Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-04
CRFMEIN GENERAL-AND CHILD MUIR
DER TO TIE GLORY OF GOD

and lis manifestation IN unusual and revolt
ing forms IS remarkable. The demoraliza-
ton which is the inevitable concomitant Of
war is sufficient to account for an increase in
the amount Of ordinary crime, and the fact
Of It's existence is daily evident; but so far
asthereceutexperience Of this country goesit
would seem that the observation is true also,
as TO extraordinary exhibitions Of depravity.
The past twelve months has recorded a
number Of instances Of fendish crime which
is not paralleled in the history Of any civil
lied people We cannot recount them all,
for the papers have teemed with them, and
turned their humane readers pale with hor-
ror at the recital Among them may be
enumerated, however, the Wanton murder Of
two children in wood near Boston
last summer the DEERFIELD murder
in Ohio last fall, the atrocious
cold-blooded slaughter Of the DEERING
family near Philadelphia last winter,
the recent murder of family Of several
persons in the interior Of Pennsylvania, and
a still more recent incident Of the same sort
in Indiana. Other portions Of the country
can adduce catalogues, perhaps not equalling
these in unqualified deyilishness, but bearing
terrible testimony to the general prevalence
Of the power Of the prince of evil. But the
last tragedy at Medina, New York the beat
ing Of a three year old child to death by
its own fathers the most sickening and
startling Of murder most foul, as in
the best it is, but this most foul, strange and
unnatural" When it is added that the
proyocation was only a refusal Of the littls
one automatically to say its prayers, the
mind recoils baffled at the attempt to con
ceive the monstrous wickedness. And yet
it is true that a preacher Of the Gospel,
which, as delivered by lis Author, spoke of
little children as the elect of heaven, did
deliberately mangle and take the life of an
innocent and irresponsible child-the fruit of
his own loins that he dressed and encofin-
cd the corpse for the purpose of concealing
the evidences Of the brutal act, and calmly
sat by at the inquest Of the law on its re-
mains. To think Of Il is enough to make
one fold the page and say in truth this is the
"sum Of all villainy."
Punishment for wretch so abandoned
becomes a question only after the mind
rests from the contemplation Of such a crime,
for while intent upon it, human reason is
not adequate to its just decision. If there is
such thing as moral insanity, about which
courts and lawyers have talked so much, this
man must be a subject and a jury Of en-
larged and philosophical views would con-
denim him to restraint of his liberty in a
madhouse, and a course of treatment for
cerebral disorder; but if that theory is not
true, and he is the unrelieyed moral
monster which his conduct would inn
ply, his case is one Of those for
which human laws have been unable to pro-
vide sufficient punishment. Inviolation ofna-
ture in its most sacred relations, Of earthly
law, Of heavenly command, and in most i'm
pious pretended service of Con, he has taken
life. OF the man-if he be one-and his
dead child we would hear no more He has
done a deed too narrowing and hideous to
dwell in memory. His own race should put
him out of sight and quickly. II is not for
them to know the purposes of the Creator
and Judge whose image he has delaced and
whose gospel he has insulted, but if human
views ofreward and punishment are correct,
coeternal companionship and torture with
the fends in hell will be his portion.
But a state of society which is capable of
such frequent and nameless crimes rs those
alluded to, needs prompt amendment. 1t
behooves the teachers. and the doors of good
to go about diligently In time, a subsistence
Of the passions which stirred a whole ma
ton till its moral foundations were weaken
ed viii take place. This has occurred, and
win do so again, or else would the earth be-
come a pandemonium. There is, however, in
some portions ofthis country, public opinion
"a received faith-a view of duties and re-
probabilities, which existed before the civil
war; and in our judgment had much to do
with provoking it, and which only could
make possible the child-murder of this
preacher LINDsLEY; and how 70 get rid of
il is a difficult problem. 1t is beyond the |
reach of reason and of moral suasion, for it |
assumes TO be the essence Of reason and to |
be nearer perfection than any other earthly |
heory. We mean Puritanism-that intole- |
'ant creed which holds it both right and |
iuty Of the major part of society to force |
he minority to adopt its opinions and prac-
ice its rules, regardless of consequences.
There is no appreciable difference between |
he spirit that prompts bodies Of men 30 agi- |
ate in favor Of laws and the power Of organ |
lied society to repress anything which they
may regard hurtful or sinful, and TO
wash continent in blood to schieve |
Il, and that which moved this |
Tendish fathers heart to kill his child in
order TO make il observe the outward forms |
Of christian worship. When an individual |
witnesses a great people apply this principle |
On a grand scale and applaud it to the heav-
Ems as a virtue, it is not surprising that he
eels 4 license to put it into practise in the
domestic circle, or is it strange to hear that |
eachers' Of public schools in a commuui-
y where this is held as the Handmade Of re-
igion and all excellence think it proper to |
log good manners into young ladies, as was
lone the other day near Cambridge, Massa-
rhusotts.
An the heather do not worship idols Of
wood and brass and stone, but some bow
down and grope after the gods Of self CON
'eit arrogance, and hypocrisy. Let mis-
sions be established for one as well as the
other and perhaps we will have less inian-
ioide in The name Of God and less civil war
Tor the propagation Of great moral ideas"
ALL the Prussian princes Of proper age
are in the field. A thorough military train
ng is a part of the education of every male |
member Of the royal house The Crown /
Prince, FREDERICK WILLIAM, commauds-
II least nnu,ipally- f,r,ss 4, Sill,