The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-24
How to Build a Good Bridge.

the Prince of Peace had taught men that
war was wrong under all circumstances what.
ever but when the first cannon-shot shat.
tered the ark Of the covenant at Fort Sum.
ter, and my blood with the blood of every
loyal man began to boil, l hunted through
my bible for text for my next Sundays ser
mon and could find only one text in the en-.
tire book. Here it is Jesus said, But
now he that hath no sword let him sell his
garment and buy enc - and when, some
time after, friend said, [ fear you care
more about saving the country now than you
do about saving souls | answered, : If We
do not save our country now, and what makes
our country, we shall have no soul left that is
worth saving Sc then first of all we must
put the question---What was the Cause Of
our great trouble? TO this there is double
answ err. There was once a Scotch corporation
who wanted to build bridge They got a
good plan and good men to work it. The
bridge was built, and the day came to work
1t. The notable men of the country we've
all present they had speeches aud music,
and good time. The props we're knocked
away from the arches, the people shouted,
and then the bridge with one great crash
went down. | will not describe The dismay
that came with the ruin. The plans were
reconsidered they were said to be just right
the workmen were examined they were
not to blame-Dobody was 10 blame but
thon the bridge was certainly under instead
Of over the water, and they must have
bridge. So there was nothing for it but to
try again.
This time they got plan that was better,
if possible, than the last. 1t was certainly
different and cost a mint Of money. A new
builder took charge of the work the bridge
was built still more carefully; the day came
to open it, und the music and the men. The
props were knocked away again, the people
shouted again, the music sounded, the bridge
stood beautiful in strength and symmetry, the
realization Of all their desire. 1t stood fast
Tor minute, and then the arch lifted and the
whole thing went down again. So there was
another great consultation, and that bid fair
to follow the bridge, when an old man, prac-
teal mason, came forward with piece of
brick, and crumbing it TO powder in bis 6u-
gers, said, Gentlemen. your plans were good,
and your builders were good, but your bricks
were bad. There was too much sand in your
clay. The Lord never meant bridge to be
built out Of such brick as that He did not
make this world SO that you could build
good bridge out of bad stuff, and SO your
bridge will keep on going down until you take
that sand oct of your material
Now if you ask me to tell you what think
Iret Of oil md ol al 81, +
this ruin that is all about US to day Why the
stately structure ltby the fathers has gone
down with great crash, should answer with
this old man. there was too much sand in tho
brick if you ask me why Abraham Lincoln
does not succeed in rebuilding, shall still an
swer because there is too much sand in the
bricks, and if you ask me whether he will
ultimately succeed, | shall say it depends
upon whether he has resolved to use nothing
but good bricks. The Lord has made this
world IN such way that speeches, and music
ana shouting arc OF no use to keep bridge
standing when the props are knock ed away.
1t depends then on the bricks, and prayers
and last days will be worthless to build with
ii we build with bad brick. If Cabinet and
commanders are sandy--if sand has got into
the key stones then we shall keep on going
down to the end Of the chapter The sand of
slavery In our Commonwealth has brought this
rum the sand of slavery has beaten out all
our efforts at restoration up to this time, and
II the great worker and those that help him
do not shovel 1t out Of the way, the structure
can never be restored. Robert ColIaer.
The Peace men of Indiana are making very