il is A. The child does not know what
A is, but it initiates the teacher in CIV
ing the sound of the letter And SO
| it learns to read in the same way-by
imitation. If the teacher mispro-
nounce word, the child will do the
same thing, and wo never get rid of
this spirit of imitation. We grow up
10 manhood and we find our beau
ideals all around US. Ii the persons
whom we initiate be mistaken in
their views of things, we fall into the
same error. Now, in every communi-
ty, and State and country, there are
men whom we call leading spirits.
These are our models; we follow after
them we initiate them; we defer to
their superior wisdom. They enter
tain the prevailing opinion. Now, if
they be mistaken, how soon does public
opinion give way and become per-
yerted? Who can account for the de-
cay OF public morals, the decline OF pub
lie virtue and faded patriotism upon
any other hypothesis than this2 The
men who moulded public opinion be-
came morcenary and corrupt, and from
this prolific source flowed forth the
poisonous streams which laved the
whole body polite in its polluted
food, until today we stand before the
world as q nation Of corruptlonists
Hence, | conclude that at given time
public opinion may be entirely health
| iul, but at some subsequent time II may
be most basely perverted and diseased
by the simplest means or tho meresl
accident. AT this momcnt, | may be
entirely free from excitement. have
full and free control of my reasoning
faculties. Ny Judgment under such
circumstances may challenge your
respect. But, walk forth from this
presence aud engage in quarrel.
become excited and all the baser pas
sions of my nature are aroused. What
reason is there in me then I What il
my judgement worth under such cir
cums.ances The public mind, as O
general rule, ! know is reasonable
But what reason is there 10 the
excited mobg What is true Of me
and the mob is true of the entire pub
lic mind, placed in the same situation
The mob is but public opinion on the
rampagel Let me illustrate, II l can
what mean.
A man-of-war of foreign nation
meets q vessel on the high sea, cnrry.
ing the American flag The former
sends shot across the bow Of the lat.
ter, and brings her to and captures
: her The most brutal ostrages, which
shock humanity, are inflicted without
mercy on the ill-fated crew. With
one spontaneous outburst of indigna
ton, the public mind is innamed &c
the highest degree. Pnbic opinion
cries in thunder tones, war, blood
revenge! The national flag has beer
insulted the honor of the nation mus
be preserved. But the preraiiing opin
ion says: peace, be still. The Pres,
, dent and his advisers see different
and Just as honorable mode of redress
, and The whole matter is honorably anc
, pcaceably adjusted. Where is public
! opinion now2 What is its judgment
; worth 7 Peace, like an angel OF light
D smiles upon the land hearts, wounded
and bleeding at the loss Of the mur
: dcred dead, are not multiplied by war
r the national honor has been maintain
: ed, and the stars and the stripes of ou
, national banner, as they grow bright
: or and brighter beneath the. blessed
, influences Of peace, command the re
: speot and challenge tho admiration o
0 the world.
+, | take another instance from tn,
history of our own country. A few
years ago there existed in many Of th
States an institution that public opin
ion, as expressed at the polls, said wa
! right, or at least should not be inter
fered with / refer TO the institution
! OF slavery. For many years this wa
the great political issue, and the part,
+ that endorsed IL was successful But
meanwhile, men like Wendell Phillip
and Thaddeus Stovens--men Of gigan
tic intelleots, but fear with mistaken
views on many subjects, were educat
!, ing the public mind to think IL wa
wrong. AT last the great political bat
j tie Of Armageddon was fought. Abra
L ham Lincoln was elected President Q
tho United States; the anti-slaver,
/. sentiment prevailed I; war cnsued, an
o one bright morning on the frat day G
r January, 1868, the shackles fell fror
!. four million slaves as II touched b.
Y tho wand of magic, and thus they hav
remained ever since; and today tn
:. marty, that rnuld m ak n tho re. az AIN vc