The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-28

uc0kCely m exception, ana Sn0 eAooPsAouss "A
my can besjfound.S do not 60 TO the
rodit of NasachussttA The. Pocasset
ohild s'sacrifice,v the murder Of the little
five-year-oid child OF parents who had grown
up under Massachusetts, influences. Illus
trates in q manner well calculated to fix the
attention of the whole country upon New
England civilization and its steady decline
in intellieence. Such An instance Of deep
seated Ignorance and superstition, were it |
told of any people of the South Sea Islands
Of Central Africa, or any other benighted |
corner of the globe, would be the occasion
for fitting out missionary expedition.
loaded down with Bibles and hymn booka,
tracts and sermons, preachers and teachers,
ana all Christendom would contribute
to the enlightenment OF the poor
wretches who would be represented as the
most unfortunate OF human beings. Let rs
look at It, study the problem, analyze the
influences that led to the awful tragedy.
Pocasset is neighborhood only 60 miles
from Boston, the Athens of America. 1t Is
Massachusetts, community OF Puritan stock.
By rail, it is within two hours ride of the
s'hub," and therefore enjoys superior liter
airy, scientific, educational aud intellectual
advantages. And yet, under the very
shadow of Harvard, this neighborhood is to-
day the darkest spot to be found on continent
or island-benighted, stepped in Ignorance
and given over to the vilest superstitions
that curses mankind. A poor devil by the
name of Freeman, Come OUTER" con-
cludes that he is commanded by God Him
self to murder his child, bright little girl
of five years. This fanatic has for his fol-
lowers his wife and score or more of his
neighbors. They talk the matter over and
finally coincide with Freeman, whose child
is to be the sacrifice. Freeman prsys
that the ''cup may pass" his wife finds his
place of retreat. and they pray together.
The cup does not pass. God Is proclaimed
a. inexorable; the murder must
be contaminated, and then the father
| deliberately proceeds to commit the awful
| deed. He finds his old butcher knife; he
whets it until the point is sharp, and the
whole blade is polished. Little Edith is
upon her couch, the mother is in an adjoin-
| ing room. The hour has come, and the
father proceeds to the work. Great God!
| look at the scenel Consider the time, the
age, the surroundings, the locality. Massa-
chusetts, q suburb of Boston, Hoar's con-
stituents-the high noon of Christian civil
ization, school houses and churches in full
view, ministers of the Gospel on all Of the
highways of Pocasset-httie Edith Freeman
in all of the innocence of
childhood, her golden ringlets cIus-
tering around her brow, eyes looking
into the eyes of her father trustfully, she
sees the knife and says, 80. papa" and
then the murderous instrument enters her
heart and she lies dead and bleeding on her
couch. The mother approves the act, and
the other 'Come CUTTERS applaud Brother
Freeman's faith. She is to rise again on the
third day, and this Is a specimen of Massa-
! ehusetts' civilization and religion. Now,
search the records from the dark ages, in all
lands and countries, and nothing
so essentially abominable can be
| found. 1t beats all fiction and
all fact. There is nothing to match 1t from
the jungles OF the dark continent
to the most benighted dens of savages in
other lands-and this is Massachusetts, in
| the closing years of the nineteenth century.
And now comes the news that eminent
lawyers are to defend Freeman upon the
plea, not of insanity, but upon the higher (?)
plea that,Freeman was worshiping God &C.
cording to the dictates of his conscience,
and that this "higher law" gives him the
right to kill his child, provided God COM
mands the sacrifice, and it is thought that
the presentation Of the question in this
shape will be one of the most difficult that
the courts OF Massachusetts, has ever
had to settle. With such a record, is
Massachusetts, hereafter to be regarded as the
teacher of the country in any department of
knowledge? If her narrow prejudices and
fanatical opinions are to govern the country,
it will not be long until the "Come cutters
4 of Pocasset will whet their butcher knives
in other States, in obedience to revelations
compared with which the revelations of Joe
Smith, Brigham Young and other Mormon
divines are blessings above price. There
should be week of prayer set apart for
Massachusetts,.
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks.
fCinclnnaH Enquirer1
/ A No nop