The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-01-01

laro and compulsi0n. Public opinion, mas
always been, from the beginning, against
ANYTHING that savored Of force. Argu-
ment, and cool, though earnest persua-
sion are the only weapons that have been
used in the great moral warfare that has
already accomplished so much. In 1888,
the Legislature attempted to manufacture
public opinion, and to use force, but the
next year public opinion mastered the
Legislature. Every one in ten OF themem-
beers who drew the sword persisted by the
sword. The people gave the force-men
leave to stay at home and sent men who
repealed the law, Instanter- The temper
ance cause was retarded for years by thi:
unwise movement, and its friends were
compelled to commence their operation
ner. Years ofpaiulul solcitude and hare
labor were scarcely sufficient = place
them upon the footing which they had
lost by the nnwise action of those whose
zeal" in the clause was not according to
knowledge" Will men learn nothing by
experience Is not the history Of the
temperance cause in Vermont sufficient
to convince AM discreet person that The
people will bear no forcing, and that all at
tempts to coerce them has proved ruinou:
to the cause? 1t would seem that it could
not be otherwise and yet il is. Men
who cannot deny the injurious effects ofthe
1913 operation are again aiming the same
deadly blow at the cause-are again seek
ing to force it back to its old position
aud Just so sure as they again succeed
Just so sure the temperance cause is Ill
iured and its movements retarded
The great apostle of temperance, Faith
err Matthew, asks no aid but the sense o.
right and wrong implanted in the breast
of every man, moved upon and brought
into activity by the power oftruth and the
precepts of christianity He asks for n
statutes that he cannot find in the book
of God-no law but the law of christian
ity, and no power but the power of truth.
How much has he accomplished More
for temperance, by his plain and simple
preaching than all the laws that ever were,
or can be enacted. Whenever great and
true reformer, cannot accomplish neral
reform without the aid of the law, he never
can accomplish it with it.
History, experience, common sense
show all this; why, then, will people per-
sist, after al in attempting 10 bring the
law 10 bear upon moral questions Tenn
perance is one of the cardinal christian
virtues,-''temperance in all things" 1t
is part CT the great and divine creed of
Jesus Christ. And he taught his creed,
and his apostles preached it, by appealing
to the heart and when one of his follow
ers drew the sword in its defence he re-
buked him and babe him him
put it up.,, He had no need of such ar
guments. Yet, at the present day men
have grown wiser than He. They grasp
the sword and lop offtbe ears Of those
whom they cannot convince. He said,
in effect, men are not to be convicted of
the great objects ofmy mission, peace,
love, charity and temperance, by cutting
off their ears, by force. But, now, men
sem to know mere than He knew, and
say thay that He was wrong. That if men
cannot he convinced, in the "twinkling OF
an eye'' the sword must be drawn and the
ears must come eff Hard names mus;
be called-insolence and brow-beating
used and the strong arm of the law raised
over the heads Of those who have not
been convincck of error.
Ia our view, lack of temperance in the
community is greatly TO be deplored, as alack
Of any other christian virtue is TO be deplOred;
and its prevalence is TO be brought about pre-
cisely in the same way and by the same means
as the prevalence OF any other christian virtue;
by preaching, by practice and by precept.
This christian virtne is TO de enforced upon
the minds and the understandings of the world
as charity, meekness. or brotheily love are
10 be enforced.
But men are not to be converted in a mo-
menti The world is rot 10 be made ITEM
peraie, in all things" or in one thing in a day.
Do your duty and wait patiently, Much
has been done, more may be done, il it is
sought TO be done in the right way. Heart
determinations move slowly. Time is needed
10 convince, and this rash dernciaiory, and
head long zeal has little ofthe convincing ele-
ment abOutit and one man, actuated by it,
may, in one day. destroy what it has cost a
thousand men, actuated by wisdom, wears and
years TO accomplish. 1t is much easier to
pull down than to build up, and it is iamenta
BILE to note, in the history of all reforms, how
much good labor and well apporiioned time
has been scattered 10 the winds by hasty
pleasures and orerheated zeal. Time is nee
essary for Al, earthly things. The husband
man casts the ''sAed" into the ground and
waits. The ''blsde" appears. re heaps the
fresh earth about it, and waits. The "e,J"
starts out. He watches its growth, and waits.
Soon comes 1.-The full corn in the ear" He
sees its perfect growth, and waits till the sun
has fully rpened it FOR the sickle, and with
thankful heart gathers it into his granary.-
But what if. after he has sown his "seed" and
the ''blade" appears, he should say 10 where
is the '.ear!" 1t is time i-Ibave sown un-
faithful seed.-I can wait no longer for the
earl will plough my field and SOW again,
aud perchance with better seed All his
neighbors, as they passed by his field, would
exclaim, oh. foolish and rash husbandman
God has promised You, after the sseed" is
sown, first the ..blade" and Then the ear"
and because you could cot wait for each in
lis appointed order you have destroyed all,
and when the harvest comes 10. your basket
l. In he