The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-20
The Utica Convention-ssOve Evil
with Good"

The Utica COnventlOn-<3Ov Evil
with Good.~
The convention system in this country Ia
generally an immense nuisance, and what are
called philanthropic conventions are the most
stupid Of all. They are generally made up of
men who seem like women, and women who
strive to appear like men, 80 far as the obltera-
ton Of all feminine delicacy goes to that end.
These philosophers always delight in calling
their conventions by mysterious, and, on some &C.
casioQs, inappropriate names. Thus we see an
nounced an "harmonial" convention, and should
suppose that its meetings referred to music, per-
haps to assist the French government in fixing a
normal pitch; but no, instead Of indomitable Ma
poleonic or mercurisl imress0rio, charming prime
donns, or gentle tenors, agreeable pianists, or
cratic composers or distinguished fddlers, we
find only deputation Of new lights from the
Esprit world" wound up and set running by
some brilliant luminary who has discovered the
"harmony of the spheres" and who doubtless
plays admirably well on the harp Of thousand
strings.
Far more esthctic than the harmoniai idea was
that of the philanthropists who called the
Utica Convention, the object Of which was
ito overcome evil with good" Public
oratory in this country is notoriously discursive
and verbose; In choice Of subjects our speakers
for the purpose Of speech-lnaking, are al
ways ingenious in finding themes which will
permit Of the greatest superhuity Of words
with the smallest possible amount Of ideas !;
but the orators of Utica have ontdone all
who have preceded them in their line. First,
they had splendid opening to chop logic in as
pertaining what is good and what is evil, rela-
lively considered. Well, allowing that matter
to have been settled, we come to the considcra-
ton of the causes of the preponderance of evil,
and the proper means to be taken to bring about
golden age, when everybody shall be good,
when there shall be no more fighting, no more
naughty boys to laugh at the Boomers or to
throw eggs at Brother Foster. The field is a
grand ono, and so FIR as the length Of the de-
bates are concerned it was fully cultivated. AS
forensic curiosities we gave yesterday pref
ty full report Of the proceedings at Utica, and
the entertaining record is continued in our i'm
preston Of to-day.
The Convention, as it appears, was an incon-
gruous mixture Of all the odd fish Of the day.
There were abolitionists of the good old rioting
and niger exciting order; Boomers, with
shakey legs; spiritualists, who were not free
lovers, and spiritualists who were. Then there
was the free lover, per Sc, well as several pro-
fame scoffers, who took up the opposition side of
the matter, probably to give piquancy to the
proceedings which, for the most part, are repeti-
tons of worn out sensual sophistries or mis-
cradle blasphemies, which have been spouted
from every town hall in the country by itinerant
abolition lecturers Some of the orators thought
that the niggers originated all the evil in the
country; others that the laws regulating mar
riagc were responsible for our awful condition;
another advocated the adoption Of the Boomer
costume as a cure for all social evils, and still
another proposed spiritualism as panacea
II was like a convention Of quack doc
tors, each with his own patent medi-
cine, and refusing to admit for a mo-
men. the prescription Of competitor. SO
we find Mr.. Stephen Foster advising the slaves
TO rise against their masters Mr.. Henry Wright
declairning against the church, and turning n
dirty penny by the sale Of q filthy book, and
Mrs. Julia Branch requesting the Legislature to
legitimatise all children born out Of wcdlock.
A spiritualist lady from st. Louis pitches into
Foster, and sort Of free oratorical fight COM
menccs, and from the tone Of the debates IL win
be generally believed that the spirit of evil was
- .sr,,,,,, Il; tba oauyant;or roor, m a., ,l,,
world out Of doors. The philosophers came to
the conclusion that they knew nothing whatever
Of the solution OF The social problems which they
had 20 extensively discussed, and 80 went home,
each thinking what fool the other was.
II Is quite certain that such gatherings as that
of Utica can do no good, and II is more than
probable that they have already worked
much mischief The resolution Of the woman
Branch offers direct premium for prostitution,
by legalsing lust. II Is too absurd on its face
TO be considered seriously for moment, and we
can only smile at the bunging Of these quacks,
who attempt 10 cure social evils with resolutions
and speeches. The women OF the free love
school-and they seem TO be the leaders OF the
spiritualist and womcn's rights cliques OF the
day-arc out Of their proper sphere. They should
not adopt half way measures, but proceed at
once to take up their residences at certain free
love establishments which carry into practical
effect all their doctrines and which were in ex-
istcnce some time before they entered the field.
SO far as seniority goes the free lovers Of Church
and Mercer streets must take precedence over
tho Utica branches OF the same school.
Az INDEPENDENT TICKET FOR CORPORATION
OFrIcERs.--In the disorder and confusion which
exist among all the political factions in this
city, the old proverb may be realized "when
rogues fall out honest men come by their own"
While the wire pullers Of the different factions
ara cr,,al,b;ag aluant which eonuittae and w hcb