The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-06-13
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AlV 10 AINOaAu6 WhNtA WV Aluku udkcb
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That may not be prejudiced with my
readers, I preface the reflections which
follow, by saying, that the present attitude
Of this Government is right, according to
the existing status Of the races Of man
and that as citizen ofthe UnitedStates, l
fully endorse the war; as the.only way to
maintain the nations honor and perpetuate
to man the degree Of civil, social and rc.
ligious liberty we have attained, under
our system : believing as do, that the
Am erican system 81 of-GoyeTnment is great,
ly in advance Of all others and that its
destruction at this time would throw back
Tor an indefinite period, perhaps for ages,
human progression. l leave for the dis.
cussion Of those who choose to take it up,
the doctrines, that the war is Legitimate
and necessary evil crater, from which
society throws off he heated lava Of its
depraved passions, to prepare for the
buding and development of the better
qualities oi its nature; or, in another form Of
expression, to prepare the race for more
certain and rapid advance. l ignore this
question at present, not only because
have another point from in which to pre-.
sent the subject. but because l am not oI
that school which holds the doctrine. that
"wbateyer is right prcfering to combat
vice and error in whatever forms they
exist. ...... .....
The first important thought which
propose 10 present, and one to which
expect no dissent, is, that the universal
practice of the precept, "do unto otaers as
you wOuld they Should do 10 yOu," would
OF itself, annlhilste war from the face o.
the earth: and in the second place, l af.
firm, that man has ina,ely, the moral quail
6cations 10 carry into successful practice,
in the fullest sense, this divine injunction.
Holding then these two propositions to be
self-evident and incontrovertable, l stand,
in moral view of the question, wholly
opposed to war, in all, or any oflls forms
or aspects, whether the elements made
use of are physical. or moral,
propose then, in presenting wha!
may say, in illucidating my propositions
that all error, as well as the practice oI
vice, are the legitimate fruits Of ignorance
and will assume it as granted, that igno.
rance is only found as the consequence Of
neglected or perverted education. II
former systems have failed, both in pre-
cept and example, to fully instruct man
in his relations and dependencies upon
his fellow man, we seek no further for the
bitterness and selfish animosities that arc
continually unbalancing States and Ma
tions. The history of the world is little
else thar C Continued history of wars and
deadly strife. Systems Of moral training,
by which universal brotherhood was to
be taught and practicsd have seldom beea
attempted and when so attempted, have
had but brief existence. So much does
the selfshness oil man hold dominion the
possession of worldly wealth, the acquisi'
lion ofpOlilical, social, or family prefer
ment being endorsed and recognised a:
marks of honorable distinction, as above
any thing that can be attained in mora
or disinterested phylanthrophy, that mems
energies are, to speak truly, rather impel
led, in the direction which recognised au
thOrities indicate. These are, at once
, fatal errors in our systems Of education
and have Legitimate tendency TO fosIe
and perpetuate ignorance, and to inter
pose it as a pail between man aud his les
and most sacred interests.
Until this monstrous perver'ion OF th,
MIND from its Legitimate channel is brok
, en- down, and a rational direction givel
TO the higher attributes, no improvement
) in the state Of the .wcrld may be expected
t Man must be taught 10 know himself Il
know himself thoroughly. would teacl
him to know and appreciate the rights g
, others, aud to respect them, aud promp
man to render to others, what he desire
they should render to him. Our school
have failed to furnish this kind Of teach
ing, practically. The christian churc
has come short, signally, in efteclual Iy in
:, culcating this great fundamental doctrine
', at least to any useful extent The golde
rule has Been heard of, and talked OF, con
tnually; but no whore practised whic
i is the only way OF efficiently enforcing an
precept or Of securing obedience to it
requirements. How many can say the
practice this rule; none, fully. The chuUcl
and all moral schools continually proclaim
thar it is wrong to commit murder; tha
it is wrong to stealto bear false witness,t
: give publicity to SANDER, to speak that be
!. hind tho back OF our neighbor, that W
would notspeak in their pl esence. to opPre'
the poor, 10 take advantage of each oIhC
in bargaining, to substitute falsehood fc
truth, when our selfish ends require it,
= slight. or shun the poor, because they ar
t poor, to strive 10 lay up treasure in eartl
d en- vessels and more, that it is wrong
Q use profaus language, to debauch oul
e selves by intemperance ofany kind /; an
e 50 OF many other short comings; aud "
avery one knows that all these things ar