The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-09-24
The Political Campaign as IA Moral Test


Under ordinary circumstances, when
nothing is afloat calculated to elect the
human soul in some deeper sense than
usual, the life of society and Of the indi-
viduals who compose it, moves on in gen.
eral harmony with its wonted raDiiesta-
tions. Then it neither rises above nor
sinks below a certain level. At least,
whatever change occurs is not percepti-
BILE. 1t is period Of pacific relations
in which history is not written,--a calm
upon the surface, when storms do not
test and exhibit the strength and sea-
worthiness Of the vessel, or, by disaster
demonstrate its utter unworthiness. Not
bnt what so energetic a thing as the HUI
man soul is in constant process Of devel-
opmeDt. 1t is so. But then, its opera
tons and expansions are either hidden, or
SO gradual and gentle, so even and SYM
metrlcal, as not to be noticeable by the
cursory observer. 1t is true that human
life is never wholly at stand still. There
are always more or less of local disturb
ances, wisely permitted in the providence
OF God, which serve to test individual
life, or groups Of individual life. These
ethicometers-to coin word--serve their
purpose to Indicate personal develop
ments. So far they are important. So
far useful, For they serve to warn the
Maynard whittier and how fast and far
they have drifted and are drifting, and
to encourage the true and upright, in
their career of blessing and Of being
blessed. But we want wider, broader,
deeper tests. We want them, because.
disguise it as we will, the world is evil
There is but a thin crust of really sound
morality, a mere vanished surface, Il
veneering of this mundane structure
through the conservative Influence OF
Christianity. The smoke of numerous
immoral Vesuvii, in every quarter, tells
Enthusiastically OF the sub-human fires of
evil.
1t is well, then, to have some test APP
piled. by which We may determine the
exact moral status Of the whole, the gen.
eral character of public and Of private
morals. And it takes great event to
move nation deeply,-one whose nature
is so broad and Of SO universal type, as
to reach and effect every dweller, or near
ly SO, in the wide realm, Events of this
character are bat occasional. When they
occur, they should be used by the civil
liam, the statesman, and especially by the
moralist and Christian, to ascertain both
the present standing and the real drift OF
society. For they determine, in a very
valuable sense, the force and direction, 10
moral point of view, of the social cur
rent
OF course, we refer not to political
opinions, to party views, and to the rela-
tive strength Of these things one way OF
another; but only to the methods employ.
ed, the measures adopted, the motives
held forth, by all parties, taking a gener.
al average, and thus arriving at some just
conclusion, respecting progress or regress
10 general morality. Our view is thu.
entirely aside, ard wholly above, and
quite in different direction, and as pur
suing different object from anything
partisan. Believing, as we do, as Sc
forth in the farewell address of Washing
ton, that all popular governments mus
repose on basis Of morality and religion
and the purer the morality and the hole
the religion, the more sure such repose
We are anxious to note the probable sta
bility Of our popular institutions, anc
both their security and insecurity. For
what party. soever may be in power. o
by whomsoever the government may b
administered we have far more confidence