The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-10-20
Morality in Government.

hHieIicai nepupllc, the ART OF govern
ment was the art Of deceiving and cor
rupting men; with us, when conducted
according to the designs of our patriotic
ancestors, it is the art Of enlightening
men, of advancing them, and of render
ing them all free and happy.
There are two kinds Of egotism the
one vile and cruel, which isolates man
f----- ~s-L:-sl, sod sCUhs exclusive
and selfish happiness, purchased by the
misery of fellow beings the other, gen
erous and beni6cent, which confounds
individual happiness with the happiness
ofall, and which attaches private. glory
TO that of the country. The first gives
birth to oppressors and tyrants the Sec
ond to philanthropsts and defenders of
humanity. Let US follow the salutary
impulsion let US pursue the repose pur-
chased by glorious tolls. and let us not
fear the labors which intervene, if we
can thus contribute to the well being of
our country and ourselves.
Vice and Virtue sway the earth they
are the two opposing spirits which con-
tend against each other. Each has its
source in human passions, and according
to the direction given 10 the passions,
man is elevated to the heavens or plung-
ed into the abyss below Thus should
the end of all human institutions be to
cultivate justice, freedom, virtue, which
constitute public and private happiness.
Morality is the foundation of civil socie-
ty. All those associations, customs and
laws which do injustice to this natural
principle repose on crime and tend to
perpetuate political and social evil. Those
citizens who are SO unhappily situated
that their interests are identified with
gross abuses and intolera5le wrongs, can
be regarded in no other light than saya-
ges in society or brigands in government.
Indeed the mysterious science Of politics
and legislation, about which so much has
been said and so much written, resolves
itself into infusing into the laws and ad-
ministration of q country those moral
truths which are based on the very nature
OF man, and apply to governmental con-
duet these common systems of probity
which.a all honest men adopt for their pri-
vate conduct; or, in other words, to en-
ploy as much ability in causing justice to
reign in government. as has been expend-
ed in rendering it unjust with impunity,
and shamelessly tyrannical.
The art Of Kings and their accompiices
has been exhausted to escape the applica-
tons of true principles, and to obscure all
notions of justice or injustice. What ex-
quisite good sense is embodied in the re-
ply of the pirate whom Alexander the
Great had captured. q am called pi-
rate" said he, because l commanded
but one small vessel, but you are adorned
with the title Of conqueror. because you
ravage with mighty armies, and plumber
with fleets and naves." What impu-
dence exists in laws against robbers,
when men are continually robbed by
statutes which take the name Of law
Under monarchy, or where an oligar-
chy is dominant, the domestic virtues are
ridiculous, and public virtue are crimes );
tie only virtue is to be the docile instru-
ment of the crimes of oppYession-the
only honor is to be as wicked as the gov
erning power. Under monarchy, family
love is permitted, but true love of country
is forbidden it is allowable to defend
private friends, but it is an object of
punishment to endeavor to succor the
down trodden and oppressed. A monar
cfy respects conventional forms and
proprieties. but has no compassion for
Lac pbOi ~ PiotCN'o thO y NO VI tiiO
powerful, but it annihilates those Of the
people. We must conclude, therefore,
that immortality is the base of despotism,
as virtue is the essence Of Republicanism.
We ought. consequently to join govern
ment with morality. We ought TO in
spire man With that same sacred respect
for man-;hat profound sentimento of his
duties. which is the sole guarantee Of
social happiness. We should encourage
this object by all our institutions. Pub
JIG education should especially be direct
ed to this end. We could then developc
a great character, analogous to the nature
Of our government. and 10 the sublimiy
o: the destiny OF our republic. The OBJ
jec, is to form not gentlemen. but citizens.
Tie country should endeavor to obviate
.he pride Of family aud individual preju-
tlice--the eternal aliment of aristocracy
and should disapprove that domestic
federalism which contracts the mind by !