Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-02-19

about either their own conduct or other 'people's
The truth IS, to be over-conscious of sin is itself
sln-wlth genuine innocence you might live an ace
and never hear of iniqulty. So also feel it to be
kind OF reproach to speak much of a country as
very moral country. 1t seems to imply that there
IS some unusual sense in that country Of propens-
ties to be struggled WITH or of rewards to be gain
ed BY suppressing or appearing to suppress them.
Such country may always reasonably be suspect
ed OF being IN reality worse in some points than its
neighbors. Our friend Major Trueftt is so much
impressed with this view, that he is always soIic-
ltous OF defending his native country of Scotland
from the charge of being specially moral country
de insists that 1t shows as much reckless mpru-
dence In commerce, as much erratc amatory en-
thusiasm, as high degree of bacchanaIian extraV-
agance, as any country under the sun. He calls
on you to look at its Darien expeditions and Stuart
rebelllons in the past, its Western Banks its re-
turns of births and of ''gallons entered for con-
sumption" in the present, and say whether that
country can be fairly accused of any suspicious
amount of either prudence or external morality
There may be few people constantly crying out,
Let us be mOSal; but you must not on that account
fix stigma upon the whole population.
tremendous problem every now and then oc-
ours among us; man turns out to be a frightfu
cheat and defaulter, or a dreadful prohigate, who
had for long course of years appeared as person
of profound piety and entire worth. The ordinary,
we might say the vulgar pronouncement on the
SUBJECTS, that the man was all along feigner of
good qualities and sound opinions and duties-a
successful hypocrite. A more candid and analyti-
cal view would admit some shade of sincerity, even
in this wretched sinner. We must remember how
much we can impose on ourselves; what struggles
thefe in between good and evil inclinations:
how natural resource it is for the erring to try
to make some consolation and atonement out Of
good intentions, blind gropings at rectitude, de-
al II, l.
others. There really is no Authorization for one
third of the hypocrisy nsincerity which we COM
monty speak of as existing in the world. In other
words, the possibility of a lifelong speciositY or
keeping up of appearances opposite to the reality,
has never been proved. Human nature would break
down under any such appearances in a very short
time, II there were not support in that pal pable
unmstakable power We have of self-deception, of
believing that we believe, of apoogisng for the
want of deeds by emotions and Disgusting the self
ishness of our opinions under fair pretences.
Ordinary people are so much in the habit of iudg-
ing Of historical persons by the bearing of the acts
Of these persons their convictions, that it is
difficult for them to read history in any other light
Thus, one whom We call prosecutor will always
appear as monster of wickedness, while any one
whom we call a martyr will equally seem to have
an indefeasible claim upon our admiration. Yetit
is perfectly certain that many prosecutors have
been excellent men. 1t is remark of Neander,
that the best Roman Emperors, as Marcus Aureli-
and Julian, opposed Christianity, while the more
prohigate bearers of the purple Iefrained from mo-
testing it. And it is easy to see how this might
be. 1t being granted that certain doctrine is of
the highest consequence for the ultimate happiness
of men, and a departure from it equally fatal, it
irresistby follows with a well-wishing man, un-
restrained as men heretofore have been by any fore
sight of counteracting evils, that it will appear
worth while to destroy heterodox few in order to
save the faith of the many. Thus it is, indeed,
that persecution is always strictly logical crime.
But it is more. 1t always has good end in view,
and may therefore well be the fault of good men.
1t is only when its bad results arc seen, or men be-
gin to fear for the responsibility they incur in act
ing out such dreadful things merely assurance
of themselves being right and others wrong, that
persecution is allowed to cease.
few ideas are here thrown out with a view to
suggesting fruitful trains of thought in the reader.
If he will only follow them out, do not doubt that
he will come 10 see cause for taking great num-
Der of things in different light from that in which
they first strike the eye of the observer Let him
find useful exercise in looking below the seem
ing and the professed for the real even though it
shock few of his most respectable old prejudices.