Page:The History of Liberty.djvu/19

 or flock; to feed out of the same dish, drink out of the same cup; and sup out of the same spoon; while his masters, and shepherds shall determine the quantity and quality of his food, whether, natural, intellectual, moral or religious. And the whole herd must live, act and think as their shepherds and masters shall direct—, like good and obedient sheep. And wo to that member of the flock that dares to think, and stray beyond the arbitrary boundaries of the conventional fold that hem him in as a wall of adamant, and all his thoughts, feelings and aspirations, which his God has given him with a “cart blanch” privilege to roam over the universe and explore all things—yea the deepest mysteries of God. All these associations, call them what you please, organized for what purpose you please, are just so many despotisms in which individuality, which to cultivate, improve and bring out in its fullest proportions, is the primary object with both Christianity and Liberty—, is lost; being merged in the associated mass which becomes a mere automaton to be moved and directed by one mind and one will. An ideal and impracticable uniformity is aimed at in these associations which God forbids and nature abhors. It is the natural inequality of mind—the difference not only in, the number of talents, but the different kinds of talents which God bestows upon men;—it is this natural inequality, which Christianity and Liberty respect and expand and improve without destroying; that produces the highest order of beauty and harmony in the moral and intellectual economy of nature, and of God. It is in vain to justify them upon any principle of necessity, expediency and utility—; they are necessary, expedient, and useful for nothing except that they give power and consequence to those who control them; and not unfrequently more shining and tangible advantages; while the members of these gregarious communities and societies are under the most abject mental and moral vassalage. But it is said in defence, that this is all voluntary. So much the worse: that vassalage and surveillance which are voluntary are the most hopeless and degraded. Involuntary bondage excites pity, but the other excites contempt. The independency and dignity which belong to individuality, when not sunken and degraded—are voluntarily surrendered—given up and cast away—; and man’s highest and noblest qualities and attributes—, to enlarge and elevate which Christianity and Liberty visited our world in company—are surrendered for a consideration less in value than that which purchased from Esau his birthright; and what is this base consideration? The ignoble privilege of our thoughts—our minds—our judgments—and our