The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-01-23
= nStItttious.
THE FUGITIVE.
A STERN FACT FOR PHILANrHRopIsr

Of all imaginable methods for the solu-
ton of political problems, there is none at
once so mischievous and unphilosophical
as the soi-d;sant geometricsl. or the pre-
tended demonstration Of social theories
from isolated axioms or abstract princi-
pies, after the manner of mathematics.
This was the fatal error of the French
school of tho revolution; and the fog which
arose from so deep and dark a fen has
gradully ditfused itself over the whole
science of sociology. Eager analysis,
and even powerful parties. take up some
one general maxim as an prior; truth :,
and, by the cunning evolutions of logical
laws, pressing out all its latent consequent
ces with infinite pomp and noisy clamor,
announce plans of government and
schemes for the universal reformation of
society. mf.r-E .... 9sF
Such course of ratiocination is absurd
in all questions not strictly mathematical &;
for everywhere else the composition Of
forces prevails as the grand rule ofnature.
and conflicting elements modify each 9th.
er in the production Of positive facts
In the physical, a. well as in the political
and moral spheres. We very often find two
great principles in directopposition. while
the Law of their antagonism results in a
system of action altogether different from
the otherwise inevitable effect Of their sep
arate tendencies. .aa -aa
What estimate would we form of the
astronomer who should attempt to deduce
all the phenomena of the starry heavens
from the absolute truthdof motion in q
straight line /? But the vain tentative to
build theerems Of government and social
forms on the solitary maxim of liberty and
equality, or the divine right Of kings.
even where those ideal assumptions ever
80 real, must be thousand times more
ridiculous because there is no science,
either known or imagined by the busy
mind of man, which exhibits such an i'm.
mense. massive, unreasonable complex.
ty Of facts and conflicting forces as thai
Of sociology. e..l gat
There is another method, however, ol
treating political questions, which is in
efably still more turtle and foolish thar
the former. The ultimate. and indeed
only object. is to paint certain obvioul
evils Of society in language of fiery and
furious defamation, without either indi
eating remedy, or 50 much a. seeking t.
ascertain whether any conceivable cur,
may be discovered. ss--
Such. hitherto. have been all the inef
fectual results which the labor of aboli
tion have given to the world. Its speech
es. pamphlets, books, all begin and end il
this-that freedom is the brightest bless
ing, and slavery the blackest curse. Blu
not single disciple of their school, il
Europe or America. has essayed solution
Of the profound practical problem, how Il
reconcile the right Of individual liberty il
the case of the servant with the equal it'll
(of property in the master /; for by the Law
of nature and of all nations, civilized ant
savage, the claim of the man 10 the dis
position Of his person, and to the pro
ducts of his own creative soil, rest on tn
same primitive and unaltsrable basis
Whenever the philanthropists. with thei
tenpestuous pity for the black race. evinc
. corresponding sense Of justice for tn
white-wheneyer they SGT themselys
down in earnest to the mighty task Q
freeing the one without robbery to tn
othsr-then. and not till then. will tn
public admit their pretensions to sincerit.
and sound reason which are now yer,
generally either doubted or denied.
"Uncle Toms Cabin, I" that prose lila
Of abolition. has portrayed. in colors a
black as the ebon complexion of its hero
the numerous woes Of the servile class i
the south. To these dark pictures l wi
add brief sketch, II possible still NOR
striking and pathetic. but which has tn
misfortune of inferior deineation, and on
ly the advantage Of being true in ever
particular; while in this scene from res