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PUBLIC OPINION ON SOCIAL MAT-
TEES.
[B y Aemiqke.]
—Society, fi&lUi uig text, is Uie l'H]i])iness of lifo,
—Loves Labour Lost,
MAnd we iu tho world’s wide inoutb,
Lire scandalised and foully spoken of."
T _ —Heury IV.
I k a recent issue, the Tasmatimn
Evening N c m deplored the unhealthy
state or society' as it exists amongst us,
and referred to the striking commentary
on the unwholesome atmosphere we
breathe, which the proposal to establish
a Purity Society in our midst, conveyed.
The year, which lias just passed away—
a short twelve month—provides, afus!
only too sad materials, and affords only
too strong proof o f the 6nd state nJTuirs
social have attained in this colony. It
was but in April last, that the revelations
produced by a celebrated breach of promise
case, aroused strong indignation
against the seducer of a daughter of oue
of out respected northern families. A
most heartless caso> intensified by its
selfishness^ aitd wanting manliness.
Piibiib opinion give no uncertain sound
at tlie time, and* uy the force of that
opinion; it tf ae hoped that society would
. sPal£« further outrage mid humiliu-
J4qu» JR most English-speaking comnmpmbS
the lesson would nave been lifelong—at
least, would have sufficed for a
decade. But here it was but a scoudn]
o f months, subsequent unwholesome exposures
showing how transient was the
lesson taught. Writers on ethics, how­
ever much they may differ, as to the
IHOaB by which the tehderiev to traiiSgress
lUOHll principles may effectually be
Checked, arc all agTecd on tltb pbriucibtts
effect and force of evil example, dnd tile
Baneful 1----- - inclination ................ to folidtV 1118 ________ lead
when animal graliflcidMl exercises
sway-. Tills jjAndbritig lo the pas-
JWhs not uhfiVqucntly dcvelopes into
what teltf&ly resembles an epidemic,
Bnlftss etbmmcd by the voice of public
opinion. Scarcely two months ago. a second
case of a serious nature—one wliich might
almost be termed abduction — came
w fore our Law court. Beyond a paltry
hne indicted upon the offender for a
cowardly assault upon the editor o f a
leading journal, who had done liis dutylo
By ckpdsiiig the libertine, the
$)ncndid‘ escapes lihpiluished, continues to
lid. bolliilcunitdij'd by society, and is received
ils thollgh nothing had occurred.
Following on tliis, a nauseous. “ un­
wholesome” divorce case is dished up
for the delectation o f foul feeders.
Mark tiic result. That "many an error
p Y tlie same example will rush in’* is
Illustrated, almost immediately, in a sad
and painfully practical ninuncr. Close
OH this exclatidre, ou act of immoral
effrontery is perpetrated openly and nnbluslrindy—wantonly.
Setting at deuauccall
remonstrance*—cVdli the prayers
ttnd entreaties of father, mother, and
Relatives j fitrhisiiing a practical cn*
tiorsemcht of Dr. Bcnjafield’s hold asserbOil,
recently made in our columns,
that vice of the worst I'im l is Icing
w inked at in our public men. Dr.
Benjafield makes a grave assertion;
one which carries convict ion with it—the
conviction inseparable from a knowledge
o f its truth. \Ve have a public dulv to
perform, irrespective of persons—a July
that should impel us to protest against
t h e ‘'dissolute habits,” wJiieli prevail —
habits wliich tend to devoid office oud
position of all respect for the holder,
nnd draw down "upon our community the
scorn and contempt of all honourable
and conscientious men. It mav be but a
coincidence—but so-called coincidences
arc, far more frequently than superficial
observers think, the outcome of circumstances,
originally, more or less under
control. I t may be a coincidence we
repeat, but it is nevertheless a fact, that
these outrages on society. 1hose, desecrations
o f all wholesome and long cherished
oral restraints have taken place in our
midst.
A wide-spread apprehension exists that
tliis unwholesome tone which prevails
find pci'eadcs society, arises either from
the force of example, or from the indifference
displayed by those who are
hound to watch over aud protect the
tUorals of the community'. A powerful
modem writer ou “ morality" says:—
1* 4 * 7 ruler, be he King or Prime
Minister, disregarding the moral law's,
must inflict misery upon the notion he so
mjudiciouslj’, so shortsightedly governs.”
I t is notorious how our Queen 1ms acted
in regard to her Court, whenever any
public scandal has arisen in the Mother
Country. Instances might be adduced,
where even a small divergence from the
recognised beaten track has produced an
intimation to the offender,that his,or her,
presence could no longer he permitted.
“ There can be no object of greater
imnortnnec than the morale of a nation;
aiid if the people have deviated, or are
inclined to swerve from morality, and do
not obey the moral laws, or adopt them
as the basis of their daily actions, it is
ncces ar}', and has become absolutely essential
to the future well-being of the
State, that they be guided into doing that
which is right, to become again capable
of moral action, by becoming intelligent
aud willing subjects of the moral laws.”
There is no more prevailing force ou the
actions of men than example. “ I t is a
living law, whose sway men, more than all
the written laws, obey." I t is an imperious
dictation of all that's good or bad in
human nature. By it society is corrupted
or reclaimed. Ana “ examples |of vicious
courses,” saj*s Juvenal, “ corrupt more
readily and more deeply, when we behold
them in persons in authority,”
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