Chap. X.
Parental Affection.
Parental affection is, perhaps, the blindest modification of
perverse self-love; for we have not, like the French* two terms to
distinguish the pursuit of a natural and reasonable desire, from the
ignorant calculations of weakness. Parents often love their children
in the most brutal manner, and sacrifice every relative duty to
promote their advancement in the world.- To promote, such is the
perversity of unprincipled prejudices, the future welfare of the
very beings whose present existence they imbitter by the most despotic
stretch of power. Power, in fact, is ever true to its vital principle,
for in every shape it would reign without controul or inquiry. Its
throne is built across a dark abyss, which no eye must dare to
explore, lest the baseless fabric should totter under investigation.
Obedience, unconditional obedience, is the catch-word of tyrants of
every description, and to render 'assurance doubly sure,' one kind
of despotism supports another. Tyrants would have cause to tremble
if reason were to become the rule of duty in any of the relations of
life, for the light might spread till perfect day appeared. And when
it did appear, how would men smile at the sight of the bugbears at
which they started during the night of ignorance, or the twilight of
timid inquiry.
* L'amour propre. L'amour de soi meme.
Parental affection, indeed, in many minds, is but a pretext to
tyrannize where it can be done with impunity, for only good and wise
men are content with the respect that will bear discussion.
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