Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-08-24

drinking acohol even, is no very great
advance towards perfection. Great In
deed is the contrast between his present
and former self; then loathsome drunk
ard now sober man. But here the
work stops. O.her vile habits remain
unchan oed. His tobacco il may be IS
retained, though to his great detriment-
One hates rum, having ielt lts evil enects
in bis own person, while ne retains his
hatred of the niggers." The difference
between what he is and what he was, is
this; he formerly loved rum and hated
.niggers, and now he most cordially alb |
hors both. Another sees the wrongful |
ness of chattel slavery, as swell as drunk
enness, and labors for its overthrow
And vet he has the spirit of tyranny in
his own soul, as every inferior with whom
he has any intercourse can testify. He (
really enslayes men, women and children,
to the extent Of his ability. You may go
TO the houses Of men loud in their advoca-
cy Of the essential equality Of the human
race. and 6ud a degraded class in their
kitchens. kept SO by their direct act.
Some, seeing plainly the need of reform
with reference to intemperance and slave
~, seem ready 10 carry ihrough their
plans of reformation at the point of the
bayonet; showing plainly, that, while
they see some of the wrongs of society,
they are blind to others. The bayonet
has never done any thing towards REFORM
ing mankind, nor will il ever. Others
talk and write much and well about re-
forming mankind, doing something for
The rising generation, improving the low
or orders o! society, &c. &c. while their
whole life, their style Of living, their hab-
It's in meat, drinks and dress, are exactly
calculated 10 make the poor poorer, 10
sink the low lower. II is easier to talk
about reforming the entire world. Of bring
ing the whole race TO state of enhghten-
ed purity, than actually to overcome one
foolish or sinfnl habit There arc many
takers, but few doors. How admirably
do some men speculate and reason about
the amout Of labor which it would be nee
essary for each healthy individual to per-
form, should every one do his part! Are
they trying the experiment upon their own
bones and sinews2 Oh no; this is far
enough from their intention. They are
only calculating. That is all they intend:
Now the world has had enough Of such
calculating. In needs the living truth
Iived. To speculate about truth is one
thing, to live it quito another. Calcula-
tions and speculations are worthless il
unattended with the appropriate action to
test their correctness. Faith without
works is dead We wish to see the the
orem demonstrated, and let those who
have the ideal, apply their own shoulder
blades to realize the actual.
When Christianity really exists in the
living man, and communities Of men, il
will indeed be as a city set on hill--it
cannot then be hid nay, verify it must
then be seen; nor can any thing else be
mistaken for IL. The world will then see
and love it. The poor will take shelter
: beneath its broad wings, and those even
who have long lived upon the sweat and
tolls Of others will learn & rejoice in learn
ing. how much better II is to labor, and cal
their own bread Preaching is needful, il
must be the forerunner; bu, practice mus
follow hard alter. or it soon becomes an
empty sound, a tinkling cymbal.' 1t j;
painfully ludicrous to witness the strange
incongruities which adhere to the best o.
reformers-lo the most perfect Of men,
What an assemblage Of idle, filthy, and
hurtfuI habits of thought, feeling and &C.
ton, do they bling along with them as
they advance for the renovation of the
worlyl Some come to the work, sword
IN hand, prepared 10 overturn and destroy
by violence and blood whatever stands il
the way of their schemes of reform. Ru
wrvhr - - - al. no
dy, we may be assured that the remedy i
worse than the disease. How cruel is tn
prejudice which some pretended reformer
indulge against that vast portion Of the
human race who are covered with sa
bic skin ! Others again are loud in iheil
advocacy OF the rights OF the African race
and yet scruple not to tread under foo
those oflheir own complexion. Some cry
out against hreling priests, and yet fiji
their Golfers with gold upon the hireline
principle-by using the strength OF 9th
ers. One brings his tobacco TO comfor
him In his arduous duties of reformation
another strengthens himself, as he suppos
es, with the flesh OF animals. Some come
10 the work all covered with useless or
naments, feathers and laces, iewerly an,
ribsnds. Cofee-miIls and lea pots, corset
and snuH.boxes, are still among the para
phernalia Of reformers. One might sup
pose that the work of reform would max
slow progress in the hands of those en-
numbered with so many impelfeciions.
these bIemishes doubtless rrtard its pro
gress. and yet great good has been dor,
Inc work IS still in progress. Each b
the divine power Of truth has been cure
oil some one or more bad habit, evil ten