Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

On mutual condescension.--In the crowded streets of a great city, where multitudes of people are passing in opposite directions while some are crossing the streets obliquely, and some at right angles, it is necessary for every one to give way a little to those he meets; and thus they all have a free passage. If the whole multitude should press on directly onward, without any one's yielding an inch of ground to another, all would be obstructed, more or less, and a general confusion must ensue. Or if a churlish individual should take it in his head to march forward in a straight line, and never make way for man, woman, or child, or even for a procession, he would be sure to jostle against somebody, every few steps; and would receive many an insult, and, perhaps, some hard blows for his obstinacy and impudence.

And so it is, my fellow-travellers, in our journey through life, and in respect to our general intercourse with mankind. "In the march of life no one's path lies so clear as not in some degree to cross another's; and if each is determined, with unyielding sturdiness, to keep his own line, it is impossible but he must both give and receive many a rude shock." In society, in neighborhoods, and even among close friends, there will spring up rivalries, there will be sometimes a clashing of opinion and of interest, and if every one were mulishly obstinate, there would be no end nor bounds to contention; whereas by the exercise of mutual condescension, social harmony is preserved, and the pleasures of society are enjoyed.

The exercise of condescension is ranked amongst the precepts of the gospel, and is enjoined as a duty upon Christians, who are told from divine authority, to "be patient towards all men," to "be courteous."

Hence it follows, that the ever obstinate man who will not yield an iota in matters of interest or opinion, but runs foul of every one that chances to cross his path, does really transgress the rules of the gospel, as well as those of decorum.

Here not let me be misunderstood. Condescension has its bounds, and those bounds are strongly marked. One should never yield opinions, much less principles, that are of great and serious importance. One should never sacrifice conscience to please friends, or for fear of foes. One should never "follow a multitude to do evil." One should never suffer himself to be conformed to the world in vicious practices and customs, or in fashions, which, although innocent in themselves, are too expensive for him to follow. One should never yield anything to importunity, which self-justice forbids him to yield at all. In these points the person who would go through the journey of life well, must be firm and inflexible. But in matters of indifference, or of no serious consequence, whether respecting opinion or interest, a yielding accommodating spirit is not only desirable, but is a moral and Christian duty. And even in points which are not to be yielded, one should maintain firmness in such a manner, if possible, as to make it evident that he acts from principle rather from obstinacy.

[Connecticut Courant.