Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-05-14
VI isCeIIa neOWS.
From the Ne,U York Evangelist.
The Signs Of the TimeS-NO 3.
BY REV. JOHN S, C. ABBOTT.

BY REV. JOHN S. c. ABBOTT.
There is a surprising readiness in a certain
class of minds, to adopt any conceivable absurd
tiles which will enable one to renounce the
word of God. Theories the most contradictory
and childish are eagerly embraced, rather than
repose confidence in the declarations of scrip
ture. By one class of infdel philosophers it is
stoutIy maintained, that the diversity between
the different races of mankind is so very great
as to be utterly irreconcilahle with the SUPPOSE
ton Of a common origin; and that therefore the
declaration of scripture, that Adam and Eve
were the progenitors Of the whole human family
cannot possibly be true. They assert that there
are some ten OF twelve distinct species, each of
which must have had a distinct and separate ORR
gin. And still hardly any two of these philOS-
ophers can be found, who agree respecting the
number of species. Some divide the human
race into three species, SOM into FIVE, and 9TH
ers into many more, The different races min
gle SO imperceptibly with each other, that it is
impossible to agree upon any distinctive marks
Fof separation.
On the other hand, Lord Monboddo and ma
ny others with him contend, that not only the
whole human family must be of one origin, but
we must also add 10 that homogeneous family
monkeys and ourang outangs. On unfortunate
brethren, who have not been so highly favored
as ourselves in moral and intellectual culture, are
still grinning and chattering in the woods of
Borneo, lawful targets for any sportsman who
may wish to try the effect of a rifle ball upon
them.
DR.. Darwin, an English infdel of considera-
bly, n%otoriety, carries the t%riumphs of infdel
science and philosophy into regions of still more
reconcile and sublime refinement, He traces
the line of our lofty lineage through the noble
houses of the baboon and the monkey, and gives
us our birth place-our garden of Eden-ln the
mud bed of the clam. These are the specula-
tions which infidels call philosophy. These are
the absurdities which they would have US sub
stitute for the revealed truth, that Good has
made of one blood all the nations of the earth."
As the slide of the guillotine fell upon the neck
of Louis XVI. s%evering his head from his body,
a peasant standing by, as he gazed upon the
crimson streams, shouted in amaZement, " His
blood is like ours" 1t was so. We are all
brethren. Though some are rich and some are
poor, some are cultivated and some are u%nculti-
waited, some are free and some are slaves, we
are all brothers and sisters, the children OF one
common father the descendants of a common
parentage. And it will indeed be a happy day
when this truth shall be universally acknowledge
ed, and every man shall love God supremacy and
his neighbor as himself.
There ale now many indications that in the
progress of Intellectual culture, and Of the va
rious physical comforts and %luxuries Of civilized
and refined life, the barbarian form and aspect
will disappear, with the barbarian character
As mankind, in all it's different aspects, origina-
ted in one common cradle, it is by no means
improbable that all these repugnant diversities
of aspect may eventually vanish away, and all
mankind again become blended into one homo
geneous family.
In Imagination visit this tribe of negroes, in
the heart Of Africa. They are as naked, I'M
cultivated, and almost as unintelligent as the
beasts which roam through their forests. Now
with u|nearthIy waiIings they pluck out their
hair, as they shrek over the newly opened
grave and now bursts of hideous revelry re
sound from their mud novels, as they celebrate
the horrid orgies of heathenism. They are
wild aud savage men, their souls stimulated only
by the fires of passions. War is both their pas
time and their terror,
But the Christian missionary visits that de
graded tribe. The church and the schcol-housC
are erected. The vicious are reclaimed, the
naked are clothed, the hungry are fed, the lgno
rant are instructed, and v~ulgarity gives place t.
the refnements of cultivated life. The soil is
cultivated cheerful dwellings adorn the Chris
tian village, and the beaming smile of %intellec
dawns in the face. The rugged features of TIN
savage are smoothed down into the mild and pa
cid expression of the Christian gentleman
The transformation of the outward man is ever
more manifest than the change in the lnwar'
feelings. The barbarian has become indeed
new creature, and has taken a long stride toward
the physical formation of the most perfect race
And his descendants of each succeeding genel
alton will be steadily progressive.
1t is now highly probable that the whole In
dian race will soon entirely disappear from tn
North American continent. Those tribes whic
are sunk lowest in intemperance and degrade
ton, and who will not heed the invitations c
the gospel, must inevitably perish. Those save
by Christian efforts, polished in manners, an
cultivated in mind and heart, will soon be blen
ded and lost in the European race, which wit
its gathering millions is filling the land. Their
is now, with very many, no rePugnance to IN
termarriages with the aboriginal inhabitants q
this land. Nearly all the hunters and adventur
ers in the wilds of the West, connect themselve
with Indian wives. The eccentric Senator