DON'T IMPOSE ON THE EDITOR.
By J. H. Waggoner
THE Review is a good paper: we all know it. And it should be the study of all to help its conductors to make it good. But I hear some reader say, "I am sorry that such an article, or letter, was published." Why? "Because I have no confidence in the writer." That is bad, indeed; but the Editor does not know him, and it was well written. "Yes; but it has a bad influence with those who do know him; especially if they are prejudiced against us or our faith." Now I have often felt just so, and could heartily wish that the Editor knew everybody. But as he cannot, I will say a few words to those who write for the paper. If you love the Review as you profess to, do be careful and not abuse the privilege granted through its columns. I will tell you just what I mean. Some persons who have not a good standing with the church, who know very well that the brethren have somewhat against them, will write to the Review, regardless of the home influence of their letters, and perhaps excite the sympathy of the Editor and readers, when themselves know, if they know anything of church relations and duties, that they are not entitled to that sympathy. Such should realize that their letters will be read in their own neighborhood, where their own inconsistencies will cause their letters to be despised. And thus the paper suffers, and the cause is reproached. For example: A letter comes from a western State, calling for help, saying the writer is the only one in that section keeping the commandments, offering a home to any one who will come and preach the message, &c. But the writer left some eastern State in bad repute; perhaps a stain upon his character; perhaps a difficulty with his brethren that he was too selfish or willful to reconcile. Some never settle their difficulties: they try to run away from them. Of such beware: their influence is deadly. And woe to the messenger who heeds their calls and goes to preach in a neighborhood where they have been scattering darkness. Again; here is an excitable man; he flies into a passion, and draws a deadly weapon, and threatens the life of his neighbor, contrary to the commandment which says Thou shalt not kill, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. His brethren are deeply grieved, and bring it before the church. He makes confession and they forgive him, though he makes no confession to his abused neighbor. In this, Satan maintains the advantage. On going home, thinking no doubt of the injury or fancied injury his neighbor has done him, the difficulty is renewed in his mind, and he sends to the church to withdraw his confession, thus bringing himself again under censure. Not only so, but he expresses regret that his murderous intent was not carried out, thus showing that his heart is stained with the crime of which his hands are free by mere force of circumstances. He then writes a very sympathetic letter to the Review, tells how dear the paper is to him and his family, but, alas! he is not able to pay for it, they must part with their dearest friend, though with tears and bitter regrets. Now our Editor is a kind-hearted man, as many have proved; and he cannot find it in his heart to resist such an appeal: the paper is sent free. Let us look at another picture. In the South are millions of poor people—made poor by law; so poor that the husband cannot own his wife, or the mother her child. They have no Review, no Sabbath, no gospel. To teach them to read the Bible is an indictable offense. To give them the gospel is made a crime. The gospel, they are taught (if taught at all) is a gospel of iniquity, of oppression, of licentiousness; one that breaks down the barriers of moral restraint, and degrades man, made in the image of God, to the level of the brute. What a gospel! Good news only to the selfish propensities of their tyrant oppressors. But the Scriptures teach that God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth; so all are brethren. Therefore we are admonished to remember them in bonds as bound with them, and positively forbidden to return them to their master when they have escaped, but suffer them to dwell with them in such place as they shall choose. Yet in the face of these facts and declarations of God's word, he who would so strongly excite our sympathy for himself and his children, openly declares he would as soon associate with a horse-thief as with a man who would harbor or aid a fugitive slave! With me the case stands thus: separate from Christianity its element of humanity, and you may have the remainder, if there is anything left. I do not want it. And I must confess to feelings of indignation at efforts to excite my sympathy in behalf of those in comfortable circumstances, surrounded with the enjoyments of home and family, who have no bowels of compassion for the suffering poor, the down-trodden oppressed who are longing and vainly struggling for a little of the light and comfort that we so freely possess. With such facts before me I am resolved what to do. I love the Review; I love its Editor; I love the cause it advocates; I love its readers for the truth's sake. I am resolved henceforth to expose all efforts to abuse the Review—our paper—in the manner above specified, as far as they may come to my knowledge. I hope my brethren, especially in the ministry, will join me in this. I think it will correct the evil. And I trust, if it becomes known that this is our determination, it will so speedily correct the evil, that we shall have little or nothing to do in the way of carrying out our intention. I have a request to make of our brethren East. If you see calls from the western States for help, and you know, as is too often the case, that the writer left the East under censurable circumstances, acquaint the evangelists in the State from which the call emanates, with the facts in the case without delay. Let it be done by the church under the hand of their clerk. I sympathize with the poor. Let the worthy poor be aided. But there are many cases where, if they would be advised, or follow the plans recommended by those of experience in the work, and sanctioned by the Holy Spirit, the blessing of God would so follow them that they would be placed beyond the reach of many of their trials. J. H. WAGGONER.
Washington, Iowa, June 26, 1862.