Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-01

honey and Mount Pleasnut.
II isRq question whether all the negroes in
the world ought not to be exterminated.
They are so wicked, per sc, and ahe malig-
nant cause Of so much wickedness in others.
There is nothing like negroes to lead the
white people into the paths of ftransgression.
But for the negroes, the piously-inclined in-
habitants of England and the United States
would never have indulged in the profitable
luxury Of the slave-trade. But for the ne
groes, the soul-destroying offense of crossing
human breeds could never have happened.
Pade retro SdthdnWs. II is q wonder that
God has so long tolerated this stumbling
block and rock of offense to his elect and
the fact does not speak well Of the vigilance
of those 70 whom he has entrusted this
branch Of his government. Without desir-
ing 70 be irreverent, we would suggest
what is certainly, though in covert man
ner, intended in remarks frequently INDUCED
in by our orthodox cotemporaries-that
change in his local administration would be
well received in this quarter.
Our neighbor of the Gazette is in trouble
about the wickedness Of the people of Daho-
mey, who kill each other with freedom
which would seem TO indicate that the priu-
cipal business Of the Dahomans is mutual
destruction; while our neighbor of the En-
qsiirer, not to be behind-hand in zeal for the
exhibit Nn Of improving pictures of human
deprayi Z, publishes long communication
from Nd nt Pleasant, in this county-a
place VIII re several hybrid families are To-
cated--setting forth in much amplitude of
language, the laxity of morals which these
people have introduced. in that otherwise
highly virtuous and orderly community.
Now, what do our Contemporaries parade
these things for, except that in their opinion
some thing should be done about it? Per-
haps it would suit the notions of the Gazette
for our Government to fit out an expedition,
half missionary, half military, to convert
the DahomaDs, bring them to the knowledge
of the humanities Of Christianity, and teach
them better manners. A Bible in one hand
and Sharps rife in the other, is a mode of
equipment not unprecedented among us, at
least in idea; and with Greytown in our
memory, il ia impossible to doubt the eff
cheney of our national forces in reducing col
ored people TO prime law-and- order condi-
tioR. The Enquirer would probably pre-
scribe mob, and the administration of the
law under the powers of Judge Lynch, as
the most summary, at once, and effectua
mode to give peace to the distracted society
of Mount Pleasant.
We are highly virtuous people. To US
there is no occasion TO say ''Physician, heal
thyself." From the standpoint of our own
perfection, lifted high above the baser pas
sions Of humanity, summed in the especial
smiles of an approving Heaven, and pro-
tected by continual series of special provi-
dences, we look abroad upon the wicked
peoples of the world, ''the dark corners of the
earth which are full of the habitations of
cruelty" and with our souls stirred within
us, would willingly seize the thunderbolts of
the Almighty, and give the universe signal
example of our inability to tolerate any
siDs-but our own.
1t is fayOrite notion-ipdeed, it is the
current opinion which men er ertain of the
human race, viewed theologically-thatm man
kind are wilfully wicked. No man in the
world accuses himself of being guilty of
malicious wickedness; but this spirit of char
ity he extends no farther than his own per-
son, or his brethren, or, on occasions, his
own race Of people. Nearly all the social
philosophy in the world is founded upon the
idea that men love to do wrong-that they
do wrong for the love of it. We are con-
stantly charging persons and peoples with
knowing and wilful sin and crime, and
wiekedness-with malignant defiance of
God, contempt of his law, and impatience at
the restraints which society imposes. But
for he'll and the hangman-such is the story
in brief-men would spring at each others
throats, and the human race would either
destroy itself, or God would become SO horri-
fed with the aspect of things, that he would
be restrained to close the scene by general
destruction of mankind.
Now we do not suppose there is much
wilful wiekedness in the world. Peoples
are not, as such, wilfully wicked; nor are
sane men and women. Doubtless the people
ofDahomey do as well as they know how;
and the pepper-and-salt families of Mount
Pleasant probably walk in such light as has
been Vouchsafed to them, and they are capa-
bic to receive. Historians who write from
the theological standpoint are prone to put
themselves in the place of the malignant
God of theology, and describe what they see
as they suppose il would look to Him. The
result is exaggeration which bears the ap-
pearsnce Of malignity, and produces nearly
the same effects. Were the Dahomans as
murderous as they have been represented,
their fate would have been that of the Kill
kenny cats long time ago. There would
have been none to kill none to be killed.
Dahomey is described as a society bent on
selfdestruetion: now, no such thing as this
ever occurred-none ever will occur. Col
lectiye suicide is not in human things among
the possibles; and whatever report processes
to describe such a state is palpably untrue
The Government Of Dahomey is probably
suited to the character of the people: all gov
ernments are so, when the popular character
is the thing upon which they are nodded
Despotism as well as republicanism has its
place, and is just as legitimately begotten.
We do not need 10 or0a niza a nr,saJo 80