147 EDITOKIAL. 



fining itself rigidly within its true field of action, has extended itself 

 to embrace a thousand objects which should be left to the regulation 

 of social morals, and unrestrained competition, one man with another 

 without political assistance or check ? Are our elections, in truth, a 

 means of deciding mere questions of government; or does not the 

 decision of numerous questions affecting private interests, schemes 

 of selfishness, rapacity, and cunning, depend upon them, even more 

 than the cardinal principles of politics? 



It is to this fact, we are persuaded, that the immorality and licen- 

 tiousness of party contests are to be ascribed. If government were 

 restricted to the few and simple objects contemplated in the demo- 

 cratic creed, the mere protection of person, life, and property; if its 

 functions were limited to the mere guardianship of the equal rights 

 of men; and its action, in all cases were influenced, not by the paltry 

 suggestions of present expediency, but the eternal principles of jus- 

 tice; we should find reason to congratulate ourselves on the change, 

 in the improved tone of public morals, as well as in the increased 

 prosperity of trade. 



The religious man, then, as well as the political and social moral- 

 ist, should exert his moral influence to bring about the auspicious 

 reformation. Nothing can be more self-evident than the demoraliz- 

 ing influence of special legislation. It degrades politics into a mere 

 scramble for rewards, obtained by a violation of the equal rights of 

 the people; it perverts the holy sentiment of patriotism; induces a 

 feverish avidity for sudden wealth; fosters a spirit of wild and dis- 

 honest speculation; withdraws industry from its accustomed chan- 

 nels of useful occupation; confounds the established distinctions 

 between virtue and vice, honor and shame, respectability and degre- 

 dation; hampers luxury, and leads to intemperance, dissipation and 

 profligacy in a thousand forms. 



The remedy is easy. It is to confine government within the nar- 

 rowest limits of necessary duties. It is to give freedom to trade, 

 and leave enterprise, competition and just public sense of right, to 

 accomplish by their natural energies. Now is the time for the friends 

 of freedom to bestir themselves. Let them accept the invitation of 

 this glorious opportunity to establish on an enduring foundation the 

 true principles of political and economic freedom. 



