The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-21

y
far removed from virtue--and that Is Its ten
denoy to introduce somewhat Puritanlc
spirit into legislation. Those who abuse furl-
tanism are accustomed only to look at its BAD
side. We on the other hand, 1t ought not 10
be forgotten, are accustomed only to look at
its good side. We read. Macaulay's splendid
eulogy of IL, and see its wonderful career, for
getting that IL belonged to sn exceptional era,
and that as a permanent spirit in politics 1t
works mischief as well as good.
BY the Puritan idea we mean feeling of
impatience at sin in others, and disposition
to repress it by the strong arm. 1t is some
thing more than adherence of sin or impa-
tience of evil and suffering or indignation at
the wrongs of others. All these feelings are
universal in their nature. Puritanism is
purely an outgrowth Of Christianity. The
ancients had no such sentiment. Socrates
was put to death not because he was a heretic
but "because he corrupted the youth" F." and
thus undermined the State. The Roman
sumptuary laws did not aim to control indi-
vidual character, but to check that corruption
which was eating out the life of the republic
But when Christ founded a religion resting on
personal Characterization personal purity be-
came the great aim of lite, and personal sin
the one thing to be shunned-the feeling of
impatience at sin in ones self was not long in
passing over into impatience at sin in others,
and an eager desire to rescue them from the
snares of the evil one. Hence the great mis-
sionary movements of Christianity beginning
with st. Paul and worthily represented by
the Augustines, Xaviers, and Brainerds who
have succeeded him.
Like all other human qualities, this crown
ing virtue of Christianity was capable of being
transformed into an evil. 1t is an easy step
from a genuine Christian sympathy with
others, and desire to aid them, to feeling
that we have a right-nay, are under an obli-
gation-to force our aid upon them, and reform
them even against their will. If our neighbor
does not see that he is committing sin, is not
that all the more a reason for preventing his
involuntary wickedness This impatience at
the sin of others, and haste to deal with it as
if it were one's own, is the essence of Puritan
ism. But it is not confined to the Puritans
nor is it peculiar to Professionalism. 1t in
spired the directors of the Inquisition as
well as the COvenanters of Scotland and the
"Saints" of Cromwells army. Wherever
people are intelligent, thoughtful, and ear
nest, this spirit will spring up spontane-
ously among them, to give scope to the in
tensity of their convictions and the warmth
Of their zeal Strength of conviction is in
great danger of passing into intolerance. For
] all people act from mixed motives, and it is
not always possible to distinguish this spurious
sentiment from the genuine Christian princi-
! pie from which it springs. The sense of pain
| at the misconduct of Others and of indigna-
!
wholly legitimate and praiseworthy feelings.
| We have right to prevent others from suf-
| fering from violence or fraud; these are mat
| ters which concern us all. But when our
aim ceases to be the redress of wrongs, and
we begin to legislate for the prevention of per-
sonal sin, we pass from the sphere of politics
into that of morals; that is, bring human laws
to bear upon actions which, in their personal
nature, concern nobody but the individual
man and his Maker-setting up our human
| Judgment as the arbiter of right and wrong.
At the present moment the Republican
| party is in great danger of suffering itself to
! be controlled by the Puritan idea. 1t is made
up in great measure of those intelligent but
! not broadly educated classes who have very
positive convictions and very earnest purposes
but who have not learned to appreciate and
respect the rights of human thought. More
than this in the stormy times through which
we have Just passed, the uncompromising zeal
of the Puritan element has been of the most
signal service. Now, the situation is changed.
| We have passed from the revolutionary stage
| to that of constructing, and we need above all
things calmness, moderation, and a regard fol-
the rights of all. The English race seems
especially disposed to Puritanism; the Ger.
mans recognize individual rights more readily
than we. The German population in this
country was with difficulty won over from the
party which promised least interference with
their individual liberty. They consented tt
postpone this to the more weighty issue O
universal freedom. Now that this question il
settled, they will surely drift back to their ole
associations if the Republican party is con
trolled by the Puritan idea.
Puritanism has had a noble history and has
accomplished marvellous results. 1t is
through and through heroic and self-sacrifc
ing, even when it has wandered furthest from
the perfect law of liberty. Its career in the
future may be as glorious as in the past If i
will free itself from its bad tendencies, will
learn that liberty of thought is as sacred a
emancipation of the body, and that legal re
straints should have nothing to do with mora
acts. 1t is hardly necessary that we should
make the application of all this to the attempt
which are being made in Massachusetts, an(
Maine to enforce by law a standard of private
morals for which, no matter how high it ma!
be- the community is evidently not prepared
Mexico.
Flofn The NJ " Tribune
For the first time in fifty years Mexico is a
! raooa ginoa [tYrbida in 1921 daclarad th