National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-18
Conscience and Its Uses.

The most delicate organ in human
nature is the conscience. 1t is popularly
supposed to be emblematic of the divine
spirit in a man, the still, small voice
which curbs passions and spurs good in
tentions to action. In the bosom of a
noble person it is the prompter which
rules; in the ignoble it is the scape-goat
on which to pile mean acts If good
man shrinks from worthy act the per-
formance of which involves sell-sacrfCe
conscience pricks him on and he buries
self out of sight. If selfish man can
make something by doing wrong, but
fears censure of the act, he parades his
conscience in the public view, and swears
that but for that inexorable monitor he
would do what everybody says he ought
to do. There is no depth of meanness
beyond that which defends its evil deed
by claiming it to have been based on u
conscientious conviction. Beware of the
man who serves the devil in obedience
TO his conscience.
Sometimes a cause is to be betrayed,
and single man can do it. A vote in
Congress or State Legislature may put
civi lizaton back twenty years. Then
comes an opportunity for masquerading
behind Il sham conscience. Judas Iscariot
thought it wasteful extravaganza for the
Saviour's head to be bathed with costly
ointment, which might be sold and the
proceeds given to the poor. How tender
IN l. i,l, GOULD IatyiSn gpIl,
an objection to the devout act of n re-
pentant. This was the same Judas who
afterward betrayed his Master to be
killed. Too late his conscience upbraided
him for that. "Look thou to that"
sternly responded the power he had
served, when he made moan over having
"shed the innocent blood"
If in any State in the South any Re-
publican with adeciding vote should ever
30 honestly differ with all who were op-
posed to the Bourbon past and should
ever so honestly agree with all who were
opposed to equal rights and the main
tenance of law, he ought to probe well
his own conscience before voting with all
the Bourbons against all their opponents.
Vain would be his regrets If, when it
was too late, he should be eXecrated for
having betrayed the cause of justice, ma
tionality, and peace to the men who
make political evil their good.
An apportionment bill in the LeGisla-
ture Of Virginia was defeated on the
final vote in the senate on Friday last
Nineteen senators favor reapportion-
ment which will undo the gross
political inequalities Of the present one.
One Republican Readjuster senator-Mr.
Williams, of Nottaway-for reasons
doubtless satisfactory TO himself refused
his vote for the measure which all of both
parties, but himself declared would give
the national cause eight Of the ten Con-
gressmen TO which Virginia is entitled.
II is for the great Searcher of hearts only
10 divine the motives Of man, and far be
it from us to invade that sacred jurisdic
ton. We may only regret that on tho
occasion referred 10 Mr.. Williams's con
science compelled him to differ with al
Republicans in and out of Virginia whC
knew the merits of the measure. w,
hope that upon full consultation with hi
party friends he may be able TO agre,
with them upon such notifications t.
the defeated bill as viii make 1t accepta
BILE 10 a majority.