New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-01
Signs Of Progress.

There are many who can see no evidence that
he worldis any better or mankind any wiser now
than ten centuries ago; and in fact one eminent
lozicisn Of our time insists that things are worse
DOW than iormerly-,hat the Golden Age Of our
race is to be placed somew here between the tenth
and the fifteenth. century. The more current oPin
on. however, appears to be that
we see mankind the same In every age
aud that all the movement perceptble in human
concerns il circular or at farthest elhptical-that
States are planted and caused to flourish by supe-
rior rgcr and virtue-that having attained emf
hence and power they are tempted to plunge into
.iaxury. whence results corruption, thence weak
uess, decline, decay and destruction. In due time
from the ruins of the fallen fabric new one is by
like Influences evolved, and in time by like infu-
enees destroyed. So it has been, is, and ever
more is to be, while Time and Man shall endure
Let M see If we cannot adduce some facts, some
phenomena, at variance with this theory
Aud first, in regard to Temperance. Men drink
intoxicating liquors to their injury-there is no
ioubs Of that The habit Of drinking is still quite
common, and great many are rapidly burning up
their bodies and souls with the fascinating, hery
poison. but who now sees Alcoholic beverages
banded round at funerals, as we frequently saw
them scarcely thirty years agoi Who sees whole
religious society in different stages OF mellowness
on the occasion Of an ordination Who sees Rev.
Mr. THIS and Deacon That walk up TO tue bar and
call fat glass Of brandy or toddy in the face Of
dozen people, Nay, who does not see that the
innumersble bottles Of variously colcred and spark
ling liquors no longer stare the traveller in the face
A. he enters our most reputable botelsl-that Office
isinscribed where Bar Room once fauntedi-and
that the bottles, II not dismissed altogether, have
banished to some subterranean receptacle, thence
never, we trust, to emerge again to the light o
day ID there no meaning, no encouragement, IL
oil thisl
= Then % to Slavery: 1t is sad fact that mil
hons Of men and women are still held in abjec
bondage--that many very good Christian men ant
women are found among the holders, who doubtless
think Slavery all right or think they think So Bu
what devout man now invests his money In an Al
rican saver, or takes command Of one. or justices
the traffic Do we not see that all that 10 nov
urged in behalf Of Slavery by Synods and Bishops
and Councils and General Assembliesi s Apologies
and palIiative-very different in temper and toni
from what it was even twenty years agoi Goo'
men rack their brains to imagine circumstances aus
conditions under which Slavery may be excusable
they no longer contend for it broadly fully and pos
lively And best Of ALL the most determined slave
holding community evinces aversion to and ahhor
renee of the slave trader. Though they legahze an
protect and make lucrative his calling, they will no
take his baud, nor visit shouse All their babhi
about Abraham's slaveholdng, and Moses's slave
code and Psul,s sending back runaway slave /
his MASTER does not dupe themselves into believing
nor even pretending to believe, that the man VIII
dsvotss his time to relieving those who have to-
many slaves by fair purchase and supplying thos
who need more by honest sale, 10 fit companion 10
their wives and children, nor even for themselves
II this because his trade Is not absolutely essena
TO the enjoyment Of their wrong Tor what IL it :
Again a. IS Legal Killing as the punishment
of flsesnt offenders: 1t still goes On a. ever
thourb far less abundantIy than Of old But Their
vas q time when the stranger visiting any consid
cradle city would be pretty surely confronted b.
the giaring. ghastly remains Of at least one male
factor, hanging In chains over the city gate, az
warning to evil -doers a1d an Indictment TO loyalty
virtue and good behavior. The apprentice nigh
land generally did, enjoy any holiday In witness
ing the execution Of sandry culprits, getting
GOOD sniff Of the blood and III his taste lay tia
vsy) hearing Of the prayers. True, with tn
strange Inconsistency which turns out the lining @
sluoss svsy human error the ExscasiOnsF Of sh