Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-05-13
TRTTH THE E.vD .s.V'D I'm.
a PRACTICAL SERMON, ron THE BENEr1T OF ALI

If nothing else, a brief experience in Jour
nalism will serve to convince one of the
radical difference betwixt truth and false
hood, and the nestimable importance of
careful and conscientious discrimination
between the two in our "daly walk and
conversation" How often do we have oc-
casion to realize the vast difference be-
tween candid, exact statement of the
truth and rough guess at it,-between a
genuine, entire fact and the rumor which
malice has conceived and idle gossip licked
into brief existence. Let NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
settle as they may the question of innate
human depravity, it is a fact every day de-
monstrated by experience, that the fair,
candiu, absolutely truthful statement of a
known fact, in which is involved the preju-
dice OF the individual, is one OF the most
difficult, as it is one of the rarest achieve
lnonts of the human intellect. And even
where prejudice or personal interest is
wholly wanting, no account can be regarded
as wholly reliable that is not received at
hrst hand-so prone are eye and ear to
aniss take part for the whole.
10 one whose profession involves the trac-
lhg OF street rumors to their sources, and
I've proof and development of statements
coming from persons but partially inform
Cd, this common weakness of humanity is
an ever-present and most deplorable roali-
ty.
And while this tendency to error-and we
low speak OF that conscious or half-con-
scious perNersion Of the truth, which is the
of Oh
hlne-tenths Of all the chickering's, the ca
iumnies and controversies in which men
ongage-is thus common with regard TO
matters of observation and the daily occur
turrences of lie, not less deplorable nor
less universal is it when we come to mat
iers Of speculation and belief. In religion.
how seldom do we hear the true position of
Il sect, or the views of an individual. set
forth by one Of different creed, even from
me pulpit, with that spirit of candor and
respect due to all men and to all religions.
In politics, too, how all but universally is
ruth sacrificed to party zeal, and candor TO
jealousy. OF what consequence are right
ana justice, when party success is the point
10 De gained? Rather, of what consequence
IS mere party success, when right and JUS
tice are to be won,-when these and these
alone are objects worthy of engaging our
attention and enlisting our zeal? Thank
Heaven, the race of political barnacles is
fast dying out, and men are beginning to
ask of themselves, Gam the mere tool of
my party? Am bound to endorse its ac-
ton and follow its lead in all things, right
or wrong?" And that n negative answer to
these questions is much less difficult than
formerly, and party self-criticism is es-
teemed less sin than in years gone by, are
signs which we hail as evidence of the good
time coming when "the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth shall be
esteemed worth attaining, and progress to-
ward it the only real advancement.
While realizing the well-nigh universal
tendency of mankind to yield their intel
lecls, almost or quite unconsciously il may
be, TO the power of self-interost or of edu-
cational prejudice, il is but Justice to OBJ
serve that all are not wanting in their abil-
ity to penetrate with the keen, clear vision
of impartial thought the haze or fog with
which their own particular location NAV be
surrounded. Some there are-noble. God
like men-whose broad, cool, judicial minds
seem incapable of being swayed by passion
or ruled by prejudice; who, self-poised up
on the sublime height of their own noble
manhood, take calm and complete survey
of questions which lesser men. standing
upon the lower level of partizanship or sec
tarianism, see only in part To such, truth
Is everything, temporary success nothing.
They labor for the ages, fully realizing that
truth is mighty and will prevail" and
hence that there is no real progress but that
which is gained by adherence to right, no
substantial victory that IL not gained in the
name of justice and humanity. TO such.
all men are brothers; their country is the
world, their patriotism a worldwide phil
anthropy. God speed the day when such
shall be increased in numbers and innu-
ence, that so may be hastened the glad time
| when right shall be recognized as more than
| party or sect, as embracing the highest self
| interest, the broadcast wisdom, the noblest
patriotism, the purest religion. TO this end
let us pause and contemplate whether in
our daily intercourse with our fellow-men
we guard our thoughts and our tongues
with proper vigilance; whether in our zeal
for the little things of earth we have not
failed 10 bear in mind tho higher AllegiaRcE