HARDLY any one will question the remark, that filial obedience is a rarer virtue now-a-days in our country than it was among our forefathers. There certainly existed formerly, as a constituent characteristic of society, a far higher tone of ascendency than now on the part of parents toward their children, and a corresponding tone of deference on the part of children toward their parents. This relation, too, extended often, in a very remarkable manner, far beyond the period of legal control. At present, childhood commonly manifests less filial reverence than was wont to be cherished in those days by manhood. It is a marked feature of the general condition of things in our time, that children habitually set up their wills against those of their parents, refuse obedience to absolute commands, and display a degree of insubordination and obstinacy, which once formed the strange exception, not the usual fact. The prevalent, perhaps growing, temper among children, is that of independence and self-will. All the way up from infancy, this temper is quite generally indulged, or but feebly restrained. Parents yield when they should oppose, grant when they should refuse, coax when they should command. The young and the old stand too much upon one common ground of equality. This fact is, no doubt, attributable, in a measure, to the principle of our political institutions. Not by any means that a proper ap preciation and application of the principle referred to would produce such a result; but that it has been in part occasioned, with very many other evils, by a perversion of that principle. The idea of equality may certainly be carried too far. If it be not surrounded with due checks and balances, it must do injury. The true principle of republicanism is, that all distinctions, not intrinsic and proper, should be abolished. There is danger lest we should abolish some which ought to be maintained and heeded. There is danger lest, because mankind have been compelled heretofore to pay deference where they have discovered it was not due, they should hurry toward the position that no deference is due any where. There is danger that age and practice may be of no account above youth and inexperience; that learning may be taken to task and be brow beaten by ignorance; that station may command no honor; that even worth of personal character, integrity and virtue, may have no vantageground over delinquency and vice. When youth and age, the expert man and the novice, the learned and the ignorant, the official dignitary and the meanest member of society, the good and the bad, are placed upon one level in any community, that community must be already corrupt, and in sore peril. God's appointments and man's use of his free capacities, make intrinsic distinctions, which no application of republicanism can really do away, and which can be done away in general estimation only with the destruction of true republicanism. Freedom must become licentiousness and the worst species of tyranny, when it ceases to recognize the jurisdiction of truth and righteousness. Merely artificial distinctions, having no proper root in reality, in nature, and in character, ought to be done away; but we cannot do away all distinctions, without social suicide. The true pillars of the fabric must be left as pillars, or the whole will come to nought. The true proportions and relations of every part must be carefully observed and sustained. One of the important principles of social order and of genuine freedom in any community, is, suitable regard to the distinction which exists between the old and the young, especially that which exists between the parent and the child. In ancient times, among the Jews, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, the virtue of respect for the aged was inculcated upon the young with the utmost care. It is an injunction of the Jewish law, 'Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man.' It is re lated in classic story, that at a certain festival in Greece, where the Athenians and Spartans had taken their seats, each community by itself, an aged man presented himself first among the Athenians, to procure a place, but was treated by the young people with neglect and contumely. He then had recourse to the side where the Spartans were seated, and as soon as he came among them, they all rose from their seats in a body, out of respect to his years. The Athenians then enthusiastically applauded this act of deference. 'Ah!' said the old man, melted to tears, the Athenians know what are the rules of courtesy; the Spartans practise them.' Age merits respect from youth. It should always receive it. Parents should train their children to show it. But it is lamentable to reflect, that there is so little deference exhibited by children toward even parents themselves. How can it be anticipated that children will be trained to show respect to age abroad, when they are not made to entertain it in their own homes toward those who gave them birth, and who constantly provide for their well-being? The duty of reverence and obedience toward parents, rests not merely on the general basis of disparity in age. It is a dictate of the Bible and of reason, that the early years of life should be years of subordination to parental control. Children, obey your parents,' is an injunction which possesses the most palpable propriety. Gratitude demands compliance with parental injunctions. Children need guidance; and that the guidance may be effectual, they must yield themselves to it implicitly. It is fitting that the heads of the household should have paramount authority. A state of subjection is the best preparation for future command. Exact obedience in childhood, is a guarantee of judicious government in manhood. He who discharges the early duties of life with fidelity, will be most likely to use his mature rights with discretion. In the deficiency of seasonable parental control, may be found one of the chief sources of the insubordination which breaks forth in later years under the forms of public tumult and crime. The disregard of law, human and divine, which is manifested so recklessly by large numbers of our fellow citizens at the present day, is no doubt often attributable mainly to the want of proper discipline in the home of childhood. Those who are not trained to strict obedience when young, will not be fit either for the duties of obedience, or for the rights of rule, when they reach maturity of life. Sterling, Mass., July, 1846. |