The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03

to the solution of the great problem Of the
progress OF mankind towards social happiness
apd benefcent government. That higher stage
of social happiness, that purer form of republi-
can government, to which we are tending, are but
fsntly Swallowed forth in the disturbed trans
ition scenes through which we are passing and
even in the most perfect institutions which have
yet been framed from the confused materials of d.
lapidated and decaying systems. Present defects
and imperfections no more warrant conclusions
against that better future which has been indicated
than the incompleteness of the development of
Christian principles justifes fear of the ultimate
failure of Christianity itself.
1t is a law of human progress that no work or
structure proceeding from human hands shall
come forth complete and perfect improvement,
at the cost of labor and of trial. and even suffer-
fng-endless improvement, at such cost is the
discipline of human nature.
What, then, shall be the rule of our own con-
duct? Shall We grasp and hold fast to existing
constitutions, with all their defects and defcien-
cies, and save them from needed amendment or
shall we amend and complete them, and so pre-
vent reactions, and the need of sanguinary revo-
1utions2 Shall we compromise the principles of
Justice, freedom, and humanity, by compliances
with the counses of interested cupidity slavish
fear or shall we stand fast always in their de-
fence2 / know no better rule of conduct than
that of the Puritans. Indeed | know none other
that is sure, or even safe. Nor can even that
great rule be followed successfully without adopt
ing their own noble temper and spirit. They were
faithful, patient, and persevering. They forgot
themselves and their own immediate interests and
ambitions, and labored and suffered, that after
coming generations, among which we belong,
might be safer and freer and happier than them
selves Ii can never be too well understood that
the generations of men, in moral and political
culture, SOW and plant for their successors. "Let
it not be grievous to you," said Bradford, the
mock but brave and constant leader, to the small
and forlorn Pilgrim commonwealth, that he was
landing on this rock in mid-winter-"L Let it not
be grievous to you that you have been made in
struments to break the ice for others. The honor
shall be yours, to the worlds end" Such was the
only worldly encouragement the truthful founder
of the Plymouth colony could give to his guile
less comrades. Happily, the Pilgrims needed no
other.
1t is familiar law of nature. that whatever
grows rapidly also declines speedily. Time and
trial are necessary to the full vigor with
out which no enterprise can endure. 1t was only
by long, perious, and painful endurance and con-
troversy that the Puritans acquired the discipline
which, without consciousness of their own quail
fed them to be the leaders of the nations
There can be neither great deeds nor great
endurance without faith; and true, firm, enduring
faith can only be found in generous and noble
late on frequent and ever-recurring treacheries
and assertions by allies, such as Milton graph
cally describes:
Another the who coming in the course ofthes
affairs to have their share in great actions above the
form OF law or custom, at least to give their voice and
majesty and grandeur OF some noble decd; if they
ncwly entered into great sin. disputng preccdents
perishes for of deeds in substance done with lust
and faithful expedition ohese wish instruction
and virtue equal 10 their calling"
Nor will all these qualities suffice, without dis
erection and gentleness, as well as firmness of
temper. The courageous reformer will shrink
from no controversy, when the field is open, the
battle is set, and the lists are fair. But on the
other hand, he will neither make nor seek occa-
sions for activity; and he will be always unim-
FASHIONED. Truth is not aggressive; but like the
Christian religion, is first pure, then peaceable
Nor need the reformer fear that occasions for duty
will be wanting Error and injustice never fail to
provoke contest because, if unbalanced, they are
overbearing and insolent II alarmed, they are
rash, passionate, and reckless.
The question occurs, Whence shall come the
faith, the energy, the patient perseverance, and
the moderation, which are so indispensable?
answer, that all these will be derived from Just
conceptions of the great objects of political ac-
ton. 1t was so with the Puritans Their fixed
purpose to retain the right of conscience, fully
and ambition, and called into activity in their
places the fear of God and the love Of man. Let
them explain themselves
"Knowng. therefore, how horrible thing il is to fall
into the hands of the living God by doing that which
conscences grounded upon the truths OF Gods Word
and the example and doctrine of ancient fathcrs do tell
US were evil DONE and TO the great dscreding Of the
truth whereof we profess TO be tenchers have thought
good to yield ourselves into the hands of suffer
whatsoever God hath appointed suffer the per-
fecting of the commandments of God and clean
men, therefore, but trusting in God only, seek
him with clear conscience long shall live here
doing shall be testimony the world that great reward
is laid up for us in Heaven where doubt but
rest forever with those that have before entered
for the like"
Contrast these sentiments so profoundly self
renouncing and reverential of God with the bias
phemous egotsm of the French revolutionists of
1893, and contrast also the slowly formed and
slowly maturing, but always multiplying and
ripening fruits of the Puritan reformation, with
the blasted and shriveled benefits of that other
great modern CONFUSION, and you have an in
structive and memorable lesson upon the ele-
walton and purity of spirit which alone can adj
vance human progress.
Increase of wealth and commerce. and the
| enlargement of empire, are not truly primary
objects of the American patriot. These are,
indeed worthy of his efforts But the first object
is the preservation Of the spirit Of freedom, which
is the soul of the Republic itself. Let that be-
come languid, and the Republic itself must Ian
guish and decline. Let it become extinct and
the Republic must disastrously fall Let it be
preserved and invigorated, and the Republic will
spread wider and wider and its noble institutions
will tower higher and higher. Let it fall and so
its example fail, and the nations will retrograde.
Let it endure and the world will yet be free vir-
| tuous, and happy. Hitherto, nations have raised
monuments to survive liberty and empire. And
they have been successful. Egypt, Assyria,
Greece, and Italy, are full of those monuments.
Let our ambition be the nobler one of establish
ing liberty and empire, which shall survive the
most stupendous material structures which ge-
MUS can devise, art erect with all the facil-
ties of increasing knowledge and public wealth.
Here my reflections on subject infinitely sug-
gestive come to an end. They will not be alto
gether fruitless, if have been at all successful
in illustrating the truths that continual melora-
tons of society and government are not only
possible, but certain; that human progress is
slow, because it is only the unfolding of the
divine providence concerning man that the task
OF directing and aiding that progress is rendered
the most difficult of all our labors by reason of
our imperfect knowledge of the motives and prin-
clples of human conduct, and of countless I'M
foreseen obstacles to be encountered that this
progress nevertheless, must and will go on,
whether favored or resisted that it will 90 on
peacefully if wisely favored and through violence
if unwisely resisted that neither stability, nor
even safety, can be enjoyed by any State, other
wise than by rendering exact justice, which is
nothing else than pure equality, to all its mem
bers; that the martial heroism, which, invoked
after too long passiveness under oppression
and misrule, sometimes achieves the deliverance
of States, is worthy of all the honor it receives
but that the real authors of all benign revolu-
tons are those who search out and seek to re-
move peacefully the roots of social and political
evils and ayert the nacessity for .nnuinarr