The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-02-04
PROGRESS OF TREEDOM-NO. 5.

In our articles on the Progress of Freedom,
we have not, nor will We initiate those who
deal out wholesome truths in ininitisma
doses, fattering our national vanity ard
ministering to the taste of depraved public
appetite, the text and commentary Of whose
discourse are, 1--WE are the people, and Wis
dom shall die with u.s." But we will use
the liberty which the occasion gives US of
speaking the thoughts we think, the feelings
we cherish, and the hopes We indulge, con-
corning the people of this country, and to
inculcate the duties which we all owe to our
fellow man.
We have addressed you rs the mouth
piece and organ, as far as these articles are
concerned, Of no party in politics and Of no
sect in religion. But repudating whatever
is merely partizan and sectarian, which are
too often the adiuncts and circumstant ais,
and frequently the excresences and deformi-
ties of humanity. While We would not need
lessly give offence to any, or controvert
opinions the growth Of traditionary error
and of amiable or unamiable prejudices.--
Yet, we must be faithful to our convictions
of duty, and having entered upon the con-
sideration of this great subject, we are
determined to present what may be proita-
BILE, rather than what may be pleasing to
read. We have nothing new, strange or
startling to prescnt-we can only repeat
truths which are rs familiar to our readers
as household words truths not the less
important because they have been often
repeated, and not the less imperative be-
cause SO often unheeeed.
But, if we can stir up your minds by way
of remembrance, and give voice and shape
and embodiment to some of the thoughts
which, like good angels, have from time to
time cheered you-if we have, or nay in
our future articles, succeed in placing be-
fore our readers distinctly, some of the
grandsr IDEAS Of the "progess of freedom"
and awake them to their common obligations
in resisting the outward obstacles that pre-
vents its complete tliumph-if We succeed
in pointing out some of the opposing infu-
ences within ourselves, which are intangible
which cannot be seen nor felt-and which
yet surround US like an invisible presence
and spell bind US so that we !" do not the
| things we would"-inGuences which must
be resisted and overcome; and, if our sug-
gestions as to action, should lead the people
of the North, to consecrete themselves anew
to the noble Impulses and generous patriot,
ism of our Revolutionary sires-it will be
all that We have right to expect and al
We hope to accomplish.
We make no great pretentions to extraor'
binary piety, philanthropy, patriotism, OF
| honesty. 1t is certainly no very high exer'
cise of these to refrain from laying rob
ber's hand upon our fellow-man, or to ceas'
from fellowshiping in the church, or hon
oring in the State, those who use thei
neighbors service without price AMI pa,
them naught for their work. AS long a.
common theft and common robbery arr
disreputable and wicked, so long will com
mon honesty and common decency-to sa.
nothing Of philanthropy and religion-pro
nounce as infamous, that giant theft which
consists in robbing man of himself, II
| converting manhood into chattlehood
and transmitting Immortality into property
and, while fellowship with the lesser crimes
expose men to dishonor and the peniteniia
~, We do not claim or expect that our re
fussl to be partakers in the greatest crimes
will entitle % to be canonized, and to hav'