The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-11
J. HOLCOMB, EDITOR PUBLISHER.

. ioTmS ol SocIal wrong ana social misery
and hear the cry, the great cry that goe
up from the reeking earth and pierce
heavenA-up from dying murmurs an
broken sobs, up from lonely prayers an
awful malediclion from chIdhood's AM
womans' bursting heart; from the famish
ec lips of beggary, and the soul OF maniac
despair; from mufed groans and clankine
cha ins-hear the great cry that rises and
swelis, and pleads against mans selfish
ness, and the great secret Of his fnhuman-
ity to man.
The dscord and wrong, then, that a.
bound in society, are because OF each mans
selfish seeking, not for what he should
merely. but for what he eam-he thinks
more OF interest than he does of aight.--
Between our right and the right of our
neighbor there is no conflict between his
interest and ours there is often conflict
as the world bears witness in all past ages
and in the present. But christianity tears
away this film Of selfshness that narrows
the horizon about us, and bids US look a.
broad upon the great humanity. 1t smites
upon lhose stony sluices ia our hearts,
through which our affections have dripped
so sordidly, and bids them gush out with
owe for every man. 1t leads US through
the wards of lile's great hospital, and says
of the sick and the suffering who lie there,
Thy brelhrenl' 1t carries US into the
craitman's dust and the laborer's sheds,
and says 'Thy brethren 7 1t points us
to the lean child of poverty, the son of
shame, the beggar, the slave. the felon, ev-
en-, and says Thy brethren = and a vast
and grand relationship is there revealed
to us. One tide of common blood flowing
from our hearts runs round through all
mems myriad viens, and GIBBS again TO US.
One fine, deep element of spiritual life un-
der all casts and hues, connects US all with
God. And then its Divine Law comes to
US with meaning, Thou shalt love Thy
neighbor as thyself'-because we perceive
that he is as ourselves. He has, essen
tally, the same wants, the same capaci-
ties, the same sympa:hies. In myself then
[ have criterion for my conduct toward
him. If act from this standard, it is OBJ
vious that l can, intentionally, do him no
! wronga
But this conduct is reciprocal in its ben.
efits. Sel6shness itself, in its last sense,
furnishes me with motives 10 do unto my
neighbor as | would be done by. For,by
a Jealous consideration of my duties to
him. learn more and more of my rights
II learn what is due to me from him
what is due TO me from all men. In fack
the consideration Of our hts and our du-
ties is one thing-they are radically inter.
woven. The ont suggests the other. The
man who isthe most considerate of his
duties to another will be apt to be the most
strenuous in support of his rights. In a
ny age when great principles Of right are
agitated and maintained, i: is willed that
great principles of Duty will be propa gait
ed. At least we may be assured Of this
that they who best understand and love
their duties, will bes: understand and love
their rights.
This great social law, this christian law
does not conflict with any mans right.then
but with the interests, the selfish, sordid
interests of men. The highes: welfare of
men, his true rights, it reveals and main.
tains. 1t shows him that as involved with
or dependent upon the welfare of others.
Its just object is 10 secure the harmony of
society BY reconciling interest with right,
and thus in, fact, securing the highest III
terests OF each and OF all.