The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-02-01

OF the earth, IS as sterile rs the deserts
Of Africa, and as fetid as Libby Prison
at Richmond. N
Docs a government Of force secure to
tho people the great object Of their pur-
suit, viz, happinessy Let the groans Of
our suffering soldiers answer. Let the
tears and the agony Of millions bereaved
Of those dear to them, by this civil war,
North aud South, answer. |.
Ask every though6ul man pud thought
ful woman in this whole country, who
have pondered in their hearts the pain
full ordeals Of human suffering that has
been, and have looked to the dark, un-
certain future with painful forebodings-
ok them tu tell if government Of force
for the last four years is safe to the end
Of securing to the people the chief OBJ
ject of their pursuit, viz, happiness ?
How, and where, and when is gov
ernment Of force safety and security
for the people? How is it any security
to the life, the health. the property,
the civilization, the freedom, the happi-
ness of auy people? All governments
of force are liable to the same dangers
and suferings that we nov have under
our government of force.
The object Of government Of force,
it is claimed, is for the protection OF man
and his rights, in safety. Bat in the
long trial of this Government, the object
has not been gained. A Government Of
force is, to the world, signal failure
1t is entirely unsuccessful 10 doing what
it hes aimed to do. 1t does not lessen
evil, but produces it it makes thousand
murders where there would not be one
without it; it makes thousand robbers
where, without it, there would be no
need Of robbiRg it makes revenge, and
cursing, and curses (; it makes sorrow and
suffering everywhere where it rules
Men who do not see curses unmeasured
that come from rule Of force, are yet
to have better sight.
/ 1t may be that before long, when men
hecome cairvoyant through terrible trials
in the human world, that this govern.
ment of force will be dropped entirely,
, for the reason Of its unsafcty.
, Sometime and somewhere in human
progress, q government Of invitation, pre-
cept, attraction, must supercede govss
Q ernment OF force--and this shall be sim
c ply for the reason that the former is UNI.
f safe and the latter is safe. Tho prece.
, dents are innumerable to show that q
r government of force is unsafe. But there
!. is not precedent in human history tO
e show that government of forgiveness is
@ unsafe.
Q The world has tried the experiment Of
Y only one government, viz, the govern.
ment Of force. It has had no experience
I in government Of attraction. There
has been great deal of the profession
}, pretence Of forgiveness in the world, bu
}. real forgiveness has never reached human
r governments.
: 1t may seem daring to question III,
}. usefulness of law and commandments
aad speak of their entire abolition.
% do not know that the question was eve
&c before presented. But the advancement
1t in human progress will, in the future
Il bring this subject up and hold it up 70
n adoption aud practice. This new govern
1t ment is simply forgiveness substitute,
/. for penalties; it is simply the Christian
r ty of Christ substituted for the Chris
/, tianity of the Churches it is mans hu
d manity in the place Of his inhumanity
a it is the exercise Of his better, instead o
I, his meaner nature it is the silent volc
IN Of mans inner promptings, instead Q
In the clunk and clauor Of externalism;
to is the ever increasing power Of man
IN spiritual nature, instead Of the iallin
S, power Of his physical nature.
s. The way we may judge Of the safet
US of this new government is not by prec,
dent, but by careful analysis will sho
er that mans nature was not made for {
no adapted to a government Of force, but f
RS government Of attraction; that fore
ed always makes manifestations Of evil, an
. forgiveness always makes manifestation
es Of goodness force makes holl, and 70
n. giveness makes heaven force makes wa
ur aud forgiveness makes peace
II is the nature of tho human hear
ID. everywhere, to return kindness and gra
it, itpde for an act of real kindness receiv,
ry Il mean an not Of kindness that is CT
in free from oil selfish ends. And in Il
MS aets of real kindness shall DO the corne
III stone on which shall rest our safety
all the absence Of government of force.
er 1t is human nature, everywhere, to 7
ais turn injury for injury, evil for evil, nj
} kindness for unkindness; and in the c;
mt ercise Of this nature lies tho founda:it
rs that supports all governments Of force
ur the canse that excites and produces Z
of war, cruelty, inharmony, and oil the do
ms gers that fall on man from the hand
ed man. Commandments and governme
'ty Of force produces, or at least continue,
70. the curses Of bad morals that afflict h
a manity, by stimulating mans mcaner fa
mt ulties and these curses make our liv
all unsafe at all times and at oil places
Of While government without comman
mt mcuts, without human law, without pc
Ip- allies; q government Of attraction th
rs, invites and calls into exercise mans b.
les ter faculties I; government that ca
ity man onward and upward by precept al
nat example, by sympathy and compassio
Of by meekncss and generosity, by forgiv
is ness and love, is the government that !
ny sists not cvil--is the only government
Christ, and is tho government that m
atl will. sometime. ronch for md take. In