Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-09-10

sider whether the evil you would remedy
be not merely symptomatic, or mere con.
sequence Of prior evil, which, like some
r bodily maladies, need no separate attack,
!. but must be cured by general tonics. To
r attack such evils is useless, for they must
, continue, while the cause continues, and
we might as well try to cure fever by
cleansing the tongue.
Some evils in the body polite, originate
in transient effervescences Of passion, OF
ever-varying circumstances of the times,
end will pass away Of themselves. II
they are unimportant We do we'll to let the
excitement: pass over, lest in standing up
to repress the crowd we get trampled in
the dust, without even the consultations Of
worthy tnartyriom.
| Consider, too, :iat one abuse often cor.
reefs another, aud that if one only is re-
formed, the ether BECOMES enormous.
III 40ack no error intemperate!y.
The only cure of error is truth, incul-
Gated with patience, moderation, and per-
severance; and Ike some medicines often
working. slowly. Men are not readily
convinced Of an improperly long estab-
lished, ard WILL when convinced, be slow
to abandon it, if like the trade Of Diana's
shrines, it confers livelihood. Hence.
the effect os trath is not always prompt
or general; a merciful arrangement Of
f, Providence, TO prevent ccnvulsions when
erro-s are orerth-owr, ard to enable con-
struction to keep pace with destruction.
/ But the ultraist will not wait for remote
victories He has discovered an evil and
1t must be cured at once; and whoever
viii not enlist in his aid, is denounced.
He has no patience with those who take
time for examination, and who rely on the
steady progressions which effect remedies
without riots, and improvements without
alsrr,. He denounces with equal bitter
ness both errorist and error, and consents
to no neutrality, no discussion, 70 forbear-
ance. Such man is 4 calamity.
III F:yht no egH soah e.rclusireaess.
When a>new truth beams upon yea
lous man, he is apt to allow it to throw
out of sight truths previously known, and
perhaps equally important. This is very
well i'll scientific pursuits ; a1d man may
devote his whole life to Chemistry, or
Astronomy, or any other branch Of inves-
tigation But the reformers, who thus
becomes exclusive, generally becomes fa-
natical. Aiu, at uniting comprehensive
ness of survey, with minutene.s of dis
elimination, and patient inquiry, With ac-
tive executive powers. Keep in view what
has been discovered and settled in former
times, and those general principles by
which the details of duty should be de-
cided.
do not object to your having each
some prominent object of life; but you
must realize your fractional condition, and
prosecute your particular object in har-
r,onious and comfortable unison with other
public spirited men. The ultimate aim of
your efforts must be, that every human
being should have supply for all his
wants, the cultivation for all his faculties,
and an opportunity to reach the highest
destiny.
Many benevolent men have done good
by addressing themselves to the cure Of
particular abuses, but those have been
most useful, who had some leisure and
zeal for all good enterprises. You must
regard society, not as mass Of unthinking
kinds, but as a body polite, system Of
part. and members, each individual having
invaluable rights. As system, society
may be improved, but special Legislation
and special reform may verge to injustice
or violence. We want, what has never
been, the establishment of proper rela-
tons DeLWeeE IEeu dS uicu, onU nos 40
farmers, mechanics, debtors; or slaves
Geographical boundaries, hereditary hon
ors. and the color Of skin, have small
consequence, when our regard is to the
whole race, and all the powers, privileges,
and possessions of every human being.
w See that your remedies are at'ooys
proper.
! Many who assume to extr;cate society
from danger or an embarrassment, would,
if successful, involve it in worse. Thus
to remedy the excessive inequality between
rich and poor, some propose absolute
equalization; suggestion advanced by
Phaleas 1000 years ago, and effectually
satirized by Aristotle. And thus, some,
to carry on their war against slavery, in
sist on overthrowing both church and state
organizations.
As Americans, we can derive little aid
from the study of history, or even from
observing the present struggles in Europe.