Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-07-12
rRurH AND FoRoE

TRUTH AND FORCE.
The American people are distin-
guished for a firm trust in the right
fulness Of untrammelled human in
Subsistence they have been busy in
breaking all chains ; In cutting all
cords In striking Off all letters; In
undoing all burdens In letting the
oppressed 60 free. We have as a peo-
pie q firm, mistaken confidence that
free men and women are much more
likely to 60 right and keep in the right
than those whose limbs and feet are
shackled. We are coming to the be-
llcf-we have not reached 1t yet, but
are coming to the belief-that dun
geons are not wholesome places for
human beings. There is slime on their
walls and vermin on their floors! The
Good Providence certainly, so far as
we can see, builds no prison houses for
the Judgment Of Its creatures. Man
only builds bastiles. Heaven Intends
that all shall be free to move and
learn, and we have tried to put our
selves In our National relations into
harmony with this wise, natural order
and that Is we'll. On Monday Of last
week q great National song of liberty
was sung through the land-such a
song as no other people AN, and until
recently not even ourselves could.
sing. We are justly proud Of what We
have done In the interests Of freedom,
and It Is precisely at this juncture that
the policy Of the people should be dis
tinguished by calmness and moderation.
Force and truth are antagonistic. OBJ
serve how Governments have striven
to procure peace, good will and obedi-
enc It has been done on the prin-
clple that men are machines to be
driven, or brutes to be overawed. Stern
discipline, brute force, g~unpowder and
bayonets, thumbscrews and racks and
fagsots-these dreadful instruments
have been used to intimidate, to
overawe, to compel to obedience
and submission that human mind.
every instinct Of which Is OPP
posed to coercion, to despotic power
In any shape. Statesmen have stood
"
as the champions of force, Of physical
dominion, seeing nothing In Its ideal
relation-their solid facts too heavy to
suggest sentiments and principles;
their ideas Of government, steel for
tresses and garrisons; repressions and
penal infections; immense armies Of
disciplined troops; nothing to them
was of any weight but force. Ideas
those subtle causes that work behind
and through events, were as a puff OF
breath to them. Statesmen here con-
sidered themselves practical men. and
vet blind as bats to the enormous
power of ideas. Men Of force regard
Ing men Of ideas as weaklings-the
realist turning scornfully from the
idealist, as PLATE turned from Jesus ;
king of truth, forsooth; king OF MOON
shine. Now Is American statesman
ship to follow In the footsteps Of these
men of Force, and regard the bulwark
Of America as in its army and navy
its staff Of military officers; Its swords
and muSkets; its cannon and powder;
its ::power to assert itself and to over
awe and intimidate, or to compel to
obedience? Win q Legislative enact
ment or penalty, the scratch Of a
judicial pen, the firing Of cannon, the
throwing Of shot and shell-will any
of these make a man a man? We
opine not. Moderation Is what we
EMBELLISHMENTS drawing near
to each other-a respect for each
others rights. No bitter p~artisanshlp
no desolating partyism-can secure
Justice, freedom and order. These OBJ
scure with the mists of passion and
hide the face of fellowship and brother
hood. How shall this nation be blessed
with the ~profoundest peace: How
shall the old-time harmony and
brotherly feeling be restored: Surely
only by the moderation, virtue and
sympathy Of this whole people.