Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-04-30
COMMUNICATION.
Mr.. Editor:


last week, inasmuch as think you evince
want Of candor, and desire to avoid the real
questions at issue between us.
Let me rccapitulatc. In your original
notice of Mr.. Wright, you charged him by
implication, with advocating new doctrines
and attempting to found new scct-as pull
ing down old fabrics, "while he reared no
new and beautiful ediicc in their place. -
To this view of tho case, took exceptions.
l asserted, and you have not fairly denied,
that the doctrines he advocated here were
those which Christ promulgated eighteen
hundred years ago. And here challenge
you or any other individual, to show that
the leading ideas he advanced here arc not
directly in accordance with the spirit and
teachings of Jesus ny How do you meet
this argument? In your last article you
ramblc OF on an entirely foreign topic, and
fall to discussing with infinite gusto, tho
question of Mr.. VS. infidclity. And you
prove it, too, TO your own satisfaction
and to mine. l never denied and mover
mean to, that Mr.. Wright is an 'inidcl' in
the scctariau application of that term. Thus
YOU set up your imam of straw" and then
knocked him down with the greatest ease
imaginable! 1t seems to me that you wcre
as much called upon to discuss tho question
Of the inspiration Of the Scriptures ~
to charge what no one wants - deny, th,s
Mr.. W. is an infdcl in the opinion of the
Church. Certainly, if there has been any
subject touched upon in the progress Of tho
controversy which ''had no business in this
discussion, it is this question of infdsl-
ity. (2)
Further, took ground against your ps-
sition of Mr.. VS. "imprac,icable" theories,
by attempting to show that he used the same
tools, the same arguments, that Christ work
ed with and asked you if Jesus was "a vision
airy schcmcr'' because He preached peace
lie made no effort to reform the rulers tina,
made the laws. lie simply advocated divine
truths and principles, and lived them in his
daily intercourse with the weak and sinful
men around Him. How do you answer my
point? By sayiag YOU don't wish to mako
a comparison between Mr.. Wrigh. and
Christ, leaving the reader to infer that I
meant to make a comparison bctwecn them
lpnt it 10 your sense Of justice, Mr.. Eii.or,
if that is an honorable, candid way to .rea.
an opponent? Can what said b. twisted
by any reasonable inference into such a pur-
pose? If say of an individual that no
strives to emh,dy in his life and teachings,
the life AMI teachings Of Christ, does it ne
ccs-arily follow that compare I. i'm, in any
improper sense with the noble and pure
minded Nazarcne? feel sure tina, if you
had any better weapon Of defence at hand
You would no, have pressed tha. into ser
vice 81
Your reference to Wib ,rforco and Clark
son would be very timely and pertinent,
were your assumptions true. That the Brit
ish Constitution twas as much Of a pro
slavery instrument as that Of the United
States, Is simply an assumption, and des,i-
tuts OF any foundation in fact There is
nothing, and never was, in the British con-
stitution which .lnc'i9ncd, or intended to
sanction, property in man." and in order
to abolish slavery in England no change wa.
necessary in the Constitution In this coun-
try, the vcriest tyro knows that slavery can
not be reached in tho States without, change
in the Constitution. 50 that point falls to
the ground. a.
All tho great progressive movements in
the world have ever received their strongest
impulses from bold, earnest, unweared ayi-
tation-wha, you are pleased to term taH.-
Great men, uttering great thoughts with
unceasng, impassoned carnes.ncss. are tho
makers OF governments, the creators of poll
"e'ans and rotes. My great German name.
sake talked the worl into ons Of the great
cot reiormatory movements since the days of
Christ. Our very Institutions are the c,ea
lures of what you call talk, but what ! call
ideas. repeat what said before; give us
oniig h'ment, correct principles and beliefs
among the masses of community, and III
guarantee that the votes or any other action
necessary. shall be forthcoming when they
are wanted
What was it but talk, as you term il,
which converted one half Of Chris,endom IN
Professionalism What power was it tina.
forced the Emperors AMI Kings of Europe,
to tolerate at FIRST, and finally espouse, tho
heret'cal doctrines Of that greatest of in6dels
of his day, Martin Luther, Was it voting 4?
Or was it the mighty power of ideas, sown
broadcast among the people? What is it
that shakes the thrones Of Europe to their
very foundations, but talk Louis Napole-
on's rule in France cannot live a momep,
without muzzling the powerful tongue of tn.
Press. Oh, for ten thousand Mr.. Wright.
to visit daily every town and hamlet in the
North, to portray in words OF burning DOW
er the crimes of this nation in regard to sla-
very, and the duty Of every christian in re-
iation to it, If the pohtieans had labored
half as long and half as sincerely, and with
nall the sacrifice Of ease and popularity,
which he has done, there would be no need,
OF any difference between US on this subject.
The work would have been accomplished
long ago,
have no disposition, Mr. Editor, to force
you into controversy against your will
Yet, earnestly sympathizing with the objects
and purposes of Mr.. Wright, (,hough am