Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-02-19
MY BROTHERS KEEPER.
.pEEcH BY HON. SCHUYLER coLFAx.

We give IN lhe following coplOus eS-
tract from the Vice-PEesldent's Grafton
recently delivered at the Fair in aid Of The
Inebilste Asy lum in Baltimore, Md.
My visit 10 the ciIy-,he Monumental
City Of the United StaIes-thl, evening
is, to some extent accidental. Passing
through i, on my return 10 the capital OF
The nation, stopped 10 vis! valued
friends in your midst, intending 10 90 on
this afternoon. but could not decline the
kind and courteous invitation | received
from the officers Of thus Fair 10 larry
little longer so as TO be present at the in
aupuraiion Of the first Fair within my
knowledge in the Union for the benefit OF
an Inebrlale Asylum. A work OF benev-
oleuce and Of humanity toward our breth-
rem like this should enlist every heart that
is touched with the feeling Of human in
trinity. There is question that comes
down 10 all OF US through the centurles-
from The very birthplace Of mankind-full
Of momen,ous interest 10 every one upon
this (ootstool OF God. Ills that question
which Cain asked Of the Almiehly-not
as a question, bu, as defense against
| the arraienment for his crime 10 his broth
er. |, was, Am my brothers keep
er p In every civilized land through
out the gIobe-in every civilized nation,
and stale, and community, The answer
comes back 10 that question, "You are
your brolher's keeper" 1t is RESPONSE
bllty lha, none Of you can deny or evade
Every statute that you find On your stat.
ute book for The punishment Of crime and
fraud is the answer to the question, "Am
my bro,her's keeper :" Every jail and
prison that casl gloomy shadows over the
land, every sheriff and police officer. is
the answer that the community makes TO
this question, as old as mankind itself.
And besides This, and better than this,
every reformaiory and amelisioiy institu-
ton that blssses this land Of ours is the
answer ,ha. we give TO the question that
comes 10 US from almost The Garden Of
Eden itself.
In tho institutions OF which we are so
Justly proud. where the mind lie restored
10 those whose reason has been dethroned
in the Asylum for the lnsoue-in those
institutions where the blind are almost
made 10 see, the dumb 10 speak, iAe deal
to hear-in every institution for The re.
lief of The poor and distressed, We have
the answer Of society 10 the question,
"Am my brother's keeper :" And 10
this noble work which you have inaugu-
rated here ,o.nigh, for those who have
been deluded and self.destroying victims
of temptation iha, besets even the most
gifted in our land, is The answer OF The
berevolen, in the Stale Of Maryland that
they are lheiv brothers. keeper.
God speed you-God bless you in this
noble work. You shall have your re-
wsrd-no, in gold and silver-no, in fame
and rcpuialion-for yourselves but IN
,ha, land where ,he streets are gold, and
the gates are pearl, and The walls are jas
per and sapphire-where every deed Of
humanity ihroughou,the word is recorded
in that Book which shall never be de-
suoyed. In this world OF ours, four
thousand years later. spoken by the lips
OF Him as never man spoke before, the
answer was again given 10 this question.
one which was announced as the second
eres, commandment, Thou shalt love
Inv neighbor as ,hyself." Tha, answer
wa, imprinted upon Us in words as eier'
nal az the sdaman,, in letters of living
light. In this world Of ours, springing
as we al do from The hand Of com mon
Creator. believing as We do in the father
hood Of God and The brotherhood OF man.
every one whom you meet on your path
way is yoar brother. He may be poor {;
he may be penpyIess he may be hGm j.
bio. criminal, or fallen, bu. they are brelh-
rem Of the same dust-pilgrlms on The
same Journey; travellers TO the same tomb.
II God has blessed you With strength oil
will, that you have been enabled 10 forii-
fy yourselves. it is for you 10 Difl bin up
from tha. depth 10 which he has fallen,
and pu, him upon his feet. and 10 redeem
him, i! possible, from a living death
worse even than the death OF the tomb.
Do you say here, that you, this inlelli-
gent population before me. are exempt
from this temptation. by which so many
have been enthralled =! Go back in your
OWE memory and bear testimony. every
one OF you, if | say not The truth. and an
swer if there is one before me, looking
back in the years Of the past, that fails to
Gnd some friend or relative, near or re-
mote, who has fallen victim 10 this foe
OF mankind
Do you say ,ha, you have strength 10
resist This temptation Ifyou are will
iug 10 daily with it, confess | do not
feel ihs, Strength myself. Look at the
history Of some of the most brillisn,
minds in past years Of your State Of Ma.
rylsnd. al the history Of Ihs great men of
every State OF this land. The noblest in-
iellec, has NOT preserved some Of your
citizens from the thrslldom OF This vice.
The mos, brilliant iD,elleci and The great.
est learning have not given them strength
10 resist The wiles aud snsres OF this
ismpter. They have Tsllen victim. 10 il,
as they have elsewhere in the world.
Not the coronei on the brow Of the noble,