Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-10-10
The Rights of Man

There 10 q manifest tendency, IN the teachings
OF the modern school of radical politicians, to-
wards the rankes, Sl6delity. This is no new
phase OF politics. IL il the old story over again
Il has been the Characteristic Of "progressive"
human nature. in successive ages aud under every
form of government. Once IN a century or so
the world sees revival OF this school Of politi-
Clans aud philosophers. and with every revival
they seem to be astonished that 10 one was ever
before as wise as they. They claim 10 be dis
coyerers Of new capabilities in the human race,
nes continents in the world Of philosophy They
teach and preach With an astonishing amount Of
self confidence, utterly obliyious, or utterly gno-
rant OF the facts that again and again, in former
ages. men have taught aud preached precisely as
they nov do, and have led their followers into
mares Of doubt and labyrinths Of difficulty. out
Of which they emerged only with great suffering
and sorrow into the old straight paths. Their
common doctrine is, that there are certain inhs-
rent rights OF man which every human being
possesses because he is human being, neither
inheriting them from bis fatbers, nor deriving
them by any gift from king, or government, or
other Ii is worth while, sometimes, TO go
into an argument on the extent OF these rights
with the men who believe in them. For exam
pie, they assert with great confidence, Every
man has a right to live" Ii seems a plain prop
osition, and hard 10 deny; but ask the converse,
"Has every man right to die whenever he
wishes to do sof" and il seems toeraby GER
tain that The right to live is rather duty, mat
ter Of compulsIon from some higher power, than
q liberty which belongs TO the man.
In truth, u vast amount OF these so-called
rights are found, when examined, to be duties,
dependent on the several places and relations in
which men find themselves. Lie. especially in
political relations, is essentially in bonds and
matter Of obligations. All political rights, So
4 ~. II
defined by law, which is intended 10 secure the
rights of men by compelling the performance of
duties by men.
There can &c no question that there is no in
hersnt right Of self-governmsnt in young man
of sixteen. eighteen, twenty years old. de
has no right TO demand the privilege Of suffrage
in a country like this. The fact that he may
acquire that right when he is twenty-one years
Of age is the result of law. and not the operation
of any natural righE. Following out this illus
tratiOn, il is very easy TO see that there Is no
force reason in the cutlery OF the radicals
against Connecticut, for denying 10 the negro
what they call his rights as a man. No individ-
usl in Connecticut has any political rights
cept such ne derives from the gilt vi the gov
erning power there. No man votes there be-
cause he is a man All who vote do because
the law makes them voters. The theory Of the
radicals not only ignores the necessity OF dstinc
tions among them growing out of the relations
Of dependence and support, but II goes to tho
length of erecting human rights" above the
very decroes of God In effect, il denies the
periority OF the Deity. Ii would follow
man into the other world. attack the
theocr.cy of heaven, and insist that into
whatever state Of existence man goes, be
must carry with him the right OF suffrage.
The good orthodox Christian people who have
somewhat blindly followed the lead OF radical
ism, have closed their eyes to the fact that most
of the men who have for several years held TO
the radical ideas have become inhdels. A few
years ago there were almost no radicals among
Us who were not avowed inhdels. To be con-
sistent, il was necessary that they should be 80
The first step toward il was always in the decla-
ration, Ii thought the Bible taught any such
doctrine as that. would not believe in the
Bible" This expression has been used thou
sands OF times within few years by well-mein-
ing people, and it is unfortunately true that most
of those who have used il have lost respecs for
the Revelation, and have adopted the religion Of
human rights as expounded by human reason.
There is none of that license, which radical men
call liberty, in the thsoTy of the Bible Its reli
gion is a religion Of stern law and terrible penal
ties. It's liberty is purchased only at great
price, and that liberty is found in the absolute
subsection Of the whole soul to the Law and the
law Oliver.
Let Us hope that the time has come for a
change. The check which has been given to the
onward march OF fanatcism within few weeks
is adording the opportunity for men TO open their
eyes and where they are. We have been
carried on by the rampant will OF dominant
party legslstng as it pleased acting as il pleased
without legislation. Now let US see where We
are in politics aud in religion. and whittier going
N. Y. Journal of Commerce.