Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-05

peace, the trucEt fountain Uf lu ticc, the ChOl-
ccSt source Of equity - the holicSt deepest,
balniest wcll-spring Of governmental life and
individual felicity.
Governments cannot exist without it. Au-
thorty moves by its light Society breathes
it as a necessary atmosphere. Man leans upon
1t as n staff Of divinity.
But it is not the only agency which should
be cultivated for the purpose Of perpctuating
governments and rendering them just aud
equitable in the administration of law. 1t is
an npulsivc, cxcitablc and most uhcharitable
agency when mingled with human intirmity,
which has lead off already in diSlOyalty 10 our
own government. dissolved the bands of moral
confederation, and violated the fraternal pre-
ccpt> which were inaugcratcd by the sires and
SagrS Of the revolution.
Here, in the free government of America.
in that noon day sr'cndor Of the Christian
church, where temples Of worship multiply
as if evoked from the springs Of magic, where
architecture cXhau>tS itself in the dclincatiOn
of grandeur, magniircnrc, luXuriancc and
wealth; where sunptu0uS pcwS. capariouS
ai>lcs, and varicgatcd lights are too often
used aS bulletin boards for the coinplarcnt
publication oI lrodIgal and bankrupting fash
ions, tv,n here, amidst such display of lin
,lnaIlSw cred; the pitcaus appeals If the sick
ruirnr' sirrkitt- hcart Of poverty
bereavement unsupported, the signs of tho
y Wi5t0w and the tears of the orphan falling To-
the earth uurccognizrd by Christian vision,
unrricycd by Christian sympathy.
Something more is needed to cement and
fraternize our people; something more is de-
manded in promotion of mutual protection,
ntI
The Church of the present day is not adapted
to the poor. 1t has really and practically but
little. if any sympathy with them. They arc,
in Il secular sense, dead weights upon the
prosperity Of church organizations, and iC
cared for at all, they interfere too materially
with that magniliccncc, luxuricnce and pa
gcantry by which the responsibility Of church
Is is 81 commonly estimated. We believe there
is reason TO fear that we cannot look to the
Christian church to Succor the poor. We
speak it not with gladncSs; we name il because
we believe it to be irrevOcably true, and be-
cause we feel that the time will come when it
will be made the source Of momentous, if not
bitter and hopeless regret.
Governments can not be looked to as an adj
cquatc source Of protection to the poor. The
President may 90 before the people annually,
aud luXuliatc in that gilded exOrdium so uni
vcrsally adopted: {" 1t is with joy and graft
tudc that am enabled once more to cOngrat-
ulate the Government and people upon the
universal prosperity, peace and plenty which
abound in the land, through the smiles and
favors of munificent Providence, and the
operation of free and enlightened laws" Gov
ernorS may, for brief period, step aside from
the corrupting combinations and policies of
politics, and in the captivating complacency
of vencratcd sanctity, exclaim, per message,
"Wc have reason to give our hearts to God
in love and gratitude for the universal pros
pcrity which has been enjoyed by our people. "
The Grand JurCs Of our Counties may write
down that devotional conclusion, which is
only dctcri0rated in interest because so often
repeated, "ln conclusion, the undersigned
grand jurvmcn would call upon the people to
praise God aud all the County office holders,
for the practical benevolence of our govern
mcnt, AS manifested by universal prosperity,
contentmcnt and plenty. All interests are
protected, business is everywhere iiouriShing,
the poor are amply and generously provided
for, the sick are given the best attention, the
widows and orphans, and the blind and in
sane, are provided with comfortable homes
and excellent attention. The prison cells are
kept in charming order, clean, and well ven
tilatcd the prisoners have good clothing, are
well fed, and the police officers who 90 in and
out before them are patterns Of the Sublimest
morals, exercising the mest- tender and re-
formatory influence over the criminals. The
hospital is in condition never surpassed in
our county. The number of its inmates is no
less, but owing 10 the consumunate manage
ment of the Superintendent and resident Ply
sician, the expenses have been reduced about
a third. These officers have established a
rule, which we cannot too highly commend,
that all persons applying for the benefits OF
this noble charity must bring certificates OF
good moral character, before they can obtain
admission. From the application of this rule,
scores and hundreds viii be turned away, and
thousands Of dollars saved for taX-riddcn
community
Thus speak the functionarics Of government
from day to day, from year TO year, from cen
tury 10 century.
And yet, there is no government in the
world, no nation of the universe, in which
men, women and children are not politically
morally and physically murdered by injustice
incquity, neglect and abandonment
Something is needed beyond the provisions
of government, the administration of law, W
the practical sympathy and bcncvolrncc O
the Christian church. Something which min.
giles the ilcalSm of religion with the rougl
AMI rugged realities of human experience
Something which carries with it the halo o
goodness. with which to smooth away the as
prrticS Of life and labor. Something so true
so kindly disposed, so vivid in perception, ant
so electric in impulse, that it studies not rank
nor wealth, nor plumage, nor power, but, Coo
in heart and Charity in hand, walks the cartl
doing good, dispensing relicf-dlcsOing ant
being blessed.
Thus have We Travelled, from man and soci
ETY., to the necessity at least Of active, practi
cal, fraterniZing associations amongst which
Odd Fellowship has achieved glorious anC
eminent reputation. While we would no
claim for this institution an adequate relic
from the ills and impcrfectons of social or
CARNATIONS of fauthorty, yet we feel glowing
pride i'll recognizing its warm, and full, anC
vigorous hand in the warfare of life, support
ing the weak and feeble against the rude ant
rough shocks of the strong and selfish. Mos
willingly do we conccdc to this frugal and be
.ncvolent Order that proudcst of all claims, tn
claim Of toiling, from day to day, and year t
year, in the walks Of the purest philanthropy
among the poor and needy, the distressed an,
deStitute-a claim which springs not from tn
ideal beauty, or the poetic flourish Of fin
wrought theory Of Friendship, Love an,
Truth," but which emanates, with golden ra
dance, from human wretchedness relieved
from human misery aSSu0ged.
The tiowret robes Of our Order are not con
structed of the tinseled millinery Of court
and mansions, but woven from the fragran
[ md beAuteOuS hlOSSomS Of gratitude froSl