New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-18

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tradicted falsehoods which, during seriel
Of years, have created this most pernicioul
fear.
USES AND ABUSES.
There is no fixed boundary between
uses and abuses. Our tastes, our habits
and our judgments, all depend largely or
the training We receive and the circum.
stances BY which We are surrounded.
Where use ends and abuse begins each
must determine for himself, but in arriv.
ing at this determination few, indeed, can
separate themselves from artificial GUS
toms and acquired inclinations and say
in the light of pure reason, $50 much is
beneficial and all beyond is injurious. "
Prejudice influences some, while the con-
illusions of others are warped by the
changeful fancies of fashion or caprice.
Then, again, as an old adage expresses it,
'swhat is one mans meat is another's
poison" Our discernment as we'll as our
inclinations disagree. That which appears
beautiful to one is not so to all; nor are
we more fully in accord in ethics than
esthedcs. Hence, that individuality
which, how strong soever the ties Of kin
ship may be manifested, affords not only
distinct sense Of personal identity, but
is peculiar in the characteristics Of its
selfhood, and marked by an instinct of
self-preservation which can not be felt in
its fullness except on ones own behalf.
The causes Of disagreement as to what
is useful and what is not, are therefore as
multiform as the varied mental, moral
and physical idiosyncrasies which mark
the individual characteristics of mankind.
But though it is impossible to arrive at
anything like unanimity Of sentiment in
matters Of opinion, or complete agree
ment on questions Of taste, yet popular
verdicts are made up on almost every is
sue presented by . rule similar to that
which obtains in the management Of our
political affairs, to Wit, the rule of the
majority. and though frequently unjust.
their enforcement is certain until public
opinion changes and reversal is secured.
There is, however, on many matters
pertaining to our daily lives domain of
uses concerning which but little Of pop
ular dispute is raised As in questions of
we know the right and ws approve it toe,
coodemn the wrong. aud yet the wrong pur sue.
The drunkard and the giutton know q
we'll that drunkenness and gluttony are
not beneficial, Is the slanderer and per-
loiner know that Islander and theft are
wrong. yet they Ill follow their perverse
until the hard teacher, Ex-
perience, and the avengers Of violated
aw, rise up in their paths for restraint or |
There Is keen satire in the remark that |
was given to man for the con-
Of his thoughts. In the subter-
uges Of diplomatic policy and the decep-
i've arts which fashion and courtesy
impose on polite society, it would indeed
ppear as if the concealment Of real
thoughts was the highest purpose aimed
t. Even the learned advocate, in his
evere efforts to make the worse appear
be better reason, and the guilty eli
Mt wronged victim of oppression,
y no means vindicates the ma
esty of language as the exponent
+ truth. Doubtless the advocate in
question could expatiate profoundly on
lrs. Giltedge's insincerity when she told
lrs. Shallow how well she looked, how
lad she was to see her, and what delight
would afford if she would make her
lists more frequent, and, Immediately
fter Mrs. Shadows departure, declaring
0 bosom friend that the aforesaid Mrs.
hallow was an ugly old witch; that she
adn't particle Of taste, and that her
bsence was tar better company than her
resence.
The advocate is keen in the perception
f notes in his neighbors' eyes, while the
cams in his own are overlooked. It is
oubtless very naughty in Mrs. Giltedge
. talk as she does of her "dear friend"
Irs. Shallow, but the consequences are
compared with the great
'rongs done to society by the able mem.
er of the bar, un der cover Of his profess
onal mantle.
Thus, when We look fairly into the
natter, it is by no means difficult to per-
Give that language is subject to abuses
) well as uses. Though the airy struc-
Tres erected at the expense of truth are
II sand-based and liable to be swept
way by the fret onset of wind and wave,
bile truth itself, though crushed to
arth. will rise again, yet the facility with
hich fictions are created, and the easy
'edulity which accepts them, for time
least, in the place of facts, give to the
such advantages in their
oecial line that, like the poor, they will
ever be sought in vain in the crowded
relies of society. Among truly honest
aople language is devoted to honest
SEES; but the truly honest are unfor-
Inately in the minority, and even those
no would Indignantly repudiate the
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