464

CONCLUSION.

' too, on theatrical amusements, is a waste of time and substance,a most unwarrantable exposure to temptation, a countenancing offolly, extravagance, and sin, and has been the occasion of the fallof multitudes, never to rise again. All these are the youngerbranches of the great family of evils and vices ; — they have amost intimate relationship with infidelity, suicide, duelling, unbri-dled debauchery, and abandoned profligacy, assassination, andevery enormity and atrocity which can degrade and ruin mankind.

5. But, above all, we must rely for the improvement of morals,on correcting public opinion through the press, the pulpit, andevery other suitable instrument, which can be brought to bear onthe subject.

The press not only makes known public opinion, it does muchto form and guide it. It has been continually augmenting in effi-ciency from the first invention of printing, and has now become“ the most powerful engine, for good or for evil, on earth. Itchecks, controls, and governs the mighty men of the nations, andpreserves the rights and freedom of mankind. It leads the wayto reformation, to scientific and practical improvement, to goodmanners and morals, and to all the blessings of social life.” Men,who have neither “feared God nor regarded man,” have beenoverawed by the animated and sustained assaults made by litera-ture, and especially by the periodical press. Among the manyinstances which might be adduced to illustrate this remark, thecase of the late celebrated Emperor of the French is, perhaps,the most striking and instructive. With an ascendency overnearly all Europe, he had succeeded in silencing the Continentalpress by intimidation and menace. But the British press wasstill free, its voice was still heard above the tumults of war andconvulsion of every kind. It was the only earthly power which hedid not feel himself strong enough to silence, or set at defiance.

“ He attached, at all times,” says Sir Walter Scott, “muchimportance to the influence of the press, which, in Paris, he hadtaken under his own especial superintendence, and for which hehimself often condescended to compose or correct paragraphs.To be assailed, therefore, by the whole body of the British^newspapers, almost as numerous as their navy, seems to haveprovoked him to the extremity of his patience.” Again, he says,