Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-12-14
Written for the Newsletter.
NATIONAL PROGRESS.

X. EDlIOb W. oeoHN ~
as a nation, to be almost incapable of
progress.
With the richest blessings of Heaven
heaped upon us, VIC should have become
established in the ways of mercy, justice,
and piety and yet we find ourselves now
almost 100 years behind the Declaration
of Independence; and 1900 years behind
the gospel law, that teaches US who our
ncighbor is.
True we are praying much, in these days,
and fighting much, and doing many other
noble things, but for what ?--just to drag
ourselves up out of slough of mire and
sin.
But we sre making progress in war.
The time was, when the country stood
aghast at the bloody deeds of the Bor-
der Ruffians' of Missouri. They are
overcome. or have "changed their base"
operations, to Border Ruhians of Canada.
We have since been more terribly dis
turbed by "Ipterior Rnfians." but they
have 1een indicted into the mysteries of
war, at Island No 10, Forts Henry, and
Donaldson, at Vicksbugh. New Orleans
Gettysburgh, Chattanooga, and Atlanta !;
and the narrow limits to which they are
now driven, with the forebodings ahead.
Whatever the rebels may think of their
course. we are inclined to the opinion
, that on our side there has been progress
But the irresistible advance of the ma
tional arms. is a small criterion of pro,
gross, until we reckon upon the improved
state of the national sentiment. With
out entering into an argument
upon the merits of the great ques-
tions of the day, let US note. as in the
great battles. the direction of the current
of public opinion.
In John Browns day, slavery and the
vile compromises to sustain it, were re-
garded as too sacred to be even questioned
much less to be dealt with in bloody
way.
Not so now. by far; John Browns spir-
it is marching on.
The sasredCO sum of all villainies,'
has been cast into outer darkness, by pub
lie opinion, in the District of Columbia.
National progress at the capitol, has clos
cd the market for human flesh an occa-
sion of joy to every one, not foreordaincd
to eternal perdition.
Western Virginia, choosing not to sink
with the great secession raft, voted her.
self asunder from her erring sisters, and
now proudly fills her place in the ranks
of national progress.
Louisiana has emerged from her long
night of terror and thraldom: ("nolth.
ern soldiers having hewed their way to
the Gulf with their swords") and now
stands guard at the mouth of the Father
of Waters, holding it in the interests of
Freedom. This is progress.
My Maryland" is longer tout in
the cold but is also warm and free.
Whilst Judge fancy lay dying in Bllti-
more, convention of colored citizens
we're in session in Syracuse, and Mary
land on the eve of declaring herself
Free State, thus most wondrously coutra-
dieting laney's fulsome falsehocd. and
setting forth the truth that '.colorcd men
have rights that white men are bound to
respect. The question is not now, how
to get rid of slavery, but how to get rid
Of the slave masters. This, the 200
900 colored troopsin our army are helping
to do.
/ The rebels boosted. that they laid the
the plans by which Lincoln was elected
president the first time, but not so the
last time Neither the " Little Giant"
nor little Mac" we're big enough, to
turn off the attention of the people from
Honest Old Abe and National Pro.
gress.
With five or six free states admitted,
and all else that has been done for the
last four years, what may we look for in
four years to come, yea what may we
not look for by the help of God.
.s.t.c.,.Js .., -.,.i. I. M. M.
SKATES WITHOUT BUCKLES -Sksting
ia nj hand and bara ;s , s,noo.,;oo g.