The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-07-03
milwaukee Il Pr. slu CHEN Rn,,~~av


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Characterization.
This word is text sufficient for a scrmo,
beginning with the celebrated Miltonic &C
count of the revolt in Heaven and runnino
down to the rebellion Of South Carolina in
1860. There used To be motto honorcd by
our forsEathers: without Law there is nc
LIBERTY but that motto, or the sentimcn,
1t embodies, seems to have been thrown
aside by the present age rs too fogyish fol
modern observance. Governments of vari
Gus kinds have been instituted some good
and some very arbitrary; all however dc.
irving what cXcellencics they had from thci,
adaptation to the peculiarties of the people
for which they were established. The
Turkish system among scnsualists, the
patriarchal in China, the despctic among
Russians seem to be accommodated to the
condition of the governed, and until the
people Of those countries shall grow into a
different state Of public sentiment he is a
rash man who says their present systems
are not the most suitable to their wants.
and hence the best for them. Recognizing
each nation and state as entitled to the re-
gulation Of it's domestic matters, yninAu.
enced by outsiders, we arc indispoSed to
attempt the thankless task OF forcing upon
others system Of local laws which they
cannot appreciate, and which, how COOL so
ever in our. view, may be as unsuitable to
them as the rice Of the Chinaman would be
to the ESqaimaux or the tallow breakfast
OF the Greenlander to an inhabitant of the
torrid zone
Some persons require more liberty than
others; some are content to permit sort
OF supervisory care by Government; some
are proud of being but cyphers in a magni-
ficent Empire. The religion and the poll
tics Of these latter. are furnished to them
ready made, and what thinking they do can
be spent in contemplating the daily routine
OF domestic affairs. In governmental SCI
encc it is an axiom that without Authority
there is no Protection, and when We cschew
Control we forfeit Peace The American
Government is based on new idea: that
OF the capacity of the people to manage
their. own affairs. This is asserting that he
who is to be ruled is individually compe-
tent to suggest the mode by which the
ruling shall be done, and there is no
more correct idea in all the various theories
Of history. But in this, as in all other gov
crnments, we cannot succeed except by sub
ordination to authority. 1t appcars strange
that government in which the people are
participants and have annual opportunities
OF altering or abolishing most Of the laws
;hat may be regarded as Objectionable, any
dissatisfaction should arise. The ballot
box being substituted for the old cartridge
nox OF Revolution there is an easy remedy
Tor the grievance under which VIC may labor.
How Is it then that we have approached
time when National obligation is treated as
nonsense, and we arc now engaged in the
dreadful work Of convincing our south.
ern partners, with paixhan and columbiad,
that we are their best friends? Shooting
people, burning their dwellings and taking
their property is a new style of evincing
kindness and fraternity; but the North and
the South are now demonstrating this
method Of brotherhood Without stopping
to trace the causes which have led to the
difficulties now involving us may we not
charge the origin Of all it to that spirit of
INSTRUMENTATION which has been cheered
and encouraged by restless men to secure
positions in life which without the cultiva-
tlan of this noxious idea of absolute ind
cta'at independence they never would have
reached. We see INSTRUMENTATION in fami.
lics-the son or daughter of 10 to 1G is told
by meddlcsome neighbors that he or she is
not compelled to remain at the homestead.
IF the old folks are not good to you, come
to my house and I'll provid, for you"--
We see it in schoolsif the pupil is punish.
ed he reports to his parents; the school d.
rcctors arc summoned and the teacher dis
graced or discharged. We sec it in married
life--if the parties are disseminated" they
separate, so to different States for de-
crccs of divorce; perhaps do no. become
legally separated atall, each marries favor.
ite? public opinion" overlooks il all and the
world goes on as usual. We see it in
churches-the Rev. Mr.. Pulpit announces
doctrine that is fairly deducible from the
Bible; his parishioners generally believe
il, but if it interfere with their interest or
pleasure, or if it be Objectionable to those
who have the largest purses in sustaining
a,e church, Mr.. Pulpit is settled with and
less rigid clergyman comes forward to butter
the vices Of his hearers. accommodate his
reasoning to their individual ideas and
pocket their change. We see it in local poll
tics-if State or County law be passed,
though We are bound as citizens to obey it,
We each assume to decide if it he "right,"
and. If our individual opinion condemns it
we assume the preroga,ive Of disregarding
it and smile contcmptibly at the man who
has not the "nerve" to stand up for his
conscientious convictions" against all the
LAW that legislators can manufacture. We
zoe 1t in National politics-large numbers
al men deliberately tell the executors of law
that they are "fooling away their time" in