The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-05-21
PRINCIPLE,


York Tribune as follows:
The Tribune's patriotism has hitherto"
maintained a very praiseworthy mastery over
its fastidious scruples, in regard to such vio'
lations of constitutions and laws as the
emergencies of war might render necessary.
We are a little surprised to see those scrupes
revived in even more than their original
force, when the interests involved are those
of the sick and wounded soldiers-malmed
and disabled in the the causeswhich, in com
mon with all loyal men, the Tribune has SO
much at heart. We do not
attribute this to any decay Of interest on the
Tribune's part in this noble cause. We
only regret that one Of its intermitted
attacks of ostentatous virtue should have
recurred at a moment when it may do some
damage to so good a cause.
This is unkind in the extreme. Here are
two papers which long ago resolved to give
their notions of patriotism complete "mas-
terry" over their "scruples" about consttn
tons and laws The Times thinks it was
"praiseworty" reputation. But when one of
the partners finds his scrupes strong and
clearly right, and for once yields to them it
is unkind for the other to reproach him.
Perhaps he will not do so again. At all
events it is worth while keeping conscience
alive by occasionally listening to it. 1t may
do good for the men who have resolved to
subject their views of right and wrong to the
general notion Of supporting the Admins
tration, if they once in while allow duty
and principle to triumph over partnership
The general depravity in public morals is
well illustrated by the article from which we
quote. The principle is broadly laid down
and defended, that it is an abundant excuse
for violating constitutions and laws, if the
"patriotic" impulses of the people desire such
a violation. The people of the South adopt
ed this doctrine and plunged into secession.
The radicals of the North adopted it and
plunged into forcible abolition, confiscaton,
Fort La Fsyete arrests, suppression of news.
papers, mob law, and lynching. 1t has been
the excuse for crimes against law and liberty
more than can be numbered. Pos,erity will
scarcely find shef-room for the volumes
which the people of America made from free
prnci Piles into despotic principles, from high
and holy regard for the sanctity of law into
the license of radical majority rule.
There are not few thinking men who
began TO see the error made when they in
sisted that it was disloyal to oppose the
policy of the Administration, and the great
mistake committed in teaching that the
Administration was synonymous with the
government. Such men now realize that,
even in war, the Constitution had some
value to the loyal people, and that its viola
ton for the alleged purpose of perpetuating
the rule of dominant faction.
Nor is it Constitution and law alone that
men have violated with an excuse that an
"emergency" required it. Fixed principles
of moral right and wrong, established doc
trines of religion and Christian duty, have
been trampIed upon by politicians with this
same excuse, and the result is visible in
widespread and melancholy disregard among
the people for those once established views
of right, which were the peculiar character
istic of the American people. Churches are
destroyed. Pulpts are occupied by dema-
gogues. Political meetings on Sunday morn,
iugs, take the place of the worship of God.
The old hymns of praise have often given
place to partisan political ballads, or to
national songs" In the minds of young
people, "patriotsm," according to this radi-
cal definition of the word, takes precedence
of religion; "loyaty" is almost the same as
piety. The Administration is applauded for
filing the pulpils of churches, by military
order, with anti-s,ayery preachers, and for
banishng men whose only offence is rigid
adherence to the purity of their clerical
character, and refusal to use their minis
terial office in any manner for the purposes
Of any political party. Publications of a
"loyal" character are widely circulated, read
and admired, whose only merit consists in
being burIesques or parodies or Holy Scrip.
lure; and we have now lying before us one
Of this class, issued by radicals in New York,
which contains a basphemous parody on
the creed, substituting for the names of the
persons in the Holy Trinity the names of
military and political lealers. SO called
"relgious" newspapers do not hesitate to
compare such sublime scenes as the lrans
fguration of Christ with incidents in the
lives Of popular men in the country, and
clergymen in prayers TO God nersonfy
"Freedom" as a goddess, and with sweeping
creed, that wholly does away with the holy
religion of the Bible, returning to that of
Mabommed, or of the Scandnavans, tell US
that the dead of the battlefield pass at once
into eternal bliss, redeemed by their own
blood. We exaggerate nothing in this picl
ture We speak with proof of every word
before US. This is the aspect of our country,
under the rule of radical party, whose
religion is their own lust for power and
hatred to their opponents. 1t is the result
of this doctrine for three years past impress
sed on the public mind, that Constitution,
law, right, duty, religion, everything, ought
to be subjected to the requirements OF the
"emergency," and give way before the man
dates of the Administration.
The doctrine is ruinous. II is contrary to
the principles Of free government, subver-