Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-02-11
MORAL COWARDICE.

epedro InaC every Ghlng can be found IN
his plays; and certainly the best de.
scription Of the newest intellectual
foible Of mankind is to be found there.
The native hue of resolution" was
never so ''sicklied DER with the pale
cast of thought as it is nowadays, when
skepticism attacks other things than
belief in theology. Not only have men
begun to doubt the creeds, and the &C.
cepted moralitics, and in certain num-
Der OF cases, the existence of q sentient
Creator; not only do they call on all in
situations to give valid reason for their
existence, but they are inclined to doubt
their own right to be or to act, to ques-
ton whether they are not themselves
mistaken, and to argue that it would be
either morally or intellectually wrong
to resist those who intend to sweep
them away. They have, to use popular
language, no confidence in their
own position" not on account of any
want in the position itself, but Of an
inner skcpticism either as to their capac-
ity to fill it, or more generally-sclf-
conceit showing no sign OF approaching
death-of the rightfulness or utility of
the position itself. 1t is usual, We
think, in our day to regard this condi-
ton Of mind rs rather fine one. Such
doubts, it is said, show an open mind,
capable Of sympathizing oven with oppo-
sition. If that is SO, it Is rare instance
of correct thought producing Weakness
for we may be sure that no man thus
skeptical of himselfhnd.the rightfulness
of his own position will ever do his
whole duty, especially that part Of it,
self-defense, which is often so essential;
but we question whether the condition
is admirable at all. There is, we fancy,
quite as much weakness as virtue in it,
or intellectual openness either. One
likes scntry to go on pacing, and not
to be so ready to argue with tho first
conner whether sentrics can be part Of
the divinel disappointed scheme. An in
capacity of fully believing is not /.
strength, but only sign of mind
which may in rare cases be strong, but
Is more often flabby and undecided. A
man may think his p "ition or occupa-
ton wrong, and then he is bound to
leave it: but If he does not think SO, he
should quell his doubts, and do the duty
he was set by Providence or his own
history to do. We should never blame
m officer for throwing up his commits
sion rather than command in war he
believed to be utterly unjust; but if he
does not believe that and only doubts
thatin commanding in war he is some
how out Of place, and intellectually a
little ridiculous, we should say lis
duty was to do tho work before him as
we'll as he knew how. We suppose it is
thought which produces these hcsita-
tions of our day. Shakespeare thought
SO, and he knew human nature as we
can not pretend to do; but it some
times occurs to us that it may not he
thought at all. There may he forms of
moral cowardice as independent
OF thought as physical COW
ardice is sometimes of tho
will, and almost as much EXEMPT
from responsibility. Men admire
strength, and have studied 1t, ana know
even how to generate it; but they have
been neither SO patient nor so observ-
ant about weakness. We suspect that
there are good many men like the
poet Cowper, who literally could not
face his position as clerk of the House
of Lords, and, long before his mind had
given way, threw it up in fit of self
distressing horror. That was not re-
suit OF thought at all, but, if he was
sane, of a weakness exactly correspond
ing in the mind to cowardice in tho
physical nature. 1t is quality to he
lamented over, and sometimes piticd;
but it is never praiseworthy Indeed,
it never is praised, except by those who
like its results, and who, desiring
change, see that under the operation of
this dread sponsibility. this uncertain
ty as to duty, this doubt whether any
thing bit remuneration can cvcr be right,
no static thing can exist. The man
who does not believe in his own func-
tions, he thry kings or bcadlc's. is ct.r-
tain to be partially useless, and though
no may be sometimes an enlightened
man unable not to SEQ the ridiculous
aspect of his crown or his rcd coat, he
may be also, and usually is, much Of