Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-03-28

And the more extensive our observations, the
more perfect our acquaintance with history, the
more comprehensive and profound our reflections
the more severe our self scrutiny, the moro exalt-
ed and refined our sensibilities, the more pure and
acceptable our religious devotons-the more clear.
! ly shall we see and more deeply shall we realize
that the sum of all desirable power, of all pru.
denco and wisdom of all goodness, OF all bles sed-
ness desc rving the name are to be found only in
rigid adherence to principle. in opposition to oil
the wisdom the expedenco. the policy that can be
otherwise defined.
Policy in distinction from principle betrays con-
sclous weakness. 1t is attempt to substitute
something else in the room of absent strength
| The powerful do not resort to sratagem, to cum
ming. The arts AID the dcxterty Of our servile
political parties betray their inherent weakness.
II any party for freedom would acquire strength,
or even the reputation of it, it must plant itself
upon principle, and abjure Lolicy
Policy as contrasted with principle is the child
and the parent of folly. 1t springs from the lack
CT wisdom, nd betrays its parentage by it's prog
eny. II any one would write out q volume of IL
lusratiOns of human folly, he could not do better
than to narrate the expedients of some of our
shrewdest political leaders for the last half cen
tury and the results of them along with the blight
! ed hopes and disappointed expectations of those
frerds of REFORM of progress, and of liberty, who
have confJed in them, have hoped for some
I benefits to be derived from supporting them. Too
sagaciUus in their eyes, to commit themselves
W the Buluance OF principles, Known to be true
ana right, III the abstract, too sagacicus in other
words, to trust and obey their Creator, they have
been students OF polcy-they have been running
after exped:ents! And where are theyP And in
what condition are the interests they have been
looking after7
| Policy, in distinction from prnciple, never form.
ed character of true moral excellence, or good
ness. We have phlanhropists, such as they ale,
OF whom our phrenologsts say, truthfully enough,
as the world knows (whether they Judge from
their bumps or their history that they have large
benevolencc, but not particle OF moral percep
tion The fact intended to be indicated, might be
as manifest without the manipulations of pbrenol-
ogist as with them. But alas for such benevo.
lence. And alas for world waiting for the fruits
! OF it.
Moral principle must inspire and direct the phi
lanthropy by which the wounds of bleeding hui
manity to he healed
Policy in distinction from principle lacks the ele,
ments ut blesscdncss, because, it lacks the ele-
merts of moral integrity, and consequently fails of
securing the divine favor Policy has no faith in
God, in truth, in principle, in law, or in duty
And without faith, it is impossible to please
| him."
All this is as appropriate and as applicable to
the of political life as to any
other department. cf human activity ov
endeavor. The prejudice that proscrbes prin-
cple, in the management Of public concerns, and
insists upon substituting policy is not more athe-
is:ica and unprincped than it is short-sghtcd
superficial, and oblivous of past history, as well
as of the current events of our own times in our
own country. Any man of common intelligence,
who has seen fifty years, who has rend a toerably
conducted journal, and retains any memory of its
contents, need he at no loss for sufficient ilustra-
tons OF tho folly Of departing from principle and
running after policy. in political life. Politicians,
parties, important interests essential rights, states
nations have risen and fallen, accordingly as they
have Eonored moral principle or departed from it.
Honesty Tor prnciple) is as preferable to policy
or struagem, in public life as it is in commercial
life, or in the daily intercourse of neighbor with
neighbor. Most men, in words, will admit this
and yet most men will justify themselves in the
habit of holding their proiessed principles in
allegiance, in political life where they think they
cannot afford to wait for the slow and uncertain
operation Of principle, and must needs resort tC
poiicy. w. G.