The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-02-05
The Duty of the Hour.


cleared away,-now that the schemes of
a reckless and mad ambition are humbled
in defeat and men everywhere are better
taught i'll the obligations Of loyalty, and
the binding force Of patriotism, now
that the chains Of long cci TRY are
broken, and the lyrics of lamcnta,ion and
s,rrow are changed to peans of praise by
disenilraled millions. now that the gold
en- chain of humanity and common
brotherhood, link by link, is being forged,
and di,inely charged with the magnetic
power Of sympathy and love, now that
| the war is over and the morn Of com.
rlete triumph i: rising to its high noon of
brilliancy and power how strong are the
obligations to rebuilt the foundations of
society on an enduring and impregnable
basis.
EDUCATION CTR SHEET ANClIOE.
To nations MS well rs individuals belongs
IN inner and higher life, that attaches an
inherent and vi,alizing power, undcrived
/ iOii SCioilS anu poTCnilcil-.
Education, general intelligence coupled
/ with virtue and righteousness are the un.
dcrylng granitc-tle primal rock on
which the superstructure of a grand and
enduring nationality shall be reared.
They constitute the noble brcakwater to
the harbor of Freedom, against which the
rnaddened billows Of tyranny shall beat in
vain forever. Education is the keystone
in the grand arch Of all true national ar
c!iiecture. With it the superstructure
d.stior Ihc pressure Of time and events.
I Without it the stately pile topples to its
fall Ignorance tn. prolific parent Of vice,
is the hidden reef against which the ship
Of state founders and goes TO pieces; III,
n vast cess pool giving OFF foul and pest
llcniiAl gases engcndcrng disease and
death to the commonwealth.
Wars rude but mystic hand has torn
away the miIdew'd curtains before oar
aaza, and revealed within our domain, a
vast lazar house filled with wretched mil
lions, CROPPING in mental and moral blinl-
ncs', victims of Il systemizcd and iieniisl
harbarism which has no parallel Oh
earth
10 these hnpless ones, Education comes
with divine mission profftring relief.
1t comes with eyes for the blind and
banquet for tie furnishing. 1t comes to
restore the rent pillars in the Temple of
Freedom'-to reset the stolen jewels in
the crown Of Liberty.
TIE RETROSPECT.
The stern logic of past events u,.crs
vivid and Wholesome lesson. Under the
divine permission abuses have rpcned
slowly bu, surely; their truitage has
finally matured and the barbar.sms and
outraGes hitherto in the divine economy
suffered TO exist, have been handed over
to Judgment, doomed and swept before
the sirocco blasts of war
In the progress OF human events some
abuses have Il temporary suiierance and
under the economy of God may have
been allowed tn continue; ''yet all abuses
have but limited hte; the ,7gH only i.
eternal"
TIE LAW OF PROGRESS,
This law is engraved, in characters of
light, on the dial plate Of time. Mvsler.
lous often are ils agencies; insignificant
the instruments, contemplate and despised
The forces, employed to secure its workings
But urder its rule the race is moving and
rising, and AS It sweeps into new and
higher ATTITUDES, golden isles and placid
skies hail its vision. Yesterday darkness
and seeming inadequate helps ob.tructed
our aspirations and aims; to day as we
open upon unfolding scenes or ascend to
IA higher series, everything exhibits
beautiful adaptation.
At length the keynote has been set
the master hand Of education sweeps the
Tyre and hereafter the pedals and stops
shall work with truer harmony, and
strike higher and nobler octave, in the
swelling anthem of human progress.
OUR OBLIGATIONS.
From the mouths of ColumLiads and
riacd proiectles God has spoken to the
nation. In cloud and storm aud sweeping
fires lie hath uttered his stern messages
His omnipotent justice has thrown wide
open the massive doors that were barred
and boltel by slaveholLing oppression
and, unwonted cruelty. We are bidden
10 enter for the rescue of the richest in
hertance God ever bequeaihed to man
We are called to the high duty to vindi-
cate the sublime truth" that man is
man the world all over to reconstruct
our damaged institutions by uprooting
with firm hand the vast upas tree of ig-
norance and planting instead everywhere
the tree of knowledge
The great duty Of the hour, then is
Educatiun-the elevation Of the millions
of poor freedmen and tho poorer whites
in all the South. Whatever else is de.
manded at our hands; whatever else is
enoned, this duty towers up with trua
Alpine grandeur ovcrshadowing well nigh
every other. From the rice fields OF
Georgia and the C.rolinas from the
sugar plantations of Louisiana and Arkan-
sas; from the cane brakes Of Mississippi
and Tennessee from the banks OF the
Rio Granle to the everglades of Florida