The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-18
PAST ERRORS AND PRESENT REFORMS.

PAST ERRORS AND PRESENT NEE onMo.
II is surprising for how many years mankind has
been shroued in ignorance 1t than snrprisingto
know as we do at last that all the greatest efforts of hui
man intellect have been devoted to the illustration Of
dangerous or ridiculous theories and that what our
cts have sung and orators celebrated have been ~
called virtues in the spirit Of insane nfauaton All our
history must be rewritten. The dead past must DC set
forth in other lights and shades. Philosophy itself Is
proved to be fable Deeds that have been honored must
be reviewed by standard and corrected by new
example Men that still regarded beneactors to their
race be pushed from their pedestas and the whole
structure of society," politics. and morals and
rebuilt from what have been foolish enough to regard
as its enduring foundations In word, we have fallen
upon new times. New men have originated new ideas
and we nconneny adapt ourselves to these ideas
or be swept perdition. The mistakes have fallen
into are at proof of own intellectual weakness
and Of our moral degradation.
Let us take the United States the theatre upon which
most Of these mistakes have happened and where they have
been most resolutely persevered in.
1t was great mistake for the prosecuted people Of the
Old World to indulge the idea that they could escape the
pains and penalties of State system of religious persecu-
ton by coming hther II true they found here new
country and native population but the idea that that coun-
try could successfully resist the proscrpye example OF the
tyrants Of Europe dream like that which Tiled the
minds Of the early advenures who looked upon this hem
isphere as a land whose streams amber and whose
sands were gold What right had they to expect that
such land would be reserved to them their descend
ans2 What bad they to suppose that others would
not come after them with the sword and the brand, the
torture and the stake?
1t mistake ALSO suppose that the foreigners who
assisted in the revolution have not been fully paid off
for their scrvcesye paid off and discharged. 1t would
be greater mistake possible to suppose that these men
fought for anything but pay. Their whole adventure
proves to be a shrewd speculation while We Who have
been looking upon them many heroes and gods must
revise our reveena emotions aud rate them the merest
soldiers of fortune.
1t is grand mistake to suppose that George Washing
had any regard for the foreigners who fought in the
revolution On the contrary, recent researches prove,
he all the time their secret enemy The letters and
speeches which been reading his and approving
because they were his are doubtless wretched forgeres
It is important that in adopting the version of his
character and his sentiments should also correct
admiration for Lafayette and his foreign compatrots be-
is clear enough that Washington had little
no respect for them
1t also grievous mistake to suppose that there
any such thing religious liberation in the creed Of
revolutionary ancestors Our odiashioned notions of
Roger Williams William Penn and George Calvert must
be thrown OF as so many worn-out clothes Williams
miserable old fanatic PENN trader in lands and in In
dian goods and Lord Baltimore rantng Catholic whose
violence and bigoy only exceled by that other i'm
postor, Charles Carroll of Carroton.
Such are few Of the popular errors which the new
Lnf>r
The age in which live is age of and Of
formof new manners and new men, And all Of us that
have souls be saved bow down to the teachings of
the oaces that have risen among to set this crooked
world straight Our condition will be peculiar after the
reform complete But if discard such foreign works
the Bible, Milton, Shakspeareif throw aside
all respect for Magma Chara with its machinery OF abas
corpus, trial by jury &c.f We establish quarantine
beyond which nothing shall come that is not purely
American whether of men thingsat least, We shall
have happier Arcadia than that Of old What need of
the antquated authors have named when we can pre-
the recollecons and the writings Of Mrs Stowe Miss
Bunkley and the honorable Ned Buntine2 What need Of
the Bible if Mormonsm is retained in the pale of society
an of-shoot of our revived na.ivsm2 What need of
great from other lands while William Poole Henry
Wilson, and their great Deeds left among guide
and guard US? Let remember happy lot and thank
God that have such Mentors instruct and such
men to direct wandering steps.
GOVERNOR REEDER AT HOME
The Eason (Pa Argus, the leading democratic journal
in the tenth legion which has thrown such immense ma
jores for good principles fer many years. and publish
cd the residence of Governor Reeder has the following
article in its issue Of the 10th of May:
wsdesgn At this time nocngbu two papable falschood