The Portland daily press., 1871-01-17
social DespouIslr,s.

1t is commonly supposed that this is a fine
country, but this is a great mistake. In poll
tics, in church, and in society, the freedom of
the individual is more or less hampered by il
legitimate restraints. There is a certain
amount of control which association may just
ly exercise over every man. He owes certain
duties to Them individually and collectively,
according to the nature OF the association,
and these duties they may lawfully exact from
him. But anything beyond this is an inva-
sion upon the domain of that individuality
which ought ever to be held sacred, not more
out of Difference for individual rights than for
the welfare of society in general. When an
association uses its superior strength to exact
from member what it has no right to claim,
that s despotism. We do not see this in our
own country in its srosser forms. Imprison
ment and physical torture are not employed
to subdue the will. But other means are
used, which, if more refined, are more search
ing and scarcely less effectual To mind
made sensitive by the civilizing influences of
our day, social prescription may be as terrible
as the stake or the dungeon to coarser ma
al civilized countries, but the former is still
In full operation as. means of intimidatng
dissentions from the views, sentiments, or
practices of the majority.
Organizations are always ready to take it
for granted that uniformity in these respects
is essential to unity of action. On the con-
trary the latter is equally attainable ifiniivid-
ual peculiarities instead of being annihilated,
are merely subordinated to practical necessi-
ties when the occasion for concert of action
arises. With this limitation antagonisms do
not produce disorganization, and may safely
be lett to work out their appropriate results.
To repress them would be in many cases to
endaneer human progress, and could rarely
be otherwise than hurtful The great hope
of the race depends in great measure on
leaving genius unfettered, and giving scope to
individual enterprise. Every great reform
begins with dissenting minori y, and hence
the necessity in organizations of all sorts, of
respecting the rights of minorities, and pal
ticuarly that most vital of all rights, the right
to exist, to propagate their views by all lesiti-
mate means, and make themselves major
ity. The universally of routine would be
the ruin OF man. Society would then become
an agglomeration Of apes, not an association
ofmen. Robbed of its elasticity, made rigid
and inert, it could no longer adapt itself to
our changing exisencies. The only guaranty
of progress Is in giving an ever increasing
scope to individuality till virtue becomes spon-
taneous, and every man law to himself.
individuals have aduty 10 perform in re-
gard to this matter, and that is to resist all
unjust domination whether in regard to opin-
ions, dress, or manners. The despotism of
fashion is most pervasive in its influence, and
should be resisted whether in things great or
small sacred or secular. People will not gen.
orally get much more liberty than they claim
or more than they use temperately. But if
they stand fast In the claim for rational,
temperate freedom, time will vndicate their
olaip