West-Jersey pioneer., 1873-07-11
Bridgeton, N. j., July llth, 1873.
CIR M e.

The scientists and moralists of ever
generation, fondly fatter themselve
that education and civilization are ra,
idly destroying the tendencies to Grim
against the social law The prevalen
ideas of the age do not demand tina
religion should stand as the one gran,
principle by which the nations are t
be made true to the law and orde
which they themselves establish. The,
allow that this principle is probabl,,
needed in order to induce men to eithe
enter or continue any relations will
their creator; but civilization is thei
grand idea of moral force, by whicl
the world is to be propelled in the di
rection of good practice, just as edu
cation is, to the powers by which the
duties are made plain. If you strip
off from morality the thoughts of po
likeness, and largely substitute mental
wrong for physical, it is doubtful
whether civilization has done much ex-
cept to refine. That it has refined is
true. That the modes and processes
by which the crimes are committed,
are usually different, is also true. That
the processes are generally gilded in
such manner as not to allow their
abhorent responsiveness to clearly ap-
pear, is true again. But that social
morality does not receive as much of
opposition from civilization as from
barbarians, is not SO clear; and in the
face of its largely acknowledged failure,
men are beginning to cast about to see
if there IS anything which can redeem
society, and compel an accordance with
the only principles which can perma-
nently hold it together. France is a
highly civilized country. The polish
upon the surface of its habits flung off
a splendor greater than that of any
other country in the world. Refine
ment enthroned itself upon its pedes-
tai. Honor incarnated itself upon it's
throne The purest moral sentiment
flowed like streams through its itera-
ture. Its Academy of Science domi-
mated the world A membership there
was an honor for all generations, It's
savans of all descriptions were the
worlds authority It's political con-
struction was constantly subjected to
the criticism of the first mental power
of the world. Its police was perfec-
tion-yet-the heart turns away sick
ened and hopeless over the records of
the last few years; and the exhibitions
of the most dishonorable criminality
in the excesses attendant upon its late
war. After all that can be said or
proven, Captain Jack and his Modocs,
in the heartless treachery of their Grim
inality against the social and moral
law, do not suffer in comparison with
the Frenchmen. The one is the pro-
duct of the rudest barbarism, and the
other the most refined civilization, but
the criminality is equal. The Chinese
are people far advanced in the arts
of civilization If we allow for preju-
dice in favor of our own modes of do
ing things, they are as civilized as we
are In just sentiments, in social
moral doctrine, and in politeness, we
cannot claim any superiority In the
arts of peace-in different way per
haps, but still essentially, the arts of
peace, they are no whit inferior to us.
Yet the sins against social code of
law and morals, are as numerous as the
acts of obedience Our own nation
was held up as an example par ercellons
before the war, although our records
were far from snowy in their whiteness.
During the war, human nature devel-
oped pretty much in the United States
as it had everywhere else, and crime
of the most revolving and cruel kind,
was found associated with the highest
rank and most polished culture. The
prison pens of Andersonville were
guarded, it is true, by ignorance, but
organized by the most polished men of
the land. Since the war, we are really
worse than we were before. Intemper-
ance is in reality a crime, and liquor
commands an influence higher than be-
fore. Sabbath breaking is social
crime, and the New Jersey Legislature
legalized it. Ordinary divorce is a
crime, and yet it is often fashionable
for married people to live apart. Muir
der is our highest crime. and yet muir
der is SO practised as to make us won
der if week passes without it's occur
renee Captain Jack kills some people
in the exercise of his barbarous in
stincts, and we shudder, but the worst
barbarities Of Captain Jack and his
Modocs, bear no comparison with the
crime practised in civilized society.
Only few weeks since, New York was
the scene of murder at which Cap
tain Jack would shudder. A young
man of one of the historical families
of the land, a grandson of Chancellor
Walworth.- just at the age when the
instincts are supposed to be most gen
erous, decoyed his own father into a
room, and deliberately shot him dead,
and then defended his act as one which
was not to be- condemned. Verify the
efforts of civilization to uproot crime