Page:The collected works of Theodore Parker volume 7.djvu/70

66 is to become of tho humbler nations—Irish, Mexicans, Malays, Indians, Negroes? In tho world and in society tho question is answered in about the same way. In a low civilization, tho instinct of self-preservation is the strongest of all. They are done with, not for; are done away with. It is the Old Testament answer:—The inferior nation is hewn to pieces, the strong possess their lands, their cities, their cattle, their persons, also, if they will; the class of criminals gets the prophet's curse: the two bears, tho gaol and tho gallows, eat them up. In the family alone is the Christian answer given; the good shepherd goes forth to seek tho one sheep that has strayed and gone, lost upon the mountains; the father goes out after tho poor prodigal, whom the swine's meal could not feed nor fill. The world, which is the society of nations, and society, which is tho family of classes, still belong mainly to the "old dispensation," heathen or Hebrew, tho period of force. In the family there is a certain instinctive love binding the parent to the child, and therefore a certain unity of action, growing out of that love. So the father feels his kinship to his boy, though a reprobate; looks for the causes of his son's folly or sin, and strives to cure him; at least to do something for him, not merely with him. The spirit of Christianity comes into the family, but the recognition of human brotherhood stops mainly there. It does not reach throughout society; it has little influence on national politics or international law—on the affairs of the world taken as a whole. I know the idea of human brotherhood has more influence now than hitherto; I think in New England it has a wider scope, a higher range, and works with more power than elsewhere. Our hearts bleed for the starving thousands of Ireland, whom we only read of ; for the down- trodden slave, though of another race, and dyed by heaven with another hue; yes, for the savage and the suffering everywhere. The hand of our charity goes through every land. If there is one quality for which the men of New England may be proud, it is this,—their sympathy with suffering man. Still we are far from the Christian ideal. We still drive out of society the Ishmaels and Esaus. This we do not so much