The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-03
COMMUNICATIONS
FOR the Union
ROBERT OWEN,
ON THE Press AND THE PULPIT

ION. The press influencing the statesman, poll.
tician men Of science, of the world, and of CON-
merce; the pulpit the uneducated sincere enthusiast
the superslidous, and many highly respectable for
their good intentions. The press and the pulpit are,
therefore the two most powerful agents for good or
evil in forming public opiniopi and Il must be re-
membered that public opinion governs the world
No one who has studied human nature can doubt
that those who direct the press and NIL pulpits arc
originally the same kind Of men as those who wear
crowns, or are covered with rags. II 10 education
alone, in it's extended Specification, that makes the
difference between the Of the press and pulpit
and those who I'll other situations IN life Il would
be therefore most irrational to blame any parties for
what society trains thcm 10 become, whether men,
beers of the press and pulpit, OF any other class
profession caIlng onS and all Of these artificial
characters being foSasG sdisiey t bis,h by the
grss, esss..as power ef do universe, and Afterwards
by the inferior MIXED, or superior circumstances by
which society sourounds them.
The great moral revolution, 80 long ardently de-
sired has commenced in these States, in Great Brit
ain and in other countries and 10 now steadily ad-
vancing. It's progress has been lately accelerated
by the active measures of various reforming socio-
ties on both sides the Atlantic, and most efficiently
by the energetic proceedings Of the Anti Corn Law
League in England. The press and the pulpit may
forward or retard to some extent, this revolution,
so a-important for the permanent happiness Of the
human race over the world; but from the signs Of
the times il is now evident that no earthly power
can greatly retard or prevent it's final accomplish
nent.
This revolution will speedily overcome tho long
established preJudices of latitude and longitude, and
altogether change the principles on which the hu-
man character has been formed, and society based
in all the nations Of the earth.
The change will be from the ignorant, repulsive,
and demoraLing laws Of men, on which have been
founded all the institutions and practices of the hui
a. r l..
to the present hour. Yet have these laws, during
that period, been unsupported by fact; but it is
now aScertained 10 demonstration that they are
directly opposed to all known facts hence the false
hood, violence crimes, and suierings Of past gene
rations.
This great revolution, for which all countries
over the globe are now in active preparation, will
effect the charge from the irrational laws of men,
and the practices which necessarily emansie from
them To the all-wise and most benefcent LAWS
OF GOD, and the superior practices, which will
insure justice and happi ness to all.
The laws Of men, from which the wars, crimes,
and miseries of past ages heve proceeded, as from
Pandora's box, may be thus briefly stated. LIST,
that man individually forms his own powers and
qualities I'd, his feelings; Sd, his opinions; and 4th
his actions.
These are suggestions arising from intelects
disordered from BIRTH by the preiudices existing in
all the various attitudes and longtudes over the
world and all human laws and institutions have
been based and emanatc alone from these errors
imagination. When means can be devised to remove
from man these deeply-rooted mental bondases OF
latitude and longitude, he will be at first SURPRISED
and then, en- account of the results, gratifed and
delighted beyond expression TO discover, first, that
the grent creating power of the universe directly or
indirectly creates the powers and qualities of each
individual; second, his feelings; third, his opin-
ions; and fourth, his conduct. And thus is each
human being formed without his knowledge or
consent; his feelings forced upon him by the in
sncts Of the nature given to hin1; while his opin-
ions the necessary result OF the strongest con.
vietons made upon his individual mental powers
him by the creating power a nature, and cult
waited by society. To make a-seing so created at
BIRTH and matured by society, accountable 10 his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS fellow-men, is the certain and
direc, road to produce disorder and confusion into
the human intellects and endless crime in conduct
at this day universal over the population Of the
world.
To forward this great moral revolution from
the laws OF men to the laws Of God, and the change
which will necessarily from all that is erro-
neous and evil, TO all that is true and good in prac-
tice, it becomes highly desirable ard important
for the speedy prosperity and happiness Of all coun-
tries that the PRESS and PULPIT should now acquire
a correct knowledge of the laws of men and their
consequences in practice, with those of the laws Of
God and their natural effects upon the minds and
conduct Of the human race. Long has the writer,
in calmnoss of spirit, amidst the deranging infu-
ences created by the laws of men, and their IRA
tiona practices, watched the progress of events to
the period when such rational changes should
arise as would admit the most advanced mind in
civilized countries, openly to contrast the laws of
men with those of God, and their practical results,
without the existence Of too much irrational feeling
arising from the ignorant preudces of latitude and
longitude, in favor of mems laws-preiudices forced
into the minds Of all from their birth.
To overcome these deep-rooted prejudices, the aid
of the press and the pulpit will be most important
especially to effect the change in short time, with
ont arousing irrational feelings of irritation and OPP
position. The press and the pulpit will soon dis
cover that the laws Of men and of God lead to two
totally different states of socetythat the laws of
men lead direct to repulson, violenccs all the petty
annoyances through life, and to endless crimes while
the laws of God will lead TO union, peace knowl-
edge, morality, and happness--the laws Of men to
universal falsehood and deception, the laws of God
to universal truth and sincerity-the one to all that
is evil, the other to all that is good.
Upon the simple and beautiful laws of God alone
can rational, moral, and happy permanent state of
society ever arise; and will be now easy to dis
cover those pulpis and presses which influenced
by the erroneous laws Of men, from those which
are under the divine spirit of the laws Of God.
The pulpifs that continue 10 abuse other sects of
the same religion, or other religions which claim in
latitude and longitude, and use epthets and language
Of unklndness and want of charity TO those who,
by naiure's own laws, have been compelled to DIFF
fer however widely, from them, make il evident, by
such conduct, that they are yet in state Of gno.
rance which may truly be termed the barbarism OF
mind and feepng--that they are, most unfortunately
for themselves and congregations, directly influenced
by the demoralzing laws Of men. On the contra
W, when the occupiers Of pulpits IN plain and SIM
pe language, insirucs their congregations in the
NATURAL CAUSES which mavoidably create
opposing opinions, feelings, and conduct between
those educated in different reefs, parties, and coun-
'risswho also explain the innumerable evils which
nrise from the ain Of ignorance, IN being unkind
and, much lees, angry, on account Of those differ.
enccsi and from this knowledge, which is derived
direct from tho uBcssngng laws Of God, naturally
dSdnoe the universal spirit Of charity, forbearancc
and Kindness which necessarily emanate from that
kaoultdgs--tAsn will II become equally eviden
that thoss pulpts are under the immediate influence
Of The hil.wise and most benefccnt lave Of God
In like manner, should sny portion Of the pres
continue 20 apply abusive spithets to other presses
parties, individuals OF countries, tending TO arouse
angry feelings and 10 create III viii between them
~ 20 promote private or public vioencea instead
cndssvoring 10 enlighlen by reason with words o
Kindness when the parties deemed TO be in error