The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-12


| One cannot but smile at the pretensions of the
present age Of progress, TO an exemption from the
supersticious notions Of our forefathers. Where,
IN the darkest Of the dark ages, do we meet with
examples Of moro alject crsdulity and supersti-
ton then are seenlpringing up among US almost
every day, IN the shape of mesmerism, clairvoy-
ance, and supernatural knockings! The truth is,
that there seems always about the same ALLOW
OF credulity portioned out to each succeeding age,
and the only difference is in the mode of mani
Testing ITSELF In former times, it was witchcraft
and necromancy, which, in the estimation of all
orthodox people, originated with the father of all
evil. Now II comes abroad under the mantle of
science, and may be traced to learned doctors,
pious clergyman, and reverend professors, who
sneer at the ignorance of the dark ages, at the
same time they boast Of the progress of the pre-
sent one. Scientific necromancy IL now the vogue,
and we believe any thing that may be accounted
for on scientific prnciples-that il to say, prlnc-
pies fabricated for their express purpose. One of
the most careful and unaccountable expressions Of
human creduity, is exhibited in the propensity of
our people to believe any thing they see in print,
especially in the newspaper, provided 1t is the or
gan Of their party. After this, 1t is no wonder il
they believe in supernatural knockngs, socialist
doctrines, and abolition dogmas. These mpos-
lures all belong to the same school, and spring
from the same root. The ignorant alone are no W
increduous; the more learned and enlightened be-
lieve every thing they in printed book,
which is now the only standard Of truth. This
species Of bookish credulity il not however pecu-
liar to the present enlightened age. In an old
book, entitled " A thousand notable things on va
rious subjects disclosed from nature and art; prac-
teal, profitable, and OF great advantage" orgi-
| nally published in 1866 find the following " no
table thing: " If any do sprinkle the powder of a
skin that the snake doth cast off, gotten or gath
cred when the moon is in the full, being also in
the first part Of aries the RAM he shall see terrible
"a nd fpa rfll denona nd IL ha shall hnv IL
der the sole of his feet, he shall be acceptable be-
fore magistrates and princes. This is mos. true
copied it out Of an old printed book"
THE MOON.
| The moon is exceedingly useful not only in
saving city corporations the expense Of lighting
the streets at night, but in many other important
particulars. She is still more invaluable to those
learned Thebans who pry into the secrets of ma
ture, and attempt to account for everything. Had
it not been for her benign influence, many Of then,
would Internationally have lost their wits in at
| tempting to account for the phenomena of tides,
and come in for share Of the ten millions OF
acres. For my part, however, prefer the piety
of the vulgar to the ingenuity of the learned. The
former render all things easy and natural by as
cribng them to the will Of God; the latter invent
a thing to explain them scientific principles
and substitute subordinate agents in place OF the
| great first cause. When one of these moIes---a
geologist fer example--has CROPPED his way in the
dark to some plausible conclusion, he puts his
arms akimbo, and exclaims 81 have discovered
how this world was made-ergo-I can make one
myself. knowledge is power"
| LOSS AND GAIN.
With majority of people the hope of gain ov
ercomes the fear of loss, and hence we find so ma
ny sinking all to acquire none.
| PROPHECY WHICH LIKE POLITICAL PLEDGE MAY
BE INTERPRETED BOTH WAYS.
If ! am not mistaken, great and radical changes
are approaching in the moral, social, religious
and political world, whether for good or for evil
God only knows. We certainly are going either
forwards or backwards very rapidly. If recol
lect right, Mr.. Jefferson asserts that the human
mind never goes backwards. He might wei
have said that crab never goes backwards. All
the old nations Of the eastern world have retro.
graded, or are in State Of retrogradaon and il
is moot point whether the present struggles in
| Europe will not lead to universal military des
potism rather than universal liberty. Some mer
see further than others, but no man sees the end