The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-05-26
Lying and its Effects,

| cause. 1T argues badness throughout. y
cause that needs a ialsehood to sustain it in
any part of its framework, may be safely set
down as unworthy: but one that has an un-
truth for its foundation, is doubly con
demned Such cause can gam no APP
proval from Il just God; nor from an hon
est man Well-ntentioncd men may, for
time, through excess Of devotion to a
theory, or of faith in leadership, fail 10
see the fallacy; but when they do see it
they VIII abandon it and the cause that
rests upon Il structure so untenable.
Let us give an example: This war Is.
bv its advocates, said to be carried on IN
the causc of human freedom. Liberty Is
said to be embedded in the Constitution.
The Constitution and Tie liberty OF the
people are said TO be put in jeopardy by
the rebellion. This IS the ground upon
which tie war to crush the rebellion Is
justified 1t follows that if the Constitu-
ton and liberty are not put in jeopardy.
there Is no justification for the war. / is
not carried on in the cause of human free
dom; aud all the reasons urged fer its
prosecution are fallacious.
Now the secession put in jeopardy nci
ther liberty nor the Constitution. Il did
not put either in any peril whatever. \
people inhabting portion Of the territory
before included within the National
boundaries drew of. Dissolved their politi-
cal connection with the remainder, created
political institutions Of their own. leaving
the others to enjoy those whom their faith
ers created This was AL The very
rights which they claimed for themselves
indicated their acknowlcd gnent Of equiya-
lent rights in these from whom they h2ci
separated
If the secession did not put in jeopardy
either liberty or its guaranty, the Consti-
.'t:;on; If j: implied neither threat nor
dlneer to The freedom or franchises Of the
people adhcring to the Constitution Of
1881, it follows that the ground upon
which the war was inaueurated and is
prosecuted, Is fsls, The cause OF coercion
LborS under Tie disadvantage Of standing
upon 4 fundamental lie. i is thcrc!oro
4 BAD causc--a cause which ~ measure OF
success can sauctify. Being bad cause,
it stands under the disadvantage which al
tachea to all bad causes; that It's apparent
success will be real injuries; and its tri-
unipl but a temporary exalsa,ion Of false
lcctl aud crime.
Who're q f.,lsehood is adopted and made
a principle, one phenomenon always fol-
lows its constant reJeration. Its deyotccs
seem willing to damn themselves, in order,
by repetition, to transform that which they
are conscious Is lie into 4 truth. The
repetition indicates at once their conscious /
ness Of it's falsity, and their fears that ii |
Will be exposed. Hence the daily, hourly
We are fighting for liberty:
the Constitution is in danger. There ap-
pears hope that by saying these things |
times enough, they will be able to convince
themselves and others that they are true.
l. is the instinct of = countcrieitcr who Ger |
titles to his coin, because lie knows it tG be /
worthless
These people do know it. The lie is
pal pable-so pal pable that it is q waste OF
words to go about to expose It. There are
some, perhaps, to whom this is not
plain, but they are those who donot rca-
son: whose opinions arc simply taken up
On trust from others in whom they confde.
But they who take an influential part in
political affairs know it-.know it perfectly |
know it as we'll as they know that they
exist They lie with their eyes open, and
their perceptions uuclouded: clcrgymcn-
the keepers Of the conscicnces Of the people .
-journaiists-th popular Instructors
place men, Office seekers, party leaders;
from the President, to the door keeper of
a party conventice.
It's always bad to have lie abroad;
but to have such lie as this, dragging
after it consequences so melancholy, and
events SO portcntous, is horrible. AS these
and events make up the sum
of our history, and are the iabricators of
our destiny, to foot up, in one product, It's
evil results, would surpass all human pow
ers of calculation We live in an atmos-
phcre OF falsehood: think, talk and breathe
shams and illusions. a horrid nightmare,
begotten of lies, rests upon The smoke /
of the bottomless pit, where lies are gen
Grated, rises up distorting and obscuring
the perceptions Of men, dragging their
consciences, and preparing them to en-
courage and justify crime Gin. Enqursr.
Loss OF Generals.
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