97 



troversies often do, to the ^^oiiit whence it started, and the 

 " party of order" repeat their charge against the rebel, 

 that he is sacrificing the feehngs of others to the gratifica 

 tion of his own wilfuhiess, he repUes once for all that they 

 cheat themselves by mis-statements. He accuses them of 

 being so despotic, that, not content with being masters 

 over their own ways and habits, they would be masters 

 over his also ; and grumble because he will not let them. 

 He merely asks the same freedom which they exercise; 

 they, however, propose to regulate his course as well as 

 their own — to cat and clip his mode of life into agreement 

 with their approved pattern ; and then charge him with 

 wilfulness and selfishness, because he does not quietly 

 submit ! He warns them that he shall resist, never- 

 theless ; and that he shall do so, not only for the asser- 

 tion of his. own independence, but for their good. He tells 

 them that they are slaves, and know it not ; that they 

 are shackled, and kiss their chains ; that they have lived 

 all their days in prison, and complain at the walls being 

 broken down. He says he must persevere, however, 

 with a view to his own release ; and hi spite of their 

 present expostulations, he prophesies that when they have 

 recovered from the fright which the prospect of free- 

 dom produces, they will thank him for aiding in their 

 emancipation. 



Unamiable as seems this find-fault mood, offensive as is 

 this defiant attitude, we must beware of overlooking the 

 truths enunciated, in dislike of the advocacy. It is an un- 

 fortunate hindrance to all innovation, that in virtue of 

 their very function, the innovators stand in a position of 

 antagonism ; and the disagreeable manners, and sayings, 

 and doings, which this antagonism generates, are com- 

 monly associated with the doctrines promulgated. Quite 

 forgetting that whether the thing attacked be good or 

 bad, the combative spirit is necessarily repulsive ; and quite 

 5 



