The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-09-02
THE DUTY OF TO-DAY.

Whatever may he said of the questions
which have divided political parties hitherto,
there can now be no doubt in regard to the
Importance Of the present issue. Almost cv-
cry one will agree that it is question over
shadowing, although it does not exclude, all
others. The question whether slavery shall
be local or national reaches over and beyond
every thing else its bearings stretch away
into the future; it is very PANDoRA's box
Of troubles with only one great strong Hope
at the bottom of all.
The issue is an issue of To-Day. 1t is full
Of vitality. 1t does not unfold itself in stately
classic periods; it rolls out in the vernacular
tongue, with jerks and contortions perhaps,
but nevertheless in strong and manly ute
rance. 1t comes in the language of the pco-
pie, teeming with the facts and arguments of
this present year of grace. 1t takes hold of
our sympathcs, convinces our reason, urges
to action.
The questions of past years, on ono side OF
the other Of which We have labored. sometimes
successfully, sometimes vainly, have followed
tic years which called them into being The
questions ofthc future arc not vet disccrnible
and could not be acted on if they were. The
present is for US. To-Day is our battle field
Had ever heroes of old more to contend
against?
To-Day is a mighty Monarch. lie hold:
omnipotcnt rule over every human being en-.
lowed with sense enough to distinguish rich,
from wrong. Tvrannical is he at times. and
not quite easy to satisfy,-a hard maStc,
withal, who allows no rest night or dav. Iii.
brain is tccming with unsolved mysteries
Social questions. questions Of policy. questions
OF state, is he ever inventing to try the souls
Of men,
To-Day is apt to be impatient lie brooks
no delay. lie tclegraphs his commands cv-
cry morning with the sunlight, and expect:
to see them all performed before the earth
has made her diurnal revolution, brincino
with The returning day new anL pressing du-
ties. No one ought to think for a momen,
OF evadns the responsibility attaching to
every American citizen. lie is not half a
MAN WHO shrlnks from its vigorous dis
charge, who allows opportunities for good to
slip careles>ly through his fingers. who hest
tatcs TO crush the crawling Error Of To-Day
before ii grows into the gigantic Wrong of
To-Morrow
Centuries ago when Mind ..moyc1 with
slow and measured tread" when Though,
plo'!dcd YEARLY along. as if it were but a
child OF Earth. when all learning was all
sorbcd tv few master spirits who though,
for AMI governed all the re>t.a man might be
pardOncd for not concerning himself about
what he should eat and drink and where
withal he should be clothed. But now. after
wears OF progress. when the contact Of Mind
with Mind strikes of sparks of fire, when
Thought. no longer Earth-born and weary.
scars with arial ligh:ncSs. when every man
is Sovereign, with all Sovereign's power
and responsibility. i, is question of para
mount Importance how that power is excrted.
how that responsibility is discharged.
Culpable is the man who fails thus to act :
who will not allow his convictions Of RIGHT to
govern all minor considerations of usage .rar-
ty tramniclS or measures of policy; who neg
lcctS to vndicate his ligh rrerosativc in
voting against all wrong. however stron: and
ancient. against all outrascs upon our com
mon humanity. however sanctioned bv Gus
tom or enforced bv .aw