The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-08-07

teF uTaSI'C Tcuituy loT Ino evil
affecting society, do you think you
communication sufficient dose tt
purge it? Don't you think there ii
more of poison than balm in it?
Verify a great moral reformel
has arisen in our midst.
WM. p. PRICE, a S. Of V.
ED. SENTINEL when you IA.
vored me with the publication oi
my communication last week.
: hardly supposed would have to
ask the further indulgence of
yourself and the readers of your
paper. 1t seemed to me that the
demeanor l censured was so open.
notorious and unquestionably
wrong, that no one would have
the hardihood to come forth and
defend it. But l was mistaken.
The Attorney General of the or
der appears for it and makes. to
say the least, bold defense.
When / first read the article
under consideration, I was in
clined to rest the case. 1t SEEM
ed to bear so plainly on its face
the seeds of its own destruction.
But the desire to have an end,
and 'agree quickly with mine
adversary" leads me to persue
the discussion which, l fear to
yourself and your readers. has
become "stale, flat and unprofit-
able"
Any one who takes even cas-
ual glance at my former article,
will see that the only direct ac-
cusations / make relate to what
happened on the Sunday in ques-
ton. 1t is true l endeavored to
explain this peculiar and extra
ordinary conduct. But Mr.. Price
mustn't think to dodge the main
question by directing his thunder
at these merely philosophical
reflections.
am piled with an extensive
quotation from the Constitution
of his society, and asked, in stem
torian tones, if l have any OBJ
jections 70 it? / certainly have
no objections to any number or
class of men banding themselves
together, whatever l may think
of their real motives for so doing,
or how erroneous soever l may
think the idea that forms theii
fundamental principle and ulte-
rlor object, so long as they keep
| within the bounds of the law and
do not menace the safety of the
government. And, furthermore,
| recognize in these articles of
faith nothing more than we find
| in the constitution of every or
ganization in this country, with
the exception of lnfidel societies
from our own glorious consti-
tuition to that of the juvenal de-
batting club. l should be sur
prised to find any exception in
the articles of this society. But
when we fail to live cp to the
tone of our own declared princi-
pies, they serve rather to accuse
than excuse us. By the adoption
of a high moral standard, the
thistle doesn't grow figs, and yet.
as long ago, we judge the tree by |
the fruit. Words are but tricks
of the wind. In this world men
as we'll as societies are judged by |
their dee Is.
Mr.. Price is in great pain to
make it appear that in my for
mer article l "branded with the
name bastard, every member Of
his order, thereby imputating dis
honor to his mother.'' To an
ordinary mind my words would
hardly bear such a construction,
but believe he is possessed Of
an extraordinary one. at least, if
charged, he will admit it. While
l admire his ingenuity, l despise
the levity with which he treats
one of the most sacred relations
of life.
But, passing over these imma-
terial considerations, let us pro
ceed to the point IN issue: 1T |
is not our purpose" says Mr..
Price, "to attempt any defense Of
lawlessness and immortality
| am glad to hear him make such |
a declaration. But l am filled
with wonder to know why. if he
means it, he Immediately pro-
ceeds to do thai very thing.
What is lawIessness. and what
is immortality 2 | did not and
will not attempt to lay down a
code of morality to be applied to
others; neither do l wish TO sit
in Judgment upon the indiy idual
morality of my fellow citizens.
But there is a code Of public NOR
ality which is easily enough de-
fined, since the laws that govern
us are its exponent. And in this
respect lawlessness and immor-
a,ity are identical. Now while
| am unable to define morality
abstractly, am glad to be able
to assist Mr.. Price in finding out
what is | wlessness and public
immortality. Section 1922. Stat