Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-04-08
The Three Battles of our Race.

OF the three great battles appointed to hui
maaity, we, in this land at least, have fought
and gained two. We have wrestled with wild
Nature, and have subdued her to ou. service
and tanned her to our will. Over the powers
and obstacles Of the material world we have
achieved victory after victory, each more won
derrul than the preceding one; we have pushed
our pioneers and founded our cities in the re-
motest recesses of primeva forests; we have
planted our footsteps and fixed our flag in the
bauenest as in the richest regions the sea has
become 10 US bridge, and not a gulf; a high
wov. not barrier; climate has scarcely been
an obstacle even the burning deserts of Africa,
and the wastes of Arctic and Antarctic SHOWS
have scarce repelled us; the most stupendous
engineering difficulties suggest no question as
to "whether they can be overcome" but only
sat what cost they can be overcome )" rapidity
o. communication and facility 5f intercourse
have reached point which, it is not easy even
for Imagination to surpass; even pain has found
a conqueror in science; and, on the Whole, il
/, RhySical life werS all we bad to look n. and
physical enemies the only ones we nad rs strive
with, it would be difficult to believe that the
goal OF human progress, and the boundary line
of human capabity, was not close at hand
The first great battle of civilization has beer
fought and won in a manner and with an issu(
which future history may we'll be proud to re-
cord.
But there was another and sterner struggle
to be gone through another and noble- vic
tory to be won. Man had to be emancipateC
from dwarfng and paralyzing thralldom, ant
given back into his own possession. His limb
had to be unfettered, and his energies to be
electrified by the healthy and bracing atmos
phere of freedom. Liberty of action had to bt
won from the tyrant and liberty of thought from
the priest. To the conflict of man with nature
succeeded the harder and far sadder conflict o
man with man. AS the aim was nobler, so the
struggle was longer, the progress slower, ant
the martyrs more numerous by far. Age aftel
age the tide of war swayed 10 and fro, witt
VARYING fortunes and in changed localities, bu:
with no cessation as combatant after combat
ant fell, another stepped into the vacant ranks
as one weapon was blunted or broken, anothe
and another was discovered Of better tempe
and of keener edge; unexpected aid came oftel
from around. sometimes above; as defeat ant
despair darkened the horizon in one quarter
hope dawned upon 1t from another; till, thanks
to our forefathers, who we're made OF sterne
stuff. cast in a more stalwart mould, and gifte
with sngler eye, than we who had our brit
amid milder antecelents; thanks to the goodl
fellowship Of our reformers and the noble arm
of our martyrs, we have now no impediments t
our future progress save such as our own impel
fectona may create for us, such as may be heap
ed upon our path by indistinctness Of visior
infrmity of purpose, or hating and enfeeble
will.
But we have now to trim our lamp and Cir
on our amor for final work, which cannot b
put by, and which must not be negligently don't
The last battle of civilization is the severes
the last problem the knottest to solve. Out
all the multitudnous ingredients and influence
Of the past out of the conquest of nature an
the victory of freedom; out of the blending an
ntermixture of all previous forms of polity ar
notifications of humanity, has arisen a compile
order of society, of which the disorders ar
anomalies are as complex as its own structur
We are now summoned to the combat, not Wi
material difficulties, nor yet with oppressors n
with priests, but with an imperfect and disease
condition Of that social world of which we for
a part; with pains and evils appalling in the
magnitude, battling in their subtety, perPlexlr
: in their complications, and demanding far mo
clear insight and unerring judgement than eve
, purity of purpose or commanding energy OF wi
This conflict may be said to date from the fir
g French Revolution and 1t has been increaslr
, in intensity ever since, till it has now reacht
to yiyidness and solemnity OF interest whit
Z surpasses and overshadows the attractions OF
other TOPICS Socialism, Communism, Sal
, Simonism. Fourerism, Chartism, are among tt
. indications of its progress. Gradually 1t h
drawn all classes and orders of men into
I ranks. The student in his library, the state
e man in his cabinet, the merchant at his def
the artisan at his loom, the peasant at his ploug