The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-06-27
chxa,u.


No word in the English language is
more abused than this. Once it had q
significance such as lent dignity to human
nature, and even to pride gave beauty
and character, that otherwise glitters and
shimmers, like cold moonlight upon the
bosom of a lake, in bubbles and show
It gave character and dignity to human
ity, because the champion Of justice and
right not the hypocritical cover for viz
lainy and crime. When and where there
was but little law and less morality, no.
Bile miaded men yciuntarily united, and
went faFsh into the highways and thor
oughfares Of the country. to protect the
weak, shield the innocent, and to such an
extent as might be possible, to give secur-
ity to persons and property. Such was
chivalry and its aim, in the days of its
manhood, when Flaw and ORDER were, in
very truth, nullity. Then honor meant
something, nota mirage wherewith to al
lure the ignorant and Inexperienced
Deadly weapons were used as means TO a
necessary end, to be employed only in
case of extreme necessity. The sword
and poignard were not then honor, nor
chiyalry itself,nor were they, in any sense,
the badges of these then virtues. Nor
were they the watchwords of the faithful.
But how changed! Madame Chivalry
supports characteristics of altogether a
different sort, and is, to the sphere it re-
volvesin, whatsome one defines genius to
be: "a man capable of doing everything
but anything that is useful" This is a
mild illustration of what would be nom
descript in these times, had it not chang
ed in order to preserve existence. Like
as the days and necessity for miracles
have been done away with, so the neces-
sity which gave birth to ancient chivalry
has been supplanted by civil enactments,
and civil officers. Let Joe Smith and his
iniquitous coadjutors, with bold, high
handed blasphemy, assert the ability and
feign to work miracles, heal the sick, raise
the dead, and blot out sins, SO modern
chivalry, in the name and JUNCTION of quail
tiles that once were substantial virtues
attempts to palm off upon the world lie
and "a cheat. Murders, highway robber-
les, and assassinations, and outrages of
every name and color are committed, but
extenuated, then excused, finally sancti-
fed in its name.
High-headedness by no means pre-sup-
poses nor proves high-mindeduess. Let
no one deceive himself in this way, for we
have the admonition of the Holy Book to
the point that man should beware, lest he
who thinks himself something, may be
nothing. And who has not read the an
ecdote of the man who, when threatened
by wild beasts, betook himself to a tree,
which he essayed to climb with his might;
but,to his utter establishment when day.
light revealed to him his true position, he
was sitting fat on the ground. But for
the Light, or some other investigation, he
would never have discovered his mistake.
Without it, he might have been huggine
that "delusiye phantom of hope" to this
day, or died in his error. Blessed be light.
1t is to be devoutly desired that the Wis
ions of those which now are so darkened,
that in the glitter of bowie knife or the
fash of revolver they think they dis
cover the reflection ofreal chiyaly, or true
honor, may soon be cleared up, and these
badges ofsavage life and more savage men
be banished from civilized and christians
lied society. Churches and common
schools never flourish where this class oi
weapons are nine points in the law, ol
sanctioned by the usages of society. i
life and property are not secure without
them, they are not yith them. Men whose
honor and eonsciS Snces are hung to theil
belts-give them wide birth. Peculiar
emergencies and times, and constant dan.
ger from external foes, make such re-
sort necessary state of things to be de
plored rather than to be sympathized with
when such necessity has passed.
We hope to see the time in Kansas
and that soon, when the practice of car
rying reyoIvers or other deadly weapons
will nowhere meet with fayor-will b.
entirely done away with. They are th,
occasion in too many, perhaps in the ma
| jority of instances, Of serious quarrels ane
of bIoodshed. But for them and thei
high priest intoxication, these quarrel
would be amieably settled. At some fu
ture day, and that net far distant, we hops
to hail the rule of good will and justict
through this outlaw land. Not that thers
is any more disorder here at the presen
| time than elsewhere. or any to complain
Of, yet we are essentially without law
! Let the curse of this condition of thing
| be upon the heads of those who have
either inaHgurated or who seek to perpet
uate it. Wherever the sham chivalry o
modern date spreads its ragamufiin sgis
and men prefer the security of dead!
i weapons to that of conscience, law ans
4 love of justice, there is peace dcservinI
of pity, but that ought to be Stunned.
1 sssazn Eisiz.
Aessrs. starks s Guest are maxim
! arrangements for erecting FIopring Nj
4 with four run Of stones, and saw mil