The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-13

| NtItlOle Iutns-lndny OF winch were ADOPT
ed for the government of barbarous PEG
Ple-and adhering 10 them, with spirit al
Indomitable as if there were no la,c of pro
gress written all over COPS works, on each
atom Of our globe, and in burning, shining
characters on the vast systems Of worlds
filling immensely, and how much more dis.
tinctly on mind, for which all matter was
created
We grieve over this conservatism; its ten.
dency is to barbarism, its spirit is opposed
70 an enlighted Christianity. But we can
no longer marvel that our social and moral
progress has been no slow, when there has
been so strong an inclination among our
leaders to go back, instead Of forward, for
light-to pore over musty tones, and per-
pick themselves with indecipherable hero
glyphics, when the fair book of NATURE
lay spread out before them.
But while the great moral leaders have
been thus engaged, and in disputing about
The letter of the law, the people have been
catching a portion of its spirit, and are no
longer willing to be kept in bondage 10 old
dogmas. PROGRESS! is their watch.
word. Progress is Natures eternal law;
and all her forests, mountains, and seas, re.
spond TO them in one universal anthem.
Thus we find that the present state Of So
ciety is highly reactionary, and is becoming
more and more SO. We should contem-
plate its chaotic condition with sorrow, did
We not see a new and more beautiful crea-
ton evolving from the conlusion-did We
not behold that star that few years since
appeared in the east, and that, like a Sa.
viour, has attracted the attention OF the
loise, shining with undimming brightness
upon the night Of metaphysical doubt and
speculation, in which the minds Of many Of
the wise and good of past ages wandered
without guide, and were lost in The un-
certain lights that flickeIed around them.
This star is attended with brilliant satellites,
which, like it, receive all their light from
the great Spiritual Sun, the centre Of the
Moral System.
We said that society is in high reac-
tionary condition. 1t grasps with one hand
the most noble and elevating truths, and
retains with the other the prejudices and
customs Of the darker ages There is now
existing in the community two powerfully
antagonis,ic principles-the lore principle
and the force principle. The former says,
"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink" the latter, "Away
with him. kill him; cruelty him. The
zone is Of the earth, earthly the other SIS
the Lord from heaven" The one belongs
exclusively to an enlightened Christian
people; the other to a barbarous, savage
people. Is it not so! And yet the most
powerful and convincing arguments Of en-
lghtened nations are still given at the can
mons mouth. Christian and barbarous ma
tons still revenge their injuries in the same
manner--by an appeal TO arms; the only
! difference consisting in the manner OF at
tack and the form Of the weapon. The
savage fushes upon the savage with horrlhc
wells, sending the poisoned darts thckly
upon the unprotected body; each warrior
killing his single man with onl Y one fly Of
his arrow. The Christian, ansyed in full
amor, marches on his message Of death to
| the measure of celestial music; and, while
its holy strains are filling the air, sends his
accursed bnmbshells into the very heart OF
ancient and glorious cties--the archives OF
the eaIth--destroying their proudest monu-
ments Of art and most sacred relics Of an
tiquity, and--O, my God in a moment
of time, plotting thousands Of thy creatures
from existence forever-worse than all
casting a moral blight and darkness over
the earth, that the light Of an eternity can.
not dissipate.
Still, enlightened Christian, like barbar.
Gus nations, yield their highest honors to
their warriors, raising them to the most ex-
allied positions in Government, to WELD all
the political and moral power Of commu-
nifty; consequently adding increased glory
and dignity to the profession Of arms, there
by making a necessity Of Sar-while they
leave their veteran statesmen, who for hall
centuries have toiled increasingly for the
honor and good Of their country, to wear
their laurel wreaths upon their tombs.
The lore principle is stronger than the
force principle, and, oh how sublime, how
beautiful in its strength Ii is high as
Heaven who can attain it deep as the
un(athomable ocean who can reach 1t
vast as eternity who embrace it p
and yet, an infant in its type, it is so hum
be. We said that the loUs principle Is
more powerful than the force principle; but
there is SO little Of the former in the world
that the latter triumphs-consequently, thai
"might makes right, has become an al
most universal maxim. No marvel, then
that the moral power of society is weaken
ed, instead Of being made strong, by mum
bers-no marvel, when each would rot
the other OF his right, that with an increase
of numbers there should be an increase o
crime, and that this vast accumulation
should constantly ferment, and throw on
from its sgitated bosom fierce assasslns ant
bloody rioters-no marvel, that the moi
should rule in place of law, while the force
principle triumphs--while it is educated
INTO the mind Of the little infant, from thu
moment that its plastic nature is capable o
thought.
Ii is the province of education to harmo
, nize these antagonistic principles. to max
! force s1bservient to love, by directing tn
! belligerent nature of man against the error
and vices Of society, instead of indivldus
members and nations.
How much better were it--how niue
more consistent--for enlightened Christia
! nations to meet their enemies with tn
weapons Of intellectual argument. Oh