Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-06
How LOngm0, How long,

The greatest obstacle to the spread of truth
and to the efforts which are now made against in
fidelity, intemperance, slavery and its kindred
evils, is, in our opinion, to be found among the
professedIy moral and religious-Thls grows
out of their inconsistency in subscribing the in
terests of wicked men and wicked parties by act
ING in concert with them, and doing all they can,
right or wrong, directly or indirectly to build
them up; thus lending their Sanctltied influence
to make vice respectable, and to break down the
only party or body Of men which profess to be
governed by right principles.
Don't let us be misunderstood We do not
condemn religious men because they are religious;
nor do we include all who are profesSedly so,
when we speak of the obstacles that are in the
way of the great reforms of the day. Far from
it. Many of their number are acting upon high
and holy principles The fear of God is before
them, and they would scorn to do mean act,
however much the interests of the political party
to which they belong might be promoted
But it is lamentably true that large portion
of them seem to be governed by different motives
and for the success of whiggery or democracy,
and the defeat of the Liberty party, are lending
all the weight of their character as moral men,
and the mighty influence which a standing IN
the Church of Christ gives them, to countenance
error and immortality
Ifthey would withdraw from parties composed
in part Of such men, they might exert powerful IN
fuence for the right, but as 1t Is, they encourage
them in their opposition to every reform, and to
every good man engaged in reform, and lower
our standard of religious truth in the community.
We meet them at the social prayer meeting,
where they are heard to implore Divine aid for the
spread of the gospel, the conversion of sinners,
for the success of the cause of temperance, the
breaking of every yoke; pray earnestly that In
fidelity, Sabbath breaking and profanity may
cease. Again, they may be seen at conventions
and caucusses, associated with men of the worst
character-ap plauding inhdel sentiments, or en-
gaged in the low trickery of party. Tomorrow
thew will be at church, and the next day you will
see them arm-in-arm with some drunken loaier--
in the shop or by the way side, IN familiar con-
versation with the nhdel, the profane swearer,
the gambler, or some reckless vagabond politi-
clan. about the interests of our party" or, per-
haps, connecting some plan to destroy the Liber-
ty party either by ridicullng its principles, brow
beating its tmd supporters, or by getting up
slanderous reports, and throwing out vile insn-
uations against its prominent men. And then to
the ballott-box-" ALL HANDS TO THE
BALLOT BOX-drunk or sober-the moral
and immora-the christian and the in6del-
some staggering, some swearing, with here and
there miserable apology for humanity, low and
beastly, and ALL voting the same ticket, and la
boring for the success of the same party.
Now, we ask in all candor, if the influence of
these professedly Christian men is not corrupt
and corrupting, and whether they are not obsta-
Giles in the way Of every reform? They may
talk loud and pray loud for the prosperity of III
on and the well-being Of mankind but is not
the influence which they might exert for good,
rendered nugatory by their evident inconsistent
Cyl and are they not stumbling blocks in world
lying in sin, and obstacles which must be remov-
ed before any moral and benevolent enterprise
can be carried forward
We beseech such as are now sustaining par
ties, the interests of which require so great sac
ri6ce of principle, to consider on their course,
to think of their responsibility to God and their
fellow men-ther country and the world