The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-20

- $780,. -
There win be public reception at the Executive
Manson this Tuesday) evening, fromS to 10 o'clock
We are authorized to state that it will be the last
drawing room Of the season. M'i i
PRoPAaANDIsM- HoT-HOUsE MORALITY IN POLL
H0 TICS. rHBA
There is no other word in the English language,
or in any language spoken written, which expresses
so many practical errors, in morals religion, science,
and politics, as this word propagandsm. Its very
appearance indicates stiff neck strong vertebra,
Immense locomotive power, and an unconquerable
will Il is not an intellectual word it is not logical
but IL expresses with peculiar force opinion which
is clothed with all the power and endowed with all
the authority Of truth go
We have in this country the best Of all specimens
of political propagandsm-a Sanhcdrm ofpuritans
whose politics are better than all others because they
are based upon purer morality and they sought
to be enforced reckless alike of consequences and of
cotemporary obligations. 1t is a fact that every
good cause is most liable to fall into the hands of
mere abstractonists--me NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. who,
having acquired a conception Of WHAT right
and just, without rejecting that the affairs of So
to be taken to pieces and again put together,
with such alterations as may suit the mechanic,
would force their theories into practice wholly
regardless Of their adaptation to the end pro-
posed. If consult the records of religious con-
roversy and war, whether in ancient modern times,
It viii be found that propagandsm-the disposition
Of the controlling powers of the day to force their
opinions upon mankind and make them the law of
the age the rule of universal government has
been the principle upon which converts have
been sought to be made and the dominion and
authority Of the rulers maintained It is the involun
tary principle of government, contradistnguished
from the voluntary or ''free-wil principle. 1t is
the monatchicaI or absolutstic principle in opposi
ton to the democratic or popular doctrines prevail
ing on this side of the Atlantic In it's nature it is
bigoted, selEwilled, unchariable, harsh and tyran
meal Its morality is purer, its wiser, its
creed more orthodox its ritual more devotional, its
life more sanctimonous, its learning moro com
plete, its government Christian and its promise
of immortality exclusive Propagandism is the
doctrine of foreordnation and election certified by
which the few are made better and wiser than the
many, and hold by that title patent-right of gov
eminent over them.
We have the purest political propagandsm in
this country-strange to say--that can be found in
all the world. Selfcomplacent, inexorabIy igno-
rant and presumptuous, the anslavery party of the
United States which is constructed upon an opinion
idea that slavery is moral evil, totally regard
less Of existing laws and Of all obligations arising
out Of the relations of the States to each other and
Of even the comities of civilized society, seeks the
enforcement of its peculiar tenets at the risk and
with the certainty Of the total overthrow Of the fed
eral Union. The principle, if may SO speak. by
which the abolitionists are governed is precisely
the same that which carried Huss to the stake and
Sidney to tho scafold 1t is the law of determination
in its incpient development If it does not reach
its utmost ends, it is because the power and not
the disposition is wanting In this we do not in
clude tho masses but we do intend to include and
describe the leaders and many insane disciples.
There is severity equal to that of political or re-
gious sectarians and yet it is quite probable that,
in nearly all cases. they honest in their purposes
and faith, and firmly believe they are doing the
work Of their master. Precisely SO it is with poll
tcians whose minds too narrow and bigoted to COM
prehend the general economy and scope of great
sybton nko tuaC Or6anlZou under our state and fed
eral constitutions, seize upon some single idea con-
nected with the current politics of the day and mag
Nifty il into mountain which is permitted to over
shadow all the institutions of the country The
truth of this may be seen in the fact that all over
the free States persons are constantly and exclu
sively devoted to what they call the cause of anti
slavery They know no religion, politics, morals,
science, industry that do not hang like gate upon
their precious schemes Of emancipation. Beyond the
pale Of their councils and outside of the range of
their abors' there is no philanthropy, benevolence,
or humanity. Their Sanhedrim is the source indeed
Of all authority and goodness w.
1t sremarkable indeed that every truly good cause
is sure to draw to its embrace class of mind which
is not only least capable of advancing its nteress
but is most apt to reflect upon it dscredit and dis
honor. The principle which would promote mi.
versal freedom and secure the largest measure
of human happiness could not fail in the alb
sract to meet cordial support by all classes
OF the American people. But it does not follow
that every expedient which mbodies the principles
OF reform IL appropriately advocated, because it
does not follow that it is timely in it's application,
that the reaedyis suited &, the disease and to the
condition VI th patient f7d'i "HH as. ff}Fi To