Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-21
ORIGIN AND OBJECT OF THE LIBERTY
PARTY,

theory and practce--thmgs, which U0d hath
Joined together, different men in various WAYS
Try to put asunder. Some there are, wto under
this or that reaton---n certain spheres Of respon-
sibility, seem to be exclusively engrosscd with
the ideal. The world, as far as human agency
is concerned, is, they see, i'll governed. Selfish
ness is made the basis Of institutions and arrange
ments, maintained prolessed!y for the benefit OF
mankind. Hence, the disorder, confusion and
misery, which every where prevail. They are
sick Of these things---they are eager to get away
from them. The folly, in which things so hate
ful and destructive had their origin, they regard
as too rank and invccrate to be subdued. They
have no heart to attempt reformation. Why
should they! Their cxertons will be ttpltless.
The old world must wag on in its own chosen
way and get to perditon as best it can. As
little as possible will they haye to do with its &C.
cleslastlcl, political and economical concerns
They arc above all these Their home is the
spiritual sphere where they find support, refresh
ment and delight in the ideas which shine upon
their consciousness----in the principles which de-
mand their allegiance. Hence, say in the sphere
Of politics. they decry and abjure all these ar
rangements, in which human rights and obliga-
tons are profc3scdy described and assercd----in
which the general welfare is professcd!y subsery-
ed. Human government they pronounce an
abuse, a usurpltion, a nuisance, OF course,
they trlmplc on the elective franchise, and stand
uloof from the ballot-box. The ethereal govern
ment, which they profess to reverence, needs,
they say, no visible tokens----no symbols of its
presence, authority, designs----Othcrs might con-
sent to vote, if the balot-box would come to them
In the work Of electing rulers, they will not take
a STEP or life finger. In such matters 1t is
their privilege to be Indifferent waiting for Hcav
en- to correct the disorders and remove the evils,
which they profess to deplorc as much as any
body----Others 90 to the baotbox, and cast their
votes for Justice, Or Freedom Or Equity. When
the chair of the Governor, the seat Of the Sena-
tor, the bench of the Judge, is to be filed, they
are for these divine ideas, pure, naked, dscm-
bodied 1t is not known that they attempt to
employ these ideas in backing their boots, mend
ing their stockings, or cooking their dinners.
Surely mankind were sent hither on another
and higher errand than to be occupied cXclu-
sively with the ideal This is indeed ever to be
present to their thoughts. distinct in their
consciousness, warm in the depths Of their
hearts WITHOUT this, they arc blind and impo-
tent Without faith, they can neither please God
or bless mankind. But faith without works.
what can that avail 1t must be forever fruit
less. Our business in this world is, amidst the
various relations we sustain, to translate the ide-
al into the actua----to reduce theory to practice
Ito show our faith by our works. 1t will not
do amidst the realities of life, to set up Justice,
Freedom, Equity, as candidates for office.
These must be embodied in human forms. We
must have Just, free, magnanimous MEN, to WELD
the powers of government This institution
mutt be adapted to the condition in which we are
placed We must see to it that the ideal live in
the actual----that faith be embodied in works.
But when in the sphere of politics it is insisted
on, that in candidates for Office sound principles
shall be embodied in their characters that they
shall not only speak eoquently, but act wisely;
that the logic on their lips shall be made impress
sye and conclusive by the integrity of their lives;
that they shall show their love Of freedom, not
merely by imprisoned defamation in exposing
the wrongs of the Greeks and Poles, but espe
cially by asserting the rights and promoting the
welfare Of the oppressed around them, what ;
hue and cry is raised A motley multitude rusl
around you, and shout, some one thing and some
another. Amidst the voices which are scatter
ed in confusion on the air, words like these fal
upon your ear: Your theory may be good, bu
cannot be reduced to practice. You 90 too fa
in asserting the claims of Justice and Humanity
Here, to demand too much is to gain nothing
In such a world as this, where selfshness is TIL
proper basis of society, we must be content t.
choose the least of the acknowledged evils t.
which we are exposed The meaning of all thi
in plain English is, that this is the devils world
and we must submit to his authority or go Il
wreck and run Hence the blind and impoten
are chosen to guide and protect; those who can
not govern their own passions, to govern the re
public; knaves, to assert the claims Of Justice
- bad men, to perform good actions' oppressors
to defend the cause of freedom. To such length
are matters carried in this direction, that integr
ty, mngnanimity, philanthrophy, are but too gen
orally regarded quite out of place in the spher
of politics Such words may be employed t
catch the public ear; to round off period in
stump Grafton; to cover up the most nefariou
designs But to insist, that without the mpel
ishable qualities which these words describe, n
man is qualified to WELD the official power; thi
is generally reckoned the height of flnaticisn
Indeed, it has come to that, that politics, even
those who are most devoted to such things, ar
regarded as vulgar and filthy concern. Henc
they exert themselves to dissuade every homes
maa from attempting to maintain sound princi
pies in this sphere ofresponsibility, by caution
ing him to beware how he tIabblcs IN the dirt.
eaters Of politics. And this they do under tn
same impulse as led the Gadarenes to try TO &C
rid of the Savior's presence. How could thel
a., L.