The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-04-12
Wllturn - asheson the lips"

- Dead Sea frait
, II tarn . ashes on the lips
Everything which binders '.free though
and discussion" must be taken away. l
our legislatures were to enact laws inter
fering with our rights in this regard. in tn,
name Of our fathers, we would at onc'
rebel, considering our liberties tlenchte
upon. and humanity outraged.
Could the spirits of Revolutionary sire.
mingle in earthly affairs they would, doubt
less, inspire our ranks contending agains
such An outrage. All. are these sentiment.
true? Am not dreamingl Are not these
thoughts inspired by the spirit of an age in
history gone by? l begin to doubt
A dark page Of Free-State history in
kanses opens to my view. l see gibbets.
on the sunny plains of the South, strun z
with pale martyrs to the ght Of free dis
cussion. And manv Of the people say
"Amen!" they were meddlesome Abolition
ists any how.
Still we have to boast OF our freedom in
the hearing OF the world. Under our be-
nign institutions we have the liberty to be
free, but paradoxicsl as it may appear. it is
doubtful whether there is nation to be
found on earth making any pretension to
freed m. more enslaved What is to be de-
plored is, that while this slavery is of the most
abjec, kind, it is self-imposed and hopeless
because of that kind that destroys the sympa
thy Of others for US. and our own courage to
burst assunder our bands. Prejudice, party
spirit, and party leadership are the forges
whence come our clanking chains. We
4 fsin would think ourselves free to choose
! our rulers; but is it not too true that our
people are driven like a common heard to
the ballot box? How often do we hear the
expression, 'my father was De mocrat.
was born a Democrat, and expect to die
Democrat" Yet if you ask that man, wha.
are the principles covered by the name?--
At his peril he could not tell. Only let his
party leader tell him the party candidate.
and if he were the devil his tic 4et would
not be scratched. What has been said is
unfortunately not true of that party alone.
! When we pass from politics to religion,
the case is not much better. Party spirit
and party leadership. here too, often hold the
lash over cringing thousands. They dare
not question the creed or authority of its ex-
ecutors on pain of decentralization and the
frowns of those upon whom they have learn.
ned to look with superstitious reverence; or
if not from this cause. they have merged
their own individuality, like Jimmy Buch
anan by the Cincinnati platform. into the
body with which they are associated. They
have received. as part Of the parental lega-
cy, his religion without scruple as to is
having
"The seal of high Divinity"
So that ia this day we raise christians. and
churches are enlarged by natural increase. |,
Darkness" 1t would be difficult to see up
on this plan. why Psganism aud Mahome-
danism should not outstrip the true religion.
While the departments of politics and re-
lgion are thus conditioned, science is some
what better off, but not emancipated. Medi-
cine has its prejudices, parties and party |
spirit. 1t is divided into Botanics, Allo-
pathic, Hydropathic, Homeopathic. Eclec-
tic. &c, by the stric,est sectarianism.-l
SO bitter is the spirit that separates the
schools, ii is not improbable that mems lives
have been jeopardised to prevent some one
school obtaining more honor than another.
1t is really amusing TO see how these scIen-
tihc gentleman pounce upon stranger of
some new school when he locates among
them. Generally, the only way he can
save himself is to throw fire brands between
the sadducees and pharisees. This party
spirit bears the same fruit wherever seem
When once it takes possession Of man,
like demon, the longer it dwels in him
the more power it has over him. If he be
his OWE school only. If a religionist. he
cannot think of reading any other books or
papers than those of his own denomination,
and it would be outright wickedness to hear
q sermon from some, against whom he has |
vast deal OF prejudice. but about whom |
his ignorance is as great as his prejudice is |
strong. Ii politician. he will subscribe
for some dirty, filthy. mean, blackgusrding.
lying little by 10 sheet. published by some
brick-bst post office committee, and every
word in II, to his mind, has the veracty OF
holy writ. Ask him TO read some opposi.
ton paper, or hear an opposition speech.
probably. if he were a profane man. (and
if he is not be soon will be, he would curse
you. Is it wonderful that with such acri-
monious prejudice and party spirit we have
SO much ignorance in this country. and on
account of it are now plunged into civil
war? Is it not time that we take our reck
oning an see whittier we are drifting?
Unless we can eradicate that spirit which
prevents the fullest and freest Investigation
and discussion. both public and private. we
may we'll trembe for our liberties. But as
intimated in the beginning. this is some
thing that must concern every individual.-I
Each one must grid up his own manhood
and independence. think, reason, and dis
H.
thinking into the hands of some one else,
has taken the first step iu his own degrada-
ton and enslavement. Only a few years
since. the pulpit was embargoed to prevent
the discussion Of the great crimes Of intem-
perance and slavery. Why this unholy
clsmor about preaching politics? This is
the reason: error fears the power of free dis
cussion. So it always has been. Error
dislikes tha, truth should be left free to com.
bat it. When doctrines are held, either in
science, politics or religion. too sacred for
the touch-s,one of discussion. they are un-
Willingly it may be. but certainly confessed
Galse or weak. When auy man or set of
men forbid me from discussing ANYTHING
pertaining to truth or its development, |
should be traitor to my own and the free
dom OF society, if did not place myself
upon the extreme boundary of my right
aud hurl defiance into his face II men