Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-10-04
V o l.. XIV. NO. SO.

P'NileSe. TheV
take away knowledge from the peonls
drive out the widow, houseless and bs,n
less, and snatch the morstl from he,
starving children. These are par, Of
the inconsistencies of Non. Resisauts
Such are some of the things done BY
the classes who are among those tho,
dong the most and the best that has re,
been afforded for poor, struggling c,sp.
ing humanity. What is here done bv
way OF pointing them out, is not 10 be talk.
en- as reproach or accusation. Il come.
from a deep and abiding conviction that
The utterance Of them is necessary TO the
Deter progress of reformation. The ex.
posures are not blows or thrusts from On
assassin, but cuts from one who would,
with what little skill he possesses, act the
part Of faithful surgeon.
And If the disclosures exhibit such =
state of things 10 The soundest and hest
parts, what is to be expected and looked
for elsewhere in the system of movements
that claim 10 have for their otjectthe ben
eft of mankind2 If such be the situation
of those who are foremost, what must be
the situation of those who are behind
Them lf1hese be the highest, what are
the lower and the lowest2 If those Who
are best entitled to be called philanthrc-
pists have not got beyond or above such
dolngs, what are patriots, paralysis, clan.
lists, cabaists about! lfthis be the work
of philosophers, what is the work of re-
lisionists If they who have been she'd
ding the most light on the paths of men,
are yet themselves clothed with so much
darkness, in what midnight shrouds must
hose be developed who have less, and
still Iess2 If the few who are cried out
against as innoVators and destructiouisls,
can only exhibi. such capabilities aud
accomplishments, what must be the imbc-
ciIity and inc fi:ieucy Of the conse-vators
who have raised the cry 2-and what the
deporab,e condition OF the deluded multi
tudes who are looking 10 the latter for help
and salvation
The truth is, there is nothing in our
church and state establishments which rec
egnizes man as being formed for I'm.
prcremea: They are dead weights up
Oh him. They retard his progress.
They suppress his nobler, his onward and
upward aspirations. They demand to be
treated and are treated as ends, and not as
means Works Of mems hands though
they be, they are the gods that men have
worshipped, and do worship. Honor, for
tune, liberty and life are sacrificed without
stint, in support Ofrrceds and constitutions S.
The sacrifices are worth infnileIy nore
than the gods!
Everything rational and real has been
thrown upon the altar and consumed b.
fore the mysterious and the imaginary.
The present has been held ia veneration
and awe OF the past, and 10 fear and fore.
boiling of the future. The living kave
been inundated upon the graves of the
dead. Science and philosophy have been
lhrown under the crushing cars of super,
stlion and ignorance. The solutions and
demonstrations OF today have been set
aside, because they could not he recoacii~
ed with the Assumptions, imposiions and
vagarirs of yesterday, knowledge has,
been clamored down under The Ephesan
cry that has made it infdelty. Men
have been kept from practical goodeess
by being tod that it was cut orther reach,
and that L they could reach it it would
avail them nothing, They have been
taught that the standards Of wisdom and
virtue are behind them, and not Leifore
them. That it is impious TO think of be-
ing wise above what is written in books,
and audacious to attempt to transcend for-
mer generations. The progress that is
chartered about in our schools and our
churches is backwarGs! Studen's in these
institutions are taug ut that it is more than
enough for them to arrive at the exper-
fence OF ages gone by.
These institutions have always hinder
ed progression. The most important dis
coveries and inventions of men have been
brought to the knowledge and put in the
possession ofthe people, agains. the COM
bined powers OF church and state, in all
/