Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-09-15

may perhaps coexist with such philosophy
but IN spite OF it, and because in the last resor
no man whose philosophy is based upon specu
latlve reason, possesses the power to entirely
rid himself of a faith in the inspirations of thu
moral reason, which, under whatsoever name i
may be known, is a law unto u.s. We can but
think, that this spiritual cognition, as it were
acting independently of what is ordinarily un
derstood as rational methods, and based upon
moral nature implanted in us, from whose
decisions there is no appellate tribunal is some
how that attribute of the soul, which recog-
nlzes the harmony of revelation with the de-
mands of our spiritual nature; and thus though
in intelligence and intellectually we may differ,
in almost unlimited degree, there is golden
link which binds man to contemplation of
the essential spiritual truths in harmony with
his aspirations, and to a faith which has this
knowledge for its foundation
1t would perhaps be impossible, so great is
the difficulty of establishing an invulnerable
basis of philosophy by psychological analysis,
to classify all of the general ideas which belong
to humanity either In reference to their objects
or their origin; and though the objective world
may furnish the relations, which, from their
harmony with our spiritual natures, perhaps
develop the forms Of thought and feeling which
exist a pr1ori in our moral constitution, these
AC1otlOuS iuuSl Oc CCtSluclcA SiLlply DIS Luc W.
caslons, or conditions of manifestation of latent
principles. lb
We think it cannot admit of doubt, wheth-
er we appeal to our own consciousness or to
the uniform concurrence of enlightened nations
as manifested in their laws, religion and history,
that such a praora principles must exist, in Or
der to give rise, in the multiplied relations of
society, to that conformity of general senti-
ment, and order, which is perhaps necessary to
the very existence of both Church and State
Nor can it be allowed that these necessary forms
or restricted modes of human thought, even if
arising from given relation of man to a tran
sient world distinct from the ego, are the less
obligatory SO far as they reveal the moral truths
or obligations originating IN this relation, which
at least are absolute in kind, than those which,
existing in the nature of things from all eter-
nifty, are both absolute and sempiternal, co exis-
tent with mans Immortality.
Nor, on the other hand, can the restriction Of
the laws of the cogntive faculty merely, within
prescribed forms or constitutional limits, be
held to contravene man s moral freedom as
the existence of free will as a self-determining
power, is not an impossible conception in COM
blnatlon even with motive system, as a crea-
ton OF divine power, though it may transcend
our knowledge; but the moral responsibility Of
a being constrained to act In accordance with
the predetermined laws of its own or external
nature is in the view of the practical reason
soecisin, self contradiction, which we can on
ly imagine we believe, like him who con
uaaced against his will was of the same opinion
still which aphorism, if literally true, would
of itself establish the independence of the will
and cognitive faculty \
Nearly allied to these fundamental ideas are
those which apparently arise from an appre-
henslon OF the relations of man to man and to
the world, which as specific in their character
general IDEAS as their individual applications
and illustrations. In all ages of the world, as
man has progressed in civilization, and nations
have become more and more enlightened, the
idea OF free government or of civil liberty has
assumed more tangible form, and become
more potent moral force Whether based upon
the idea OF justice or moral freedom and re
sponsibilty, Or both, it nevertheless exists, and
In our age, In pre- eminent universally and
power, and in such manner that no idea Of hui
manity has been so potent in shaping the des-
tiny OF nations as that which in it's apotheosis
gave birth to the goddess Of liberty But of
the idea of liberty, as Of all such, it may be
more truly affirmed that the idea possesses hu.
nlanlty than that humanity possesses the idea.
AS In the natural man there are innumerable
obstacles to the realization of purely spiritual
religion In the individual, so in the moral and
intellectual condition of the race there are in
surmountable obstacles to the full apprehen-
sion In the light Of inspiration Of the true char
acter, beauty, and order of genuine liberty, or
OF the means adapted to its attainment. Thus
the people, who are possessed of the idea of
liberty, but are not much capable Of projecting
1t, as 1t were, into distinct object Of thought,
are oftentlmes misled by watohwords used by
their ambitious rulers for sinister purposes, or
by Ignorant politicians, to give their adherence
to measures In direct antagonism to true notions
of liberty.
Nor are the leaders of the people always ca
pable Of approaching the character and de-
mands of civil liberty. The constitution, the
organic law Of the land, the idea Of which is
almost embodied in the very idea of state,
which, as expressing the will Of the people in
the formation OF a government, should be
deemed the tex sacsa, mater legana by the whole
people, is sometimes aniulled, as in our own
history, by rulers who place themselves above
this sacred law, who appeal to higher law of
conscience, which, in becoming aggressive, de-
stroys both liberty of conscience, and civil lib
erty. ~ e
Thus there may be total misconoeption of
political liberty and the means Of its attain
ment, proclaiming itself under the very name
OF liberty itself, and forcing upon us the
thought: ei s
'Oh, liberty how many crimes are committed
in thy name y
ASPEN HILL Louisa.