Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-06-08
The Tract Society Again.

are too deeply tinctured for the south ever to hope anything from them but enmity and abuse. It has been said that the American Tract Society having refused to issue anti slavery tracts and thus far resisting the abolition pressure, will remain neutral.- But there are two facts that lead us to dis. believe this assertion. First, at the time they voted down the resolution to issue anti-slavery tracts and tracts against the slave trade, they passed resolution saying that they did so, not because of any belief that the i lave trade was not an enormlty and slave. " wrong. In other words, they admitted that they were governed by policy and not bs- principle. Second, the history l of all fana.icisms show that reason and com mon sense never did conquer them. Like the plague or cholera they will run thelr course of those who believe that the ia natical spirit of abolitionism may be con quered by argument, we ask them to point out single instance where fahatlclsm dld not spread until 1t was crushed by force or effected it's object. From Mahometanism down to Mormonism the record runs alike
 The difficilltv in dealing with these things is that the great body of these men are de- luded: ara so firmly grounded in their mis- taken nosons that they will not listen to reason-sre impervious to any appeals to their judgments. As much as we ridicule and despise the Normons; as revolting as their praGtices are; as abominable as their system isi there are thousands who honestly believe in' them. There are sincere, devoN men and women among them, earnestly and prayerfuliy seeking to do right, groping in the darkness and enduring persecution for what they consider religion. Many oftheir leaders are, without doubt, arrant rogues. They could be dealt with easily, but it is in dealing with the honestly mistaken ones, that the difficulty lies. Sowith the abolition ists There are thousands at the north, who, | following an abstraction, are carried away by their enthusiastic feelings; who honestly believe African slavery to be crime, and that it is their duty to denounce 1t. Skill ful leaders for political purposes, or for the sake ofgaining notoriety, encourage this feeling and constantly heap fuel on the flame. Fanaticism never sceps-never rests-never tires. It is conquered only y in two ways. It is either crushed or suffered to burn itself ont Mormonism will be- come extinct either by the utter destruction of the Mormons, or in course of years by divisions among themselves secessions and the dying out of the fire for want of fuel So believing when we see the abolition spirit effecting an entrance into the benevo- lent societies of of the north, we do not think that it will rest until it assumes con trol and shapes their future course.
 Our former remarks on this subject were misunderstood if they were supposed to in dicate opposition to the objects for which these societies were originally instituted or some of them. Those societies, generally local, having for their object the education of the blind, and of deaf mutes; the relief of the poor; the control of children who are abandoned; the restoration of society of those who have been forced into crime; all these are deserving of sympathy and en- couragement. There are others, such as the Bible Society, that have done immense good And. this society cannot well be turned from its legitimate purpose. In this and in other lands, and in all languages it has spread the Bible before the people, Such societies deserve all praise. So too, of missionary societies, where the money is fairly applied. But for their colonization, anti-slavery, abolition and infidel socities we have neither respect or goodwill. And if we find Henry Ward Beechcr, or any clergyman, no matter how distinguished, presiding or speaking at these meetings, we lose all respect for him and his sacred office There are so cailel benevolent societies in stituted simply and solely to swindle honest simpletons. There are others instituted in good faith to do good, such as the Bible Society, and are an honor to our day and time.
 Unfortunately, fanaticism, no matter in what form it first arises, takes q religious hue and so draws to itself many well mean ing people. We find a great many clergy men who make opposition to slavery part of their religion; who preach against it from the pulpit, write against it in the press and miss no opportunity to strike at it. That That others know that they are in error is no less true Their object is wealth, or mo- toriety, a standing among their people or desire for preferment. They cater to any sentiment that may prevail. They are oily, smooth faced hypocrites. In Utah, they would preach and practice polygamy. In Turkey they would pray with their faces to- wards Mecca. With such men the profession has been chosen as means of gaining wealth or becoming noted. There are others who from sincere piety, actuated by truly reli gious motives are content to preach the gospel and let isms alone. These men ''ren- der unto Caesar the things tbat are C@sar's and unto God the things that are Gods" And we do not know but that this class outnumber the former. They are more negative while the fanatics are poSitive- They pass through life quietly, while the others are active, noisy and dangerous
 We fear that the tract society is aboliton- ized; if we should be mistaken none will rejoice more Years ago when this feeling first arose in the Methodist church many hoped that it would be overcome by reason. But there are now two Methodist churches. In whatever society the question has sue ceeded in entering, it has divided 1t. And we believe if the Tract Society is worth ..ocor,;,oe ,o ne tho Soanar 1va trat q cnufh.