Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-02-27
coERcIvE MORALITY.

crease in our land and that its progress
can only be arrested by stringent legis-
lative interference looking to an almost
total suppression of the traffic in spirit
uous liquors. We have in this another
evidence of the tendency of the present
age to do things by force; to break down
individual independence, whether Of
judgment or of choice; to frown men
into self-denial; to use custom, opinion,
law. in fact. as stronger and more direct
than conviction and persuasion il de-
ternining moral conduct; to jam the re.
luctant between noisy public sentiment
on the one hand, AMI statutory pro-
hibition on the other.
We fear the abettors Of this compul sorry
method Of making people virtuous have
never fairly studied the philosophy of
their own principles, and that they are
little disposed to consult the laws of their
own nature. What progress is ever
made in the way of social reformation,
save when every step of it is brought
about by successful appeals to the un-
derstanding and the will2 Who does
not know that what is seemingly gained
by rude agencies is gained only for the
time that the agencies operate, and is
invariably followed by lamcntable re-
action
Nor do we believe that individual alb
stinencc from evil. if brought about by
social eonpulsion, is, all things consid-
cred, in reality good. We have no wish
to sec the prevalence of merely mega
tive virtue, or human passions tanned by
caging them in sumptuary law. We
look for higher results than these-re-
suits far more in keeping with the digni-
~ and majesty of man. All our facul-
ties, mental aud moral, are cast in a
shape to require freedom of choice and
agency as the very basis of moral i'm
provement and enjoyment; and every
thing within us revolts against and re-
sents the idea of virtue by coercion.
The whole scheme of Providence agrees
with this impress upon our faculties.
We are surrounded by influences which
we may abuse to our own and our neigh
boris injury. Temptations abound on
every hand Means for pernicious and
even fatal indulgenccs are given in plen-
ty. These things arc not withheld be-
cause it is foreseen they will be turned to
bad account. Why are they not with
;;Iei held Because life Is diseipline, not a
final estate; and because It is better, and
far more conducive to ultimate progress,
to Independent and robust virtue, often
at the expense of very much that is to be
dcpiored, than to secure trim morality,
with which the mind has nothing what
ever to do. ana, as our natural con-
situation agre th providential law in
demanding I'll a. all things primarily
affecting individual destiny, we should
be dealt with as having the right of free
choice, SO, we may add, christianity
cvermorc recognizes this right, and evil
IDENTIFY makes no account of the good
which is gained by compulsory influence.
Society has yet to learn. and will learn
we fear. at no little cost, that many re-
suits, desirable in themselves, even when
attained, are rendered comparatively
worthless by the process employed to
bring them about and that human ma
ture, dealt with as some horticulturists
deal with their shrubs, may be clipped
in every fantastic form without improv-
ing it. The immense amount of indi-
vidual anxiety, sclf-dcnial, enterprise,
action, which the more compendious
method Of working by law will supersedc,
is Of far more importance to permanent
progress than the artificial order which
law may establish Philanthropy, aim
ing to secure its high ends by means in
harmony with its own spirit, generates a
conservative element which, in point Of
strength, immeasurably surpasses all that
mere legislation can effect. 1t is the
true salt of the earth, and were 1t I'M
happily displaced by the more stringent
action of Legislation, would leave the
world shorn Of ono Of its most glorious
redeeming features.
Let but the scheme Of modern senti-
mentalists take effect; let sobriety be
handed over to compulsory instead Of
voluntary effort, and all the virtue which
is now involved, and exercised. and ma
tured in seeking the accomplishment Of
this end will remain dormant. Socie
ty viii lose its tone; manly, robust mo-
rality will be succeeded by pulling sen.
timcntalism mere utilitariauism, cold,
calculating, and soriid, will fist ener-
waite. and ultimately paralyze, the action
of conscience, and decent outside will
cover dcpravcd and rotten heart
-
DrAru on ,Jupoy KEY.-Tho Hon.