Who would trim all the
trees of the forest into one and the same shape? Or, who is so foolish
as to want all faces cast into one mould? Who would chain human thought
or mould the opinions of men so that they should not only be one in
Christ, the greatest living fact in history, but one in every other
being known in the world's history--one in opinions? The freeist thing
in the universe is thought. The liberties of thought are charter
liberties from the King of Kings. The spirit of man is free in its
normal state. You can not chain it in slavery against its will. No. It
knows no servitude but the voluntary. But, then, its wanderings are
many. In the field of search after beauty, rectitude and truth, many
minds may come into collision. But greater evils would result from
chaining them all to one spot, and thus ending progress in many things
of interest lying in the realm of thought. Of all the varieties known
among men those of thought are the most sublime and useful.

This variety causes the investigation of every interest; it brings every
truth and every error to the surface.

Men have made many attempts to check the onward march of intellect. But
every attempt in that direction is marked by some great dread. Men are
not anxious to put on the brakes unless they are in fear of being
wrecked. Nothing is more dangerous in any government than perfect
indifference to public interests. Men in places of public trust always
need watching. Irresponsible power, it is said, would corrupt an
archangel, and is, doubtless, unknown among the inhabitants of the
better land. Among men there is great liability. Every political
candidate has his accusations, his promises, and scheme, with which he
confronts his rival and agitates the minds of the people. So we have
been saved from that stagnation of thought which has retarded progress
among other nations. Many men, seeking office, have been wise enough to
see the danger to their interests of an expose of corruption. So they
have been perfectly willing that mechanics, artisans and farmers should
investigate and expose to public view all the questions of interest
belonging to our government, but good Christians, "and especially
preachers, entering the field of political investigation, at once
forfeit their right to the crown of life.(?)"

But just how it is that lawyers, doctors and politicians will all reach
heaven in spite of political action, and preachers will sink to
perdition on a