Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-02-15
Thoughts Worth Considering.


Of Congress and the President will
somewhat curiosity. There is beins
exhibited in the public mind what il
ever connected with times of grea
excitement and agitation. These
occasions are brought on by conflict.
of opinions carried out into action
and hence follows those fierce col
lIsions, which turn the world upside
down. Two extreme opinions, wher
brought into conflict in action, must
produce agitation and confusion, and
as consequence, one or the Other
will obtain the mastery and rush or
in realization, until reaction sets in
and the public mind again swings
back to the other extreme. This
seems to be the law CT social pro
gress. We see its illustration in the
English revolution, followed by the
reaction resulting in the restoi alton
of the second Charles. The French
revolution was followed by the re
storation OF the Bourbons, and boil
these re actions towards the pas
were followed by second re action;
in England with the expulsion OF
James II and the coronation of vii
liam of Orange, and IN France by
therevolution of 1880, and the crown
ing of Louis PHILIPPE.
We see something of the same
kind going on in the public mind OF
this country. Before 1860 the ne
gro had no rights which a white man
was bound to respect; now it would
seem that no one has any rights but
the negro; then, by the party in
power. the negro was oppressed and
trampled under foot; now certain
minds can see no ore to be legisla
ted for cut the negro. This is the
tendency of narrow minds. They
can see OILY the one side of ques-
ton, and every body must see only
what they see, or be absolutely blind.
Our New En- gland friends are some
what In this condition. Mr.. Sumner,
as representing this aspect of public
sentiment vHe Inea, and that
Une negro; in his Judgment the
rights OF the negro are alone to he
regarded, and he must be placed On
level with the most favored of the
whites, or the world must come TO
an end.
But if these extreme opinions are
to be realized in action, it might be
wssfor AIR. Sumner 60 re2olIect that
there action must come No violent
rSe"ees nan,t take place v;thorf sr,.t1
reaction. The law of social progress
compels us to act with caution. The
present has grown out of the past
and the future mus. grow out of the
present. There is a contenuitv in
the life of every community and
nation, and this cannot be broken
without danger to its peace. We
cannot jump ovei the intermediate
steps in the social progress, without
being compelled to return back again
and start anew at the point we left
of. We cannot always do what we
might wish; we can only do what
public opinion is prepared to sane
ton. If we,go in advance Of that
we must return again to it after fear
ful conflict rnd connections.
But 1t is said that ideas govern the
world. This is true. Ideas in the
end, will if true, take possession of
the public mind and shape its action;
butideas are current in certain minds
long ere this period is reached by
the mass. Ideas govern the world,
but never administer its affairs: Com
mon sense does this, because com.
mon sense shapes its action in &C.
'ordance with public opinion. with
The opinion of the MANY and not of
the few, though the few may be
light, and. the many wrong. Ten
tyson has tersely and beautifully ex |
pressed this idea. l.
"All the past of lime reveals
A bridal dawn Of thunderpools &
whenever thought hath weddeth fact IL
1t would be well at this time to
'ecoliect these teachings of history,
hese experiences of the past. So
,iety is in an imperfect condition, ]
md cannot at once be made to square
With the theories of any thinker. 6
Nay, the world cannot be governed
1t tais day with the. sublime precepts
Of our holy religion. To apply the j
principles Of Christianity to the gov
of nations would indeed be {
i mighty revolution, and could pro.
duce only confusion. We cannot do
in government what we deem the
best, we must restrict ourselves to