conduce to the hap- piness and security of society, and by fostering the arts and passions which minister to human destruction, is corrupting the morals and jeoparding the hberties of the Republic. It strives to excite the abhorrence of the good for that statesmanship which seeks the ag- grandizement of the country in defiance of the laws of God ; while by presenting a true portrait of the patriot, it would fain afford some aid in detecting spurious re- semblances.
Such are the purposes for which the design of the Review was conceived and executed. The author hopes for a hearing, not from the selfish throng ignobly strug- gling , in the political arena for office, and power, and money, and lavishly squandering in the strife their own truth and honor, and the pubhc good ; but from that INTRODUCTION. 6 Bmall, yet increasing number, who are inquiring how far their relations to the State are to be governed by the precepts of Christianity.
The maxim that "all's fair in pohtics," and the mon- strous frauds, falsehoods, and forgeries, attending almost every important election, illustrate the lamentable facty that in general "Religion has nothing to do with poli- tics." But rehgious people in vast numbers have much to do with pohtics, and too often seem to think that in their character of office-holders, or office-seekers, they have received a dispensation from the obligations of the Moral Law. Such persons, should they deign to read the ensuing pages, may possibly be reminded with profit, that moral responsibility is not attached solely to such of our actions as may be termed private and domestic, but that " God will bring every work into judgment"—works done in political meetings, at elec- tions, and even on the floor of Congress : and, that as there is an express prohibition against following " a mul- titude to do evil," no majority, however great, can be pleaded in justification of crime, or in mitigation of punishment.