The Writings of James Russell Lowell in Prose and Poetry, Volume V Political Essays

"The Writings of James Russell Lowell in Prose and Poetry, Volume V" by James Russell Lowell is a compilation of political writings that tackles the difficult subjects of slavery, democracy, and the state of American politics during a period of great change. Lowell's essays show his strong desire for fairness and his belief that government should be honest and moral. The collection starts with "The American Tract Society," where he criticizes the group for not being consistent with their beliefs, especially when it comes to slavery. He draws a parallel to a hermit turning into the very tyrant he criticized before, pointing out that the Society strayed from its original goals because of money and politics. Lowell insists that being truly moral means fighting against the injustices of slavery, and he questions why the Society is unwilling to talk about it. Avoiding important issues like this, he argues, weakens both religion and the sense of duty that comes with power, setting up a powerful discussion about how society should treat those who are most at risk.