Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-30

its own. Religious or theological cant is so
much the most offensive that, when the word is
used without qualification, that species is gener-
ally understood. 1t is offensive in proportion to
the Importance and sacredness of the subject
upon which it is employed, although it does not
necessarily involve deliberate and conscious n.y.
pocrisy; that is not probably so common as we
are apt 10 think, but the habit of using words
and formulas because they are in vogue among
the people with whom we associate, without
thinking of their meaning or whether they truly
express our own beliefs and feelings is much
more so. Another extremely familiar form of
cant is that which is heard in the exchange of
social courtesies and the formulas of society, a
comparatively harmless species. Then there is
scientific cant in plenty, art cant, which is com
ing rapidly into fashion, but is not yet so IA
miliar as to have ceased to be especially exaS-
perating, and political cant, just now the most
abundant of all, as it is the shallowest, the most
easily exposed, and yet that for which there is,
unless large class of politicians are grossly in
error, the most constant and indispensable de-
mand.
Excellent specimens of this variety may be
found in any of the Greeley newspapers, IRE.
publican newspapers of course never sin in
that way,) in most political speeches, and in
variably in political platforms; but its most
magnificent development is to be found in those
appeals which chairmen of committees and
other official or unofficial leaders of parties think
it their duty to issue as the election draws near
tits hardly conceivable that these masters of
fatulent rhetoric expect anybody to be per-
suaded by their ridiculous declarations, and as
we have some special reasons to believe that
they are not intended to provoke laughter, as
one might naturally suppose, theirlreal purpose
is mystery. However, as peculiarly choice
specimens of political cant, they may be regarded
from quasi scientific point of view with toler-
ance, or even certain measure of complacen-
cy, just as a student of morbid anatomy glows
with enthusiasm in describing a magnificent
tumor, or detective finds even the copious and
expressive thieves slang, in the use of which
he is professionally expert, inadequate to convey
his admiration of some specially villainous ex-
plot of distinguished criminal.
A capital and well improved opportunity for
political cant is afforded by the Greeley watch
word, reconciliation" This is well adapted to
captiyate shallow and needless people, but most
of those who use it must know it to be false.
We hear every day abundance of gushing talk
about the plundered, oppressed south, holding
out its hands to the victorious north, asking
only for justice, peace and friendship, but re-
pulsed with scorn aud hatred; yet no one has
undertaken to show how the south is oppressed
nwhat respect the relations of those states or of
the people who inhabit them to the national
government are different from the relations of
the northern states and people, or to produce
any evidence of hatred or malice toward
the south cherished by the republican party, or
a desire on its part for anything but that same
'justice, peace and friendships" while there is
plenty of evidence, whether conclusive or not
is not now in question, that the democrats of
the south are far from cultivating those lamb
like virtues, that intense longing for fraternal
relations with their republican fellow citizens
north and south, that Mr.. Greeley and his fol
lowers attribute to them. In fact the gushing
platitudes of the Greeley organs and orators on
the subject of reconciliation are the emptiest
and most impudent Of political cant aud moth
ing better. Fortunately, its day is nearly over.
The election is close at hand, and after that we
shall for time, at least, hear less of it.