The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-06
Ones Self.
[ From the Sunday News. !


From the Sunday News.]
a recent number of the Spectator
contains paper entitled "Scepticism
About Ones Self" in which the
writer touches lightly upon that phase
Of scepticism in itself, but enlarges
upon it in its relation to the rightful-
ness Of the various positions in life in
which We find ourselves either by
birth, chance, or deliberate choice. It
is evident that his reflections were sug-
gested by the eXordinary action of the
Emperor Pedro in resigning his crown
without demur upon the first intima-
ton that his people would prefer to
govern themselves; for he dwells at
some length upon the moral cowardice
of those who shrink from a duty be-
cause it has grown dlstasteful to them,
or because the fllfilment of it may be
disagreeable or disastrous to others.
1t is clear that the divine right of
Kings is not a subject casable of being
discussed satisfactorily even within the
limits of magazine article, so that we
need not enter upon it here. We may
remark in passing, however, that there
is not much indication that any others
of the present reigning sovereigns Of
the world are afflicted with scepticism
regarding their right to rule, nor have
they the slightest intention of following
Dom Pedro's example. Some enter
prising and iron-nerved tourist should
interview the Emperor of Germany on
the subject if he doubts this.
But there is small kingdom called
"Self," and each one of US has been
born with the right Of governing it,
without accountability to any one ex-
cept Him from whom we derive that
authority. Now, if il be moral coward
ice for man to decline to rule ten mil
lions of unwilling fellow-men, it is far
more blamable to lay down a heaven
given crown and sceptre because we are
weary of them, or to bestow them upon
another binding our prime minister,
conscience, and laying him captive at
the usurper's feet. And yet this is
what the greater part Of the human
race is always doing, either consciously
or unconsciously. They find the bur-
den Of self-government too heavy, and
so they look around for some person or
some institution to relieve them of it,
and when thep find one man who ap-
preciates his rights and is resolved to
maintain them, regulating his actions
by the aid of conscience and reason,
the whole race Of usurpers cry out
against hinl,as dangerous person, and
a pernicious example to others.
But, laying aside allegory, this seep-
ticism about our own ability to see,
and judge, and act for ourselves is
most enervating in it's effect upon
character. No great deed in the worlds
history was ever performed by a man
VINO was doubtful of himself; no great
battle was ever won by general who
waited to ask for opinions as to how its
details were to be carried out. Had
Luther been Melancthon the Reforma-
ton would not have taken place at
that time. And as in great things, so
in small, lack of independence and of
self-reliance must always be inimical
to ones success in life.
Although it must be admitted that
there is still sufficient amount of pre-
sumption and self.control in the world,
and that there is no difficulty in NAM
ing scores of men who have an abiding
faith in their own ability to fill any
Office from President down, yet there
are many in high positions and places
of great responsibility who are con-
stantly troubled by doubts as to
whether they are fulfilling their duties
as they should fulfil them. When the
occasion requires these same men, for
getting self, act with decision and
judgment, but the moment the crisis
is past they fall back into their scepti-
cism, doubt whether their action was
the right one, and becomes as depend
ent as children on the praise and ap-
proval of these among their friends
whose commentators are of any
value. TO such as these Burns much
hackneyed couplet:
80 wad some power the giftie gle US
TO see oursel's as others see usn'
might we'll be applied, not, however,
that they might learn their own weak
ness, but their strength, and so gain
courage and self-reliance from the
knowledge.
1t may be doubted, even if we could
''see ourseis as others see u.s." whether
we would recognise the portrait, so
greatly must it differ from the self
with which We are acquainted. Have
we not all experienced at times the
strange sensation that we are saying or
doing things almost without our voli-
ton, and that surprise US almost as
much as if they had been said or done
by a stranger? Psychologists tell US
that the entire body undergoes a
change every seven years, and the
same might be said with equal truth of
the mind. five look back at the pages
of an old diary, or re-read the letters we