Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-10-04

In every enterprise. Everything would necessar
rily be failure. If your neighbor has better
horse, OK. or sheep than you. don't hate him for
it, but strive to Guido him, and II you fail grace
fully acknowledge yourself beaten and try again.
If this be the governing spirit of these animal ex-
hibitions, then they will result in good to ALL
Put lest forget my theme, let us for moment
reflect In the old New England was the thea
tire of only nineteen farmers each cultivsting
but three acres of land. They had no impe-
ments, no horses no cattle, no sheep. To-day
the number of farmers is over one.haf of the pop
ulation and horses. cattle and sheep are innu-
merable. In the old, we had no sails spread to
the breeze to-day they are countless. In the
old, we had no schools, no seminares of learning.
In the new the educational advantages are the
nation pride. Arts and sciences were unknown,
now we lead the world. In the old, there was
no government today the sun sheds light upon
none better. Yes, too day the dearly won name
we bear. commands the respects and admiration
of countless millions. In the old, there were no
churches In our time the hills, valleys and
PLAINS throughout the land. are dotted with
church edifices. In the old, we had no resources
to day the resources of the country are mex
haustable. In the old. there was no display Of
inventive genius in our day there IL no limit
In olden times marked trees were the travellers
only guide. In the new we travel without
guides. Man moves as he is moved, and thus
might proceed, but all would be commonplace
remarks.
Now let us turn the scale. | have all the
way through illustrated the rise and progress of
our nation, from its inception to the present
time, noting as have passed its struggles and
prIvations its efforts to sustain Its life and in
tegrity. And most nobly has the gallant and in
vincbe old ship Union borne herself upon the
angry aud troubled waters, until at last she is
safely anchored in the harbor of model peace.
bringing with her what has been wrecked in the
last four years for immediate repairs. And
though we have much of which to boast, at the
same time we have much to regret refer
to our moral condition as compared with that of
old pilgrim purity Go with me If you please to
that little settlement of only nineteen families in
the wilderness of 1920, and what do we find? We
find the passions. the actions, yes, the very life
of that Puritan band, controlled by the principles
of modesty, virtue and true religion. Ask those
old forest trees if they ever heard the profane
oath if they ever witnessed the shedding of
mans blood at the hands of the assassin. The
echo would be no, never To-day hardly news
paper is perused but you find the account of
some new and horrible tragedy. Murder, larceny
and arson are becoming the most common of
crimes. In the old, such crimes were almost I'M
known. Let me ask you if In those days they
had billiard saloons. low groggeries gambling
houses and resorts of ill.fame? If you ever heard
OF lady playing cards for gain, or drinking the
intoxicating cup to make herself agreeable and
popular? The answer must be in the negative.
To-day vice walks in our very midst UNDECIDED.
The gambler is respected and stands on q level
almost with the laity. The illegitimate's father
drinks the bitter of his crime but few days. and
then his offence is talked OF lightly and soon vii
ingl forgotten. Boys of the most substantial
families pass their leisure hours in groceries and
bar-rooms, and there learn to look upon vice as
harmless and often that in order to be smart
and attractive, the graceful and frequent use of
the profane oath and intoxicating cup mark the
true gentleman.
Let us 60 farther Go with me to some Of our
fashionable watering-places, and among the
many SO called refined and polished characters
you will find present-day ladies who are adopts at
wine and gambling, boards who believe that to
imbibe freely, and to ape man in one of his chief.
est of vices, gambling are innocent and finished
accomplishments. [ tell you these are sad
truths, and where and to whom shall we assign
the cause? To the clergy to the moral and ex-
emplary father or mother to the christian school
teacher to the law,abiding citizen. No. none
Of these, only so far as they fail to live by the
principles they preach, and slacken their ener.
gies in the noble work of moral reform. Then
where is the responsibility? 1t rests upon the
heads of the leading men of our several commu-
mites. Let me ask If the code of every State
does not provide against the commission of all
these minor, as well as greater off noes. The ex-
ecution of these codes is in the hands of the lead
ing men who to make themselves popular, have
rendered their provisions against crime and vi.
cous practices dead-letter and when say this,
might as well say that the Unsuitable thirst for
fame position and avarice, is the active cause Of
our deplorable moral condition might enlarge,
but will forbear. Now let me inquire where is
the remedy? Farmers, mechanics. lawyers,
public servants. the work is yours. Educate the
youth. Set good examples and then enforce the
laws. and a salutary and lasting reformation will
be the result. Furnish your children such amuse.
ments and recreations as shall not only be at.
tractve. but innocent and beneficial When all
this is successfully accomplished. with what sat.
isfactory pride may we begin to contemplate a
model and happy future. Our territory is am.
Pile :; our soil fertile our citizens industrious
persevering and invincible.
Being free and Independent we can make oui
laws, and fashion and clothe our institutions MS
past experience and sound wisdom may dictate.
Our colleges. academies and schools are ample for
preparing the youth for the higher professions Of
life while our Libraries and periodicals will aid
in diffusing knowledge among our virtuous yeo.
many. The Bible and the institutions of christ
: ianity are with US. Thus circumstances what
should prevent our country advancing to that
degree Of eminence of national happiness beyond
which there is no advance.