Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-17
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CHARACTER.

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baffled.
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CHARACTER
The Richmond (va) Whig, quoting pas
sage from q late speech by the Rev. Theodore
Parker, in which he invcighs bitterly against
the Northern People, remarks-
aThe account which this native-bor Massa-
chusetts man gives Of the Northern people, will
arrest the readers attention We should not
venture to speak in such terms of any portion
of the people of this Union We know some
Northern men of high principles and exalted
worth. They, however, may be exceptions.
The Rev. Theodore knows his practitioners bet
ter than we do, and we must take his state
ment for the truth. According to his show
ing, the Northern people are the most dastardly
and mercenary race on earth. There IL no
principle, no virtue, they would not barter for
gold there is no degradation to which they
would not submit, in consideration of having
coppers put into their pockets! This is the
Rev. Theodore's account of the people among
whom he was born and has lived all his days.
Taking it for true, does it not argue something
rotten in the state Of society which engenders
80 much cupidity, 80 much cowardice, 30 much
meannes? An invariable sequence is not with
out it's cause. Why does not this bold reform
or explore the secret springs Of this ever-fowng
stream Of corruption? Southern society gives
birth, by his own account, to no such monstrous
vices. Here, Notwithstanding the curse Of
African Slavery, we have high honor, LOYALTY,
disinterestedness and chivalry; ut the North,
avarice, treachery, timidity, and hypocrisy.
Why is this differencel Can any better rea-
son be assigned for il, than that black Slavery
is more conducive to high state Of morals,
and to generous and elevated public virtues,
than i1hite Slavery? Go then to the root Of
the evil. Set the Dhife slaves of the North
free, elevate them in the scale of humanity,
and transfer the degrading labors which now
brutalize them to the brawny arms OF the
black savages Of Africa whom the God OF
nature designed for such yocations"
This is tolerably fair hit If Mr.. Parker's
representation be true, it speaks poorly for the
workings of free institutions If there be more
cupidity, treachery, timidity, and hypocrisy,
among Northern People than Southern, it is
high time to inquire whether there is not
vice in the social system of the North moro
mischievous and ruinous than the negro Sla-
very of the South. The man who, in his zeal
against the corruptions Of Christendom, should
succeed in showing that in Christian countries
there is greater amount of irreligion, atheism,
cupidty, cowardice, hypocrisy, debauchery and
violence, than in Mahomedan countries, would
furnish pretty good reasons for preferring Ma
homedanism to Christianity if the tree is to
be judged by its fruits.
Mr.. Parker is man of intense tempera.
ment, with great capacity for bitter invective
and biting epigram. In his survey Of society
andits evils, he is apt to speak, not comparative
ly, but absolutely-trying men and things, not
by the average standard Of human attainment,
but by the standard Of absolute right. Once
fairly launched in dissertation on the wrongs
and vices about him, he sees nothing but them,
becoming oblivious of all palliating consdera-
tions or circumstances, and Of all compensating
good His imagination sheds lurid light on
every object; his wrath kindles against the
wrong-doer, and his burning thoughts burst
forth like scorcbing lava, sweeping before them
every living thing, without discrimination.
We do not admit the truthfulness Of Mr.
Parkers portraiture, as given by the Richmond
Wig Avarice, treachery, cowardice, aud
hypocrisy are not the characteristics Of North
ern character, or Of the American People, North
or South. The Public Spirit which has found
cd the common school system Of the North,
built up innumerable institutions for the Blind,
the Insane, the Deaf and Dumb, the outcast
and the suffering, which has supplied without
Government aid religious accommodations to
the masses Of the People, which has expended
millions in the distribution Of the Bible, and in
efforts to bring Christianity to the knowledge Of
Pagan nations, and has again and again shown
by liberal offerings its appreciation Of signal
services OF eminent men, is not consistent with
the representation Of Northern character given
by the reverend gentleman. That the North
is vehement in the pursuit Of wealth, is true;
but avarice boards what it gets, while the
North scatters with as much zeal as II accu.
mulatcs.
And there is good faith at the North--purity
in the domestic relations, honor among bust
ness men, fair dealing between man and man
in everyday life.
There is nothing in free labor to degrade or
brutalize the masses, as tho JVhig assumes
but much to exalt and cnergize them, and in
fuse into them manly selfreliance.
Lot Mr. Parker dcnounce the spritand policy
Of old political parties rs much as he pleascs--
they deserve denunciation. Fallen under the
influence Of Slavery, they fnisrepresent North
crn Sentiment and place the North in false
position. This will not be forever. IL Is not
avarioe, it is not cowardice, that has made tho
Northern people acquescent under the aggres-
sions Of Slavery: it is because they have had
no such direct interest in limiting Slavery az the
South has had in extending IL; because their
Independence at home, and their prosperity,
have not been directly interfered with by IL;
and because they have been peculiarly devoted
In tho Enderal IJnion But with evcry new