Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-09-29
Reforms and Reformers

we hau a little article day or two since
| congratulatiug the readers of the Milwaukee
News and Milwaukee Free Democrat, that
those two papers had concluded to abandon
all personalities hereafter, in discussing their
political differences. Tothis article the Free
Democrat replies as follows:
We suppose the Telegraph regards it per-
sondt to reply to charges of forgery, drunk
enness, incest, and of opposing the adoption
of a Maine Law Resolution in convention
on the ground that it would ruin our paper,
because oar chief support was from liquor
dealers, all of which and a hundred equally
false charges, have been made agains us thro'
the newspapers of this state. We know
there is theory and a practice of getting on
smoothly through the world, disturbing no
preludlces. ruffiing no mans temper, excl
ting no enmities, and being well spoken of
by everybody. But We never hear Of such
men beyond their own generation, for they
always secure their rewards in this life. But
history presents a long list of names, whose
personality, or individuality, or whatever
name you please to call it,--whose rcbukcs
of the vices of their times-caused them to
be assailed on all sides, and TO be accused of
everything vile. But their enemies have
! persisted and been forgotten, while the names
of the reyiled have grown brighter and bright
er to the present day.
The Free Democrat and ourself evidently
have different thcory,-not only as to the
most comfortable, but also as to the best and
most proper mode of getting through life.
/ We assume that progress is the inevitable
law of God with reference to humanity.
Progress is nothing but growth in knowl-
edge of the truth Therefore progress being
the condition, naturally the human mind
must have an aspiration for and a love for
radical truth. Then the difficulties and per-
sccutions of Reformers cannot grow out of
the fact alone that they are rcformers, for
naturally the popular heart loves reform
but it must proceed from the mode and man
ner in which these truths and proposed re-
/ forms are urged.
/ Again, we hold that the notices of all
men are essentially the same, but men see
things in different light, and hence pursue
/ the common end-whch is individual hap
/ pness-in different manner. One man is
pro-slhvery, and another anti-slavery one is
free soil, another bunker one shuffles and
turns continually, and another remains as
! true to the end as the needle to the pole, but
all seek common end in harmony with
their perception of things, modified by the
circumstances and influences which surround
them.
1t would be quite impossible for brother
Booth to turn pro-slavcry ; it is equally i'm
possible, without the necessary preparation,
for pro-slavery men to take his position.
/ What follows from all this is-that char
ity should be the main element and essential
ingredient in all labors of reformers and
our opinion is, that it is the absence of this
charity which draws persecution upon the
heads of rcformers Those who possess its
true spirit avoid all harshness of language,
all impugning of motives, all dcnunciaton
of individuals, and as consequence do not
excite and incur against themselves the ami
mostly and denunciation of others.
Whether this is the better mode of fulfilling
our duties in this world, is question. We
could point now TO examples of men who
arc quite as radical as brother Booth has
ever dreamed of bcing,-whose lives have
been devoted to reform, and against whom
n word of detracton has never been breath
ed,-and although the men may not live be-
yond their own generation, and may not
concentrate such Il blaze Of luminosity and
hate in this life as to shine out with unusual
brilliancy, we are inclined to think they will
achieve as great an amount Of good which
will live just as long and do as much tow
ards amcliorating the condition of the race,
as those who have agonizcd through life
differently.