Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1851-03-28
ELEMENTS OF ACTION

the mul,ihuous pursuits Of man, may all b.
reduced 10 two grand mot,c-Povcrs-ivo
prineiplcs-a, universal 100 their operation a.
the domain Of mind, sni jnmg,rca!ly oppo.
sed. both ia their present character and o'u-
mate results They underline al ,hc dis
i!neticns and movements ct society, and give
TO is changing phases, a. one OF ihr other
prcpOndcra,cs, " - they are able 20 assume
attitude Of dirce, suia-caisn.
Uuder ,hs influence Of one Of these primer
pies. man assumes as a faiamrnul truth.
his own unqualified right, no, ualy TO what.
ever Of maicrial substance OF mental acquire
meat he may b,comc possessed, but fur
TIER, the RICH, 90 possess himself of whatever
Ne nav. and to use IL IS be NAV please AMI
this with oaly the modification of existing
laws no, always Justly INTERPRETED.
To the practical operation OF this principle
urr We indebted ior TIA, spirit Of competition
20 rife among men; fcr many ct ,hc gro>s
contract, ofpriytcrc' and professions so Ta.n-
fully visible TO the Ph,lauthruP.c, and irr ur
violent commotious which are spreading mist
over the governmental and social fabrics of
Europe. Uucoutrollrj by knowledge, DE- uai-
ural result is 90 place mans hand against
every man. and every mans hand against
man.. Increase Of intelligence produces 1'
sociaiious and combinations uf individuals
with common pursuits, aaJ Of nations with 81
common % Get % he obtained Dot there b.
Nmoar them an he seeds OF d.sc,rd. They
arc simply combinations Coz power, aad cach
party thereto, seeking h., own advantage, one
~ lack, the opportunity, % appropriate ."
himself the benefit which should accrue Co ihg
whole. The history ofthc pas, presents ,ou-
unucd illustrations 1T this. Ecc.cs.uuc1l.
NO lc.s than civil associations, have constantly
riytu proof Of the hc; from ,hs date Of our
earliest knowledge
Il is frequently asserted that, 60 DE g.-'
o. comp,,iton Ne are indebted fur our met
valuable discoveries and improvements and
that. without their stimulus. industry would
iag, and msn relapse ir'u trlTruur, ara
iilcncss. 4, Is undoubtedly true, i.at.t tlr
present forms ct soc..ty were Suddenly De-
prIyed Of their luiuuu1- spirit hry nua'.
6ll apart. as does Lg bojy whoa lae spirit
,akcs H. departure or viiter Ike doe igr'.',
valley at tbc diversion Of its accustomed
streams. Il is also trug ,hat sudden changes
in those forms, vi,ho.l change in ihc per-
yading sPirii, Is 90 .sdnncr. Tie stream
which has fUr ccutUr., pu-uci ,hc same
ehannel. and worn 10, bell deep in ,hs solid
rock. II shut fro,n its cyur-s, oa'y opens Coz
itself another in the mot convenient t.uc.
ton. while the unavoidable accumulation o'
u, volume. render 10 jOlbIy terribly when D,
shall have 10. freedom
We DO not. however, believe a change iu
the governing principle of snc.sty would 30
paralzc % as many would hiu teach. w
cannot say Co wh4, degree ,ho-c forms, even,
would be changed, though Ne doubt NOT some
alteration would b. inevitable Tha, ,hcrr
aus, Be governments AMI subject, Of %, cNcr.
csc, We are very SURF bu, Nc ih,uk ,hr ul-
timaiion Of the opposite principle mentioned
above, would jiycsi its ministers OF tbe j.~-
position % scramble Tor o.i-r, and political
partic- or such notices as, "to Jhc ,.cturs
belong the spoils" Availability would give
place % intelligence aud fitness Cor perform
ING th5 required duties, in thc Selection I'd
candidates. The governed would SEX ihg
common good, instead uf private gain, m Do,
election OF Us officers Governors vua'I b.
animated by ihc same idea, and instead OF co..
wlrdiug hy0ntes, and ayag the foundation
Of power in sulseDiency 90 sqeruh'us.
would seek for advisers among those Whose
lives had proved them intelligent friend, OF
good order, and anxious to serve ihr h,-t boz
teresis Of those coascnuug to their elevation
That commerce would be- auu,hiliicJ, We
very much doubt; thl, the proportion Of tho>s
who trade on others productions would De-.
crcasr, We DO no, doub, and feel cur-cl,
eOuhdcnt that the d.silsic Tor labor and Dis
tcpuabiIiiy attached 10 Il would vanish
some of the mud novels would give place o.
comfortable dwellings, and swine would re-.
ee,ye iae DIAL With more Of the nourishmeut
which human beings are now glad To dcpu,,
them Of Shirts mighl b. made Cor ~ cent.
each, thread included, but instead Of their
manufacture being ground on, Of humanity
II land other branches Of laborl would b. 3,
modified by the invention Of machinery, thai
men and women would b. allowed tune Cot
TODD and education. The relations Of min,
and thine, IN their wides, scnpc, Will d. hon.
orablc SUBJECTS OF study. instead Of furnishing
the latter from any practical influence on the
actions Of men
The substituting ~ a love for DO, ue. rhbor
instead u the love OF self, as a mliu-spring
Of human action, 50 fr from iuiur.nr any
branch Of industry, j. their o1ly true vi,Ify-
ING principle Men have ever found thc scm-
blance Of interest in iho.e about Us. the most
profitable Of selfagraodi1encnt Al the
mOst energetic and truly beneficial institutions
for human advancement arc but Outbirth, OF
that affection.
That this spirit j. DOW more or lrss active.
!. aiiesled by the multiplicity uf ideas Of re-
form which are agiiaiine the public mind, by
the increased Alteration paid 20 education, and
more rational modes Of pursuing The subject.
That the time is yet distant when the results
OF these IDEAS shall BE- the general tone Of So