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THE

WESTERN QUARTERLY REVIEW.

JANUARY, 1849.

REMARKS INTRODUCTORY.

A SALUTATION to you, Reader! A salutation for dimes and dollars-a Judas' kiss-an hypocritical profession for my good, while patronage to the Western Quarterly Review is the great object;—Is this your language? Well, so let it be. We cannot undeceive you by any special pleading. If we would make everything subserve our own interest, we would also represent ourselves as extremely disinterested laborers for the Great Public, while the direst selfishness entered into all our feelings. Those who make the loudest professions are not the most to be trusted. True merit is usually silent, unobtrusive; is never impudent nor importunate, but stands out in modest demeanor, the same under all circumstances :-not overcome by assailants, but smiling benignantly upon her enemies: not puffed up by a just praise, but all the time self-conscious that many an unfortunate convict has struggled more severely to be good.

But, Reader, will you listen while we tell you a few things concerning this Review? The first number is now before you: whether it be such as you may think the times require, is a question you must-answer for yourself. Among the many things herein said, there must be some truth-some pleasing thoughts-some valuable suggestions. That is all Truth-that even any single author may succeed in developing his thoughts, unmixed with error, is not to be expected:-indeed, it is absurd, for any man to imagine that all his thoughts are pure and true it is dangerous for any one to cease suspecting himself. Whether in the church or out, no man is perfect, nor any body of men infallible. The highest walls of sectarianism have not

been able to keep out the enemy. Grey-bearded Error, all bruised and scarred by the thrusts he has received, still obtains the ensigns of servitude from every individual of Humanity. We need not count the number who receive the principles we have adopted, and seek strength from contact with fellow disciples:-Vox Populi, Vox Dei, might as truthfully be written Vox Populi, Vox Diaboli. In all ages it has been the Few and not the Many that have held the most of that precious treasure. Every progress that has been made was commenced by a small band, that pressed their views, in the consciousness of the truth, upon the public attention, until the mass that once reviled them as heretics receive them as messengers of the new Gospel. If, then, the reader finds himself backed by the multitude, let him not point to the host, and scorn him who, almost alone, attempts to call attention to new doctrines: he should rather mistrust the truth of the principles that are adopted by the mass, because, from time immemorial, the opinions of the majority on the most abstruse questions have been false.

We come, therefore, in behalf of personal independence, and ask each to think for himself, feel for himself, and act for himself. Reader, you are good against the world. You have as much right to ask the million to hear you, as the million have to demand your attention. We have no cord to bind you with, no collar of our own construction to place on your neck. Here you may preserve your identity-appear as God made you, and not be compelled to suppress your thoughts or feelings, and thus in part annihilate yourself. Come, then, as you are-open the fountains of your own spiritual life, that we may see who you are, and what there is in you, that the world should know. We would not abridge your liberty, and we dare not sit in judgment and condemn you, for you may prove, in the light of that unerring Wisdom which is eternal in the Heavens, far above us in all that is pure and true.

The Western Quarterly Review comes also to act a part, in these unsettled times, in the construction of truthful institutions. It shall criticise things as they are, and spare not. It shall ex

pose, with an unflinching probe, whatever is believed unsound and untruthful, no matter how consecrated it may be in the affections of its supporters. We only say to them, that the way is open, the same channel is free to them, to repair, if possible, whatever breach any assault may occasion.

This is a crisis that demands stout hearts and steady nerves.

All things with which man has to do seem to be more unsettled than ever. There is more disputation about the right way, at this moment, than ever before. Notwithstanding the great advancement the world has made, there is less quietude in the opinions of men, and more dissatisfaction with regard to things as they are. And this augurs hopefully; for it tells us that Mind is alive and applying its test to everything within its reach, to know if it be founded in Truth. Heretofore the regularly dubbed Doctors, who have been weighed in the balance of Old Opinion, and found whole, have dictated to the world like enthroned Deities, and all have bowed in acquiescence, fearing to question, suppressing each rising doubt and choking off each rebellious feeling. Now the man rises on his own account, and challenges the most time-honored opinions to a hearing, and summons the Doctors to the defence. The more to advance this mental freedom, and to canvass these opinions, to settle mooted questions, and to moot those which are consided settled, is one object of this Review.

The philanthropic-the great-souled and noble-hearted, have looked abroad, and lo! the poor are in the land, and multiplying exceedingly. Europe is rocking like a tempest-tossed ship, in the commotion occasioned by those increasing unfortunates-shall we say, as some do, desperate scoundrels?—who have lived amid plenty, without a mouthful for a starving child, and who have felt from the depths of their own natures that all is not well-there is something wrong in this unequal world. They have consulted together and said, let us go up to this stupendous castle, where there is "much goods laid up for many days," and ask by what right they maintain such a retinue, and draw their lines about so much of the free Earth, while we are without a home for our little ones, yea, even without bread. Let us ask them to defend their claim-to apologize for their idleness and wastefulness, while we starve. They are asking these questions, but are met with scorn; their repeated inquiries have been answered by repeated injuries. This is the reason that an hired soldiery is kept in requisition at this moment, to prevent outbreaks of violence, on the part of the injured millions. To-day vast standing armies are maintained, not as of old, for purposes of assault upon other powers; not for purposes of princely acquisition-nor to make a nation great at the expense of others,-but to suppress all rising tumult on the part of those whose arduous toil will not give them bread-whose

unremitting labor will not make a family comfortable. When the people cried for bread, a lady, of the French Court, asked why they did not eat cakes if they could not get bread. Neglect of the poor, in consequence of such ignorance, is excusable; but so often the alarm has been sounded from every hill and dale, by trumpets of the most certain sound, the millions have justly concluded that the obstinate deafness to their wants is unpardonable, and the judgment of Heaven should be executed upon them. The cause of this commotion has been increasing, and even in our own boasted land, with domain stretching from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof, the same cause is on the increase :--Alms-houses and Poorhouses are multiplying, and the number of the poor increasing at least four-fold the ratio at which the population is increasing. There is something, then, in this country, to be said and done, before all the people can rejoice under their own vine and fig tree. Alas! many have not the vine and fig tree, and the great question arises before the selfish and unsympathising, in all its frightful magnitude-"How shall all be enabled to enjoy their own vine and fig tree?" This question must be answered before the close of this century, and if our work can do anything to advance this solution, it will repay its proprietors.

This Social question cannot be blinked down, laughed down, nor choked down: it must be met-it is forced upon us by men and women, who will "give no sleep to the eyes nor slumber to the eyelids," until they are heard. They know one thingthat all will not be right on earth until all are happy; that Benevolence is at the basis of all the Divine arrangements, and an Eternity of woe cannot be reconciled. Therefore, there is "something wrong," and the inquiry arises: What is it?

There are two classes of Social Reformers, who take their positions at opposite poles;-one class go to the soul of man and say, some important change must be wrought here, before any great improvements can be effected in the Social Organization; the other class go to the Institutions of Society, which, they say, mould and temper the soul, and these must first be modified, before any real improvement can be realized in the internal condition of man. Here opens a wide field for investigation. It involves a thorough knowledge of the nature of man, of the true means of education, and of the springs of human action. Before it can be settled, the doctrines of Circumstances, of Necessity, and of Free agency must be canvassed.

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