The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-10-03
l. ID UnchArltabIa
SABBATH EVENING, Sept. 30, 1873.

Editor Hcrdld-How strange the times
and how wonderfully altered In the
last two weeks. Then all our popula-
ton were cheerful aud in q measure
suffering no apprehenlons OF the fever
or plague which is yastating the un-
happy South.
Now fear and alarm sits on every
cOuntenance. The trains from the
South no longer stop here aud from
the West are not permitted to approach
the city nearer than a mile; guards
being stationed around tile town as in
time Of war TO wara strangers of, and
If from the infected Districts to prevent
their entrance. Thousands have fed
and are still fleeing from Chattanooga
TO the mountains, hills and highlands,
ms well as to neighboring towns and
cities; but they are not permitted to
come here. Is this meanness in us,
uncharltable, or is 1t a duty w W to
the helpless poor and the women and
children in our own care and who look
to us for protection and the means Of
support? The action of our people is
based OH what is termed the law of self
preservation. Ii Is the same mention
ed in the law books where it is stated
that If two men be cast into the sea and
they both get on one plank which will
not support both, in which case either
has the right to take the plank from
the other to save his own life. But the
supreme law of Christian charity says
we must do unto others as we would
have others do unto us.
Now suppose we were in the affected
district-had remained there for many
days after it had been declared an epi-
demic and supposed to be in the very
air we breathed, and then suppose we
should start out to seek a place outside
of the district not knowing but we
might have the seeds of the disease in
our w system and in our clothing,
would we really desire to go into the
family of same dear friend or relative ?
TO put the case a little stronger, sup
pose a married man whose family lived
in a distant city not affected, had re-
maiEed IN the midst of the epidemic all
this time and should leave the city,
would he in such uncertainty go di-
rectly into the bosom of his family?
All will agree with me that If he was Il
MAJ having 2 proper regard for his
family he would remain away till he
was sure he could go 20 them without
endangcring their lives. All will
agree that such would be his duty.
Then if we would not go to the family
of q dear friend nor to our own fami-
lies under such circumstances. we
could not expect others to receive us
when we would not have our own
family receive us.
Then the action of our people is jus
titled both by the first Law of our ma
ture, and is sanctioned by the law of
morals and Christian charity.
But it may be said it would be a
hardship in some cases. This is readi-
Iy admitted. Many people in Chatta-
noOga for instance may have friends
and relatives in Cleveland who would
willingly receive them if permitted.
And here is where the apparent hard
ship comes in. They may have no 9TH
er place to go to, and ifnOt permitted
to come here they may take the fever
and die, whereas if permitted to come
they might escape. If they and those
particular friends were alone to be af-
ected, then society for the protection
of which laws are made, would have
no right TO interfere. But this law Of
nature demands that the desires and
wishes of the few must give way in
order to protect the many. Thus
while A willingly receives b into his
family because of his relationship, yet
he has no right to expose society to a
great danger in order to accommodate
his friend. Ard that friend has no
right to expect it after %incurring the
danger he has. CITIZEN.