You would not threaten a whole street in order to catch a few robbers who had sought shelter in some of its recesses, nor would you burn down your house, according to the amusing story of Charles Lamb, in order to roast a pig.
Sumner uses a metaphor to illustrate the absurdity of overreacting to minor threats.
Share
More from Charles Sumner
Endeavor, for a moment, by comparison with other interests, to grapple with this sum.
Out of this pernicious prejudice have proceeded that persecution and neglect which are the too frequent lot of the world's pioneers.
The first is a heavenly sentiment, from God: the other is a device of this world.
Without yielding to any of these extreme views with regard to the mischiefs or the benefits of party, all should agree that the only true and legitimate object of such an association is to uphold, advance, and develop certain principles…
Other voices in this conversation
