The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-08-28
Conscience.

In the HERALD of August 9TH Is
another article from our friend II. b.
Kinsolving upon the subject of "Con-
science" Taking his two articles to-
gether we have these sentiments
conscience "never errs in its prompt
ings." A man may hold an error
without holding it in opposition to the
promptings of conscience. He tells
us as to our actions, "Opinion deter
mines whether they are good or i'll;
and conscience approves or disaPproves
in consequence of that determination
whether it be in favor of truth or
falsehOod." He says again conscience
does not approve our course Gin any
case except it be right" He tells us
that conscience is a "sure moral
guide" And that it is vain to go to
the Bible to learn any thing about it.
He says conscience is "moral guide.
Then it is a moral question. And if
it is vain to 60 to the Bible to learn
moral questions, pray tell us what
kind of teaching we may find i'll the
Bible? He quotes me as saying 'were
it not to instruct the conscience the
Bible would be vain" Never said it.
1t is not in my article. Never put
such a sentence together in my life.
Never held such a sentiment. am
quoted several times incorrectly. And
now, when 1 put these together, 1
feel like asking my friends pardon for
attempting TO correct him. | see now
it can not be done. But if the editor
of the HERALD will permit me, will
say few things more 20 the readers
of his excellent paper upon the sub
ject of conscience; for it is referred to
by many as being an inhllible guide,
not only in morals, but in the o5liga-
tons we owe to our government and
our duties to each other. With many
the assertion, my conscience is clear,
supercedes all argument and sets aside
all law. The position given to con-
science by these, would, if carried
out, sap the foundation of all law and
order, and reduce the human family
to a state of confusion, anarchy and
ruin. But does conscience teach truth
of any kind? II it does, it teaches all
men just alike, for all have consciences.
Does it teach the truth in regard to
human government Does it teach
what Is due from a government to the
people? Or what the people owe to
their government? If so, why is
there so much difference upon these
points, 1t will not do to say that
every government upon the face of
the earth, except one, has incorporated
into its organic law, principles that all
the people, subjects and rulers, know
are not just and right. Or why has
our government changed its laws so
often? Did they know at first what
ought to be done and would not do it ?
Or did they do what was right first
and afterward change it to what all
the people knew then and still know
to be wrongS Such are the absurdi-
ties involved in this subject when ap-
piled to the principles Of human gov
eminent. But will we not find the
same thing true if we apply it to our
duties to each other? Does conscience
tell us what every human being owes
to every other human beingS If so,
why do we find such a diftsrence2
Why is it in some countries that the
lowest, poorest and most obscure may
rise to fame and eminence, while IN
others the strong bars of cast and royal
blood keep all others DOWN. Does
the conscience Of the Red man tell
him he does wrong in making his
squaw (wife) perform all the drudgery
of the familyi Does that Indian
woman know she is degraded below
her proper position. and still pride