New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-05-17


REORGANIZATION we propose docs not rest upon any
mere critical exposition OF the evils OF the pre-
sent state but that it is founded III the knowledge
of higher and better state. Our criticisms pro-
coed from our constructive principles. We con-
denn not according TO any imperfect, one sldeo,
Documentary, variable Standard; but accordr 6 to
what We esteem 10 be perfect and an universal
standard. Having discovered what We think the
real formula of q progressive organization, we
-eel prepared TO animadVeTt upon all conditions
which arc departure from the Truth. The de-
Zee, Of all other methods of Reform is in the fact
that they are Tor the most part negative. They
see the Wrong. without seeing the Right. For
instance: there is Il class I'll incn who mourn over
the Gcsola,ionS OF in;emperancc, and they de-
nounce tho dealers in splrItuous liquors, but they
have no positive remedy ior the evil, and there
lore their appeals and dcnunciatlons tavc mad on
" temporary effect. There is another class OF
Brave and warm.hcarted philanthropsis whose
sympathies and convictions arc shocked by slave
holding, vet, in the midst OF their burning lnvec-
tves and persuasions, they have only spread their
sentiments, without producing any positive prac-
teal change. There are societies OF tender-heart-
ed females, who would rescue the thousands OF
their debased sisters whom circumstances have
driven to the sullicd haunts OF vice, but for the
want of positive plans, they excite only ridicule
and sarcasm from the more ssgaclous world
There are associations for the reform OF juvenile
denGuents; there are work-houses Tor the reile
Of poverty there are a thousand agencies LOT the
extinction OF crime; yet delinquency, panperlsm
crime, cover the face OF society, and seem TO be
rather on the increase The truth IS that these,
and various other projects OF Reform, are smitten
with perpetual barrenncss, for the want OF an I'M
IL ID,,bt or " IN nnn
they keep alive tender and benevolent scnt-
ment they remove individual cases OF suffering;
they impress the soothing world with the convic-
ton that something is ever to be done for our fell
lows; but measured by the large of what they
oncbt to do, they are most amentably partial and
inatficient. They are few drops Of oil spread up
, sea TO still tempest. They are withc of
straw held against the raw and cutting East
wind. Shakespeare has said, with hardly more
beauty than literal truth:
a. far Us the little candle throw, 1t, beams,
so shines good deed upon naughty world
Verify; your good deeds, your plans OF reform
arc a small candle light in vast world OF dark
ness. duplicity, and discord. You need deeper
;ns;rht-a broader groundwork-a nnghtler prln-
c;nl, of positive vitality. In the midst OF such
Influences as are row around you, powerful
stream of tendencies dragging you downward 10
evil; the poor, as we have shown growing more
poor and debased, and the rich, more rich and
corrupt; misery spreading and multiplying
cherries homes and inviting grogshops INC the
wages of scmpstresscs ten cents per day while
the wages of SIN are as many dollars PER night;
political parties absorbed in selfish schemes; and
the Church. chewing the husks of dead theology
or tapped in luxurious Incidence; and all the
while your greatest leaders proclaiming that most
abomnable, most cruel Of political maA!lns, that
leach man IS the best Judge of his own interest,
and therefore must take care OF hlmseit"-a
maxim proceeding from the first born Caln-un-
der such circumstances, il is impossible that your
slender, mcagrc, fragmentary plans of reform
should succeed. No-you must walk at once
into the heart Of the matter; you must see that
the root Of all this wrong lies IN the false consh-
I Pa, First.