True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-01
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT.

The Jewish Rabbis, who lived and -four
ishcd in olden time, claimed and exercised
supreme dominion over the minds of the
people. The Roman ecclesiastics, who are
their legitimate successors, have maintain
ed, and wherever they have had the power,
have exercised the same dominion. Who
has not read the maxims of their councils,
that those who do not submit to their de-
cisions, are worthy of death ?-and their
hlasphemous assumptions, which declare
that they have divine right to say what
is law and what is gospel, and the people
arc bound to say amen. 1t was by this
concession on the part of the people, which
enabled Pope Julian, in 1910, to depose
and to anathcmatizc Louis, King of France;
the masses submitting to the bull which
he issued, condcmning all who were found
aiding the French monarch.
1t would be very easy matter to mul-
tiply scores Of cases, establishing by the
most incontestible historical testimony,
where most withering consequences to
Church and State have followed such as
sumptions and such submission. To Weld
the right of freedom of thought, or of pri-
vate Judgment, is at once to yield the dig
nifty of a man; for what is it which con-
stitute9 mans real dignity, but the right
which he possesses to determine for HIM
self in all matters pertaining to his person.
al interest, whether as a moral or as q So
cial being?
To examine into the foundation of his
faith, whether in morals or in politics,-to
correct his errors-to ascertain the truth,
and fearlessly to assert and maintain it, at
taches dignity and an honor to an intel
ligent being, which casts into the shade
all the glory, and all the honor acquired
by those who tacitly submit to the dicta-
tion of political tyrants or ecclesiastical
despots.
1t is highly commendable to venerate
the names, and tenderly to cherish the me.
morals of our fathers, and of the wise and
the good who have lived in every age and
every nation; and to throw the mantle Of
charity over what we conceive to be error
In either their principles or their practice.
i, But to hold with death-like grasp to ei-
ther political or ecclesiastical party, SIM
ply on the ground that our ancestors we're
Of a particular faith, is prepostcrous in thc
extreme tt is to say that they were per
feet, and above the possibility of error
ID is to close the door against all improve
ment; for it is upon the right of private
Judgment, that all reforms arc founded
We know that it has been confidently as
serted, that to allow men the privilege 0
Freedom Of thought, is to open wide doc
for anarchy in the State, and for heresy il
the Church; but if ever recrinlination wert
allowable, it is at this point. To permi
dead mems bones to say to us what VT
must believe, and by what law We must b,
governed, is the climax of absurdity.-
Man, by the charter of his creation, is tht
cqual Of his brother man, and he possesse
the same rights and the same privilege
which We're possessed by his ancestors.
The maxim of Caesar was, to regarc
nothing as accomplished whilst there re
mained anything to be done. 1t was b,
practising upon this maxim, that the Ro
man eagles few to the interior of Asia
subjugsted Gaul, rendered Britain thei
tributary, swelled the Rhine with the bloo
OF the Germans, followed the shattered re
mains of Pompeys army into Africa, an
compelled the rivers which flowed into tn
Adriatic sea, to bear along the news Of RI
man victories
The true American party has done muc
in this country. Ithas stingingly rcbuke
many political hucksters and corrupt den
agogues of both the old political partie,
But there is still much to be done. RI
member Caesars maxim: "Consiler notl
ing done, whilst there remains anything
be DONE Free thought, free speech, an
free and vigorous action, directed by II
laws Of wisdom and prudence, will regen
rate the political world, and compel HUI
kerism and Fogyism to lick the dust.
e6rWe will now enter the names of ;
those to whom we have sent the four fir