Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-10-06
Decline oi Puritanism.

From the Leader, Baltimore, Md
 The signs of the times umistakably
 indicate q falling off in the organized
 power of Puritan sentiment in this
 country. The practical supremacy of
 Puritanism has been maintained for the
 past ten years at the north, and the
 most part during that period over the
 whole nation, by virtue of the energy
 it has put forth in controlling and con-
 ducting to triumph what is now known
 as the Radical party. The Radical
 party is the concentration of Puritan
 principles and morals; it is direct
 embodiment of Puritanic intolerance
 and force. Whatever of religion, of
 avarice and discipline Puritanism pos
 sessed, has beer imparted to the char
 acter and history of the Radical party.
 With the failure of Radicalism, tho de-
 cline of distinctive Puritanism follows.
 The source of gradual disintegration,
 which seems to be in process for the
 eventful overthrow of this peculiar
 sentiment, are to be traced mainly, first
 into our population, and secondly, to
 the rapid self-consumption of it's own
 vitality. This powerful element in
 Oui sONlat yStCiu POScCSSCo CNCk1 WIT tue but moral greatness and catholici-
 ty, every requisite of strength but the reserve force of deliberate and dispas- sionate conservatism. It has brains, energy, resource and surface vigor;
 but it cannot abandon self-seeking to principle and good order. Its profess sions are hollow, and it's aims altogeth- CT selfish. It has the instinct of self hut oc;t fNI sympathize beyond itself. Itcultivates conventional narrowness. It educates to the practical ends of self, and is ad mirable in the development of personal shrewdness and foresight; but i'll the intensity of these qualities fails to take in generous breath of sentiment that can compromise with differences of character and opinion. It is self-reliant by education, and not apt to receive dictation as to the lawful or ordinary method of reaching what it desires. If intolerant in religious matters, the Puritan sentiment is yet intolerant of religion itself. Neither the forms of religion nor the laws of man restrain it's boundless egotism of opinion. It begets free-thinking as it's natural off spring; but by a singular contradiction uoes Hot pcTIHlt tio eaihc cieOeiou III others.
 The blindness of vision which comes from such peculiarities has driven the power of Puritanism on the highway | to its own destruction. The vast in Aux of dissimilar nationalitics, which has been brought to our shores to take l part in the future ofthe country, is not | comprehended in Puritan philosophy. l The constant extension of our civiliza- 1 ton and material prosperity is rcach- 1 ing to interests beyond the control and | to populations not allied in | of interests, to the Purl- | tanism of New England. But, especi- | ally, has Puritanism with characteristic rapdity in seeking the readiest road to its own aggrandizcmcnt, pushed its powers of endurance beyond natural ! limits and fallen upon methods that may end in its own discontinue. Ea- | gerness of enterprise, the restless pro- gressive energies of insatiate selfish ness, multitude and quicknes of absorb with fatal certain ty moral vitality as well as physical yigor.
 Since the Radical party has had con trol of political affairs in this country, | il has acted in express obedience to the dictates of the Puritan seltishness, and fer the most part has been led by the direct representatives of Puritan senti- ment The conduct of national affairs under the auspices of this party had everything of the Puritan nature in it. The indications of failing strength that are abroad, through the excessive love of party power, and the attempt to maintain it at any cost, are the legiti- mate outw orkings of narrow and self seeking political sagacity. In cndea- voeing to sweep away every barrier, whether of law or prestige, to it's pow CT. there is abundant evidence abroad l that the desperation which has seized upon the Radical party will carry with it, ill time, political suicide, and the practical extinction of Puritan suprem-