The Portland daily press., 1864-04-06


Knowledge" 1t is democratic organiza
ton, designed by its publications, to indoctri-
nate the American mind with democratic
ideas. One of the recent publications of this
democratic association is a pamphlet the title
of which runs thus:
sPapers from the Society for the Diffusion
of Political knowledge. An argument on
the ethical position OF slavery in the socia
system and its relation to the politics OF the
day. BY S. F. b. Morse. Read, discuss
difflss."
Now this Mr.. Morse is leader among the
New York Democracy; a sort of Gamaliel in
? the sect. He is one Of the lights of the dem
ocratic church. His pen is welded for the
honor and advancement of the cause. BE is
no illiterate, inconsiderate "small fry" who
does not know what he is about, or whose
views are to be lightly esteemed by the
sachems of the party. Such being his char
scter, talents, position and influence, it be-
comes question of some importance, to as
certain what his views are-what are in fact
the latest democratic yiews-of the position
Of slavery in the social system, and of its re-
lations to the politics of the day. Does he
hold with the founder and apostle Of Ameri-
can Democracy = Thomas Jefferson - that
slavery is an abnormal condition of man,
against and subversive Of natural rights and
natural law; moral, political and social evil,
to be tolerated rather than encouraged or APP
proved, transient in its nature, depending ex-
clusively for its support upon municipal law,
and which will pass away, and be remembered
only among the barbarisms Of a by-gone age?
mocracy has progressed since the days of JEFF
ferson progressed like the darkness creeping
down the mountain sides and into the valleys
progressed as does the virus of the rattle
snake from the extremities of the system to
the yitsls; progressed as does modification
when it superyenes, and gradually benumbs
the senses and deadens the pain until life be-
comes extinct.
The design of this democratic pamphlet is
TO show that God himself has established all
the fundamental and true relations OF society,
any departure from which is grievous sin
and evil. aGod," it says, "has wisely and be-
nevolently ordained a Social System for him
[manl perfectly adapted TO his nature. I" 1t
then proceeds to ask, "What is the social sys-
tenn which God has ordained?n and answers
thus:
at consists OF four distinct, clearly defined.
but cooperative relations, thus laid down in
the New Testament:
"Frst-CIvIL GOVERNMENT, in which the
relation OF Ruler and Ruled is ordained.
@Second. - The MATRIMONIAL, in which
a. -
"Third--The Parental, in which the re-
lation Of Parent and Child is ordained.
"Fourth.-The SERvILE, in which the rela-
ton of Master and Slave is ordained
snow, here we have drawn out by the pen
of Inspiration, Perfect Social System, the
Divine Plan adapted to man, as a fallen being,
In his disciplinary state, that is to say, to man
IS he Is"
Nothing, it will be seen, is said here on the
subject of the Races nothing of the peculiar
tiles Of tropical climates; on both of which
heretofore slavery has been rested; but the
words are applied to man, as man, wherever
he may be, and to whatever race he may be-
long. We are taught that slavery is as much
part Of the Divine system of society as civil
government itself, or the relations of man and
woman, Of parent and child, A society Or
ganized without it is not divine, or, in other
words, is diabolical. All the efforts which
were made ia Europe, for thousand years
efforts sanctioned both by church and state
70 extinguish serfdom, were sinful and perni-
cious; all the acts Of emancipation passed by
our fathers in the free states were anarchical
and heaven-defying and all the anti-slavery
ne Of 10 10. "a L.
ted In Russia, or the Dutch colonies, or the
United States, is unholy and atrocious. Such
are the principles inculcated by this society
Of model democrats" to which eminent law
yers lend their names, and wealthy merchants
contribute money.
Now we should like to know wherein this
new phase of democracy differs from the
southern phase. True, the southern papers
insist that capital should own labor, or, in
plain words, that the capitalist should own
the laborer, and some Of them assert in so
many words that the usual condition of the
laborer is that of layery, be he black or
achite. Our New York knowledge Diffu-
sionists do not use the same terms, but they
mean the same think. They say the scribe
relation In the social system - the relation
which includes and embraces the laborer-
those who serre, is the relation of Master and
slace, ordained Of God. We are not sorry
to see our democratic political economists
showing their hands. We hope they will be
equally honest in their National Convention
at Chicago, and put it into their platform that
the true relation of the laborer to the en-
ployer is that Of slave 10 his master. This
IL what they mean. They mean that slavery
Is the cornerstone Of the social fabric: LET
them make IL the corner stone of their polit-
ical platform. They mean precisely what the
Richmond Wing expresses in these words
$50 far from believing that slavery mus.
die, we have long held the opinion that IL Is
the normal and only humane relation ,ebieh
labor can sustain torard capital"
1t is their mission 10 actualize this idea: il
IL their only mission, and who, therefore, can
blame the democrat for resisting all attacks
upon slavery? 1t and modern democracy
have one common destiny. They live or die
together. One struggles to uphold the other.
III modern democracy is abandoned slavery
loses the benefit of all sympathy; if slavery
dies modern democracy loses its occupation
and has no longer mission to perform, any
more than the watchers when the corpse has
been buried beneath the ground.
THE ed REGIMENT.-A correspondent al
Camp Keys, Augusta, informs us that five
Il