Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-12-16

10 nothing IN this consideration alone, to show th
there may not be long and wasIeful agony befol
It's reached. The glorious fature /. sure, becaus
God reigns, and reigns for that future and b,
cau'e be reigns fer that, believe he will help I
into it as soon and as fast a, we are prepared 70
t,--in nyeyent, sometime and because he reign
for that, also, this present trouble j. one step
his providence towards is. This s the ground {
my confidence.
also derive encouragement from the analog
poI.icdl changes and erenis cisc,Dhere in ploder
hmss. They suggest the thought that Gsd, hsv
ing spent former ages in the elementary lesson
and preparations OF christian civilization Is no,
'ImFiy employing political changes to bring tn,
nations more directly inte it. He seems to hav,
abandoned the former eircuitous method, and t
have adopted a more speedy one. Nearly all tn,
great modern eonyusions have resulted in th,
signal and Immediate advantage of christianity
The English war With China was in fact but O
hldsodS and ugly phantom, going before christian.
lty, leve,lng down Chinese walls, and letting in
the Gospel, 10 make trial OF the swarihy, unspirit.
ual millions. The war in India was as remarkabe
for chrlstani2ng the previous essentially pagan
pohey OF The English, in the government OF that
country, as for fastening the downfall of the
waning pagan religions themselves; so that the
religious prospects Of that populous eouatry we're
never 50 bright as on the day when that war
closed. In like manner, the cannon Of the French
and English in the Cilmean war were no more
effective in destroying the Russian fleet, or in
6alterRg the kedan and Malskoh, than in shat.
terng Turkish prejudiees, and opening the empire
oi the Eoslems 10 the gospel Of Christ. The
revolutionary changes in Italy, Also have unchain.
ed the Bible, loosed The missionary from hs dun
geon, and ., free and pure christianity out into
the open air and the light OF the sun. May We
not believe that these facls reveal Gods present
meth d f? that he has no need aow, in modern
times, after oil the discipline Of his providence,
and all bis preparations, 10 conIinue the circuou,
process, but can make political change, direct
steps in the advance ment Of hs kingdom? And
may we not think lha! he is doing here what be
has been doing elsewhers,- preparing some signal
good for ns,-lsadi1g US by "short cut" into
some great bls'sing9
/ have also a measure OF hope from The
strength Of the pitdI bands trsieh bind modern
eiril'zed' society together. The dependence Of the
individual on society, ina state Of high civilization,
for happne. and comfort even, is comple,e--far
greater than in savage or half-eisized life. .Ths
.aysgs esn .aN -iong vIhos, hjs isllogsi; q.
of labor and muu6l dependence Hence the
strongest and ultimately the governing instincts
Of modern society are towards law and order
stable government, peace and good will towards
man. The inlerlacing fbres Of society are now
strong; and when other wants or passions rend
them for a tine, they speedily become quiet
again, and quiet produces souudnen and health.
Accordingly IN countries which have been swept
over by successful revolutions, the vital Interests
Of the people have experienced only temporary
injury. All the vital and essential institutions
have oullived the shock. Forms have changed, !
but substances remained. The inner life OF the
people is the same, and the thing, they hold most
dear, though their outward relations are altered.
All the good in government which their civic
worth entities them to- they retain, or speedily
regain. Thus revolution in France is but rip.
pie on the surface. The national spirit, instiiu-
tions, and essential forms and methods Of inter.
course, business, and law, flow on the same, sub
stantislly, under kins, Constituent Assembly,
Consul, Emperor, King again, Emperor ono,
more, and then King, and then President, and
finally Emperor. Frasce survives Revolutions,
uoftl Oub lOl q ululbtHt olhhtAh pVi0N htl ONH
moral and spiritual level, never but for moment
rising above it. Revolutions in France are Ike
the winds which sweep over her, not materially
touching her, though for the time causing her
forests and harves,s to bow before them.
am spprehensye, however, OF no such out.
ward change in our government. Not at all.
But il there should be some slight modification
Of our political system, as the ress Of the present
war--ss there may be- and even il there should
be great and radical mod fcs,on-which do
no, believe there will be,--there is not the slight.
est probability that the under-liis Of the nation
would b. disturbed. We should continue to be
just what we are, TO live just as we do live, and
to have all the blessings We nov have, essentially
all the blessings our mental and moral worth en-
titles us to have. We have no occasion. even il
the wsrst phantom Of political change, which has
risen before any feverish brain, SHOULD prove
reality, to despair Of the future. And this hope
build, YOU remember, on the inherent vitality
and indes,rucbsness, the immcrtslty, you may
call it, Of modern civilized society," which enables
il to pass through the furnace Of revolutions
without even the permanent smell Of FIRE upon il.
But have special reason for hope in reference
to the future Of our country on account of the
character Of our people. They are generally n-
,elgeui, understand their interest, think for them
selves and are under the power of no corrupt and
designing leaders; and what is far more, there
is great amount of solid political virtue and
patriotism among them. We love money, indeed ;
are selfish sometimes forge, country in party
often have strong sectional prejudces are not a
hltle influenced by personal iavortiSm aud many
ais corrupt all through; yet believe there is not
another nation in which there is so much sris
,eorih both in mind aud heart. Let the emer-
geney come, to test principle, as it is coming, and
it wild not be wanting. Our people are not the
material for despots to lord it over; for corrupt
men to use; for some ambitious general to ride,
into dictatorship; for politicians to sell; for
oihce-seekers TO seduce 10 partisan issues, when
liberty is at stake. They are not the stuff for u