Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-03-08
MARYLAND CORRESPONDENCE.
Natural Advantages and Resources of Mary.
isnd-intemperanee and Bigotry the
Hindranees to her Advancement.

Border States possess advantages in
many respects superior to any other
portion of the American Union. In
natural resources, Maryland is not
behind her sister States and cor
tainly, in social aud political aspect,
she possesses advantages inferior to
none. Divided by one of the most
expansive bays, capable of floating
the largest foreign vessels, with
metropolitan city as her center. and
threaded by one of the most mag
nihcient railroads, Maryland would
seem TO have future of unparalleled
prosperity and success. Lying in
close proximity 10 the National
Capitol, she ought to profit by the
wisdom and state smanship of our
national rulers, rising in the scale of
social and intellectual greatness to q
level with her fortunate position and
surroundings. With o profusion of
surplus lands, at a very moderate
price with all the necessary agen-
cies to make it rs productive as the
great prairies of the West, there is
no reason why our commonwealth
should not increase in wealth and
population as rapidly as those States
lying west o: the great Father Of
Waters"
Maryland has too few inhabitants
TO every square mile her plantations
are too broad and expansive too lit
tie attention is paid to husbandry and
manufactures, and her institutions
of learning and places of worship
are too few and far between the
habits of her people are too staid and
apathetic; too great opposition to the
modern and Yankeeized customs of
the North everywhere prevails; pub
Inc sentiment being like a tidal wave
to resist and repel those modern in
nOvations which has made our coun-
try the the great exampler of the
surrounding nations the education
of the Masses has been too much
neglected, thus placing the balance
of power, to say nothing Of wealth.
in the hands of few whose acknowl-
edged superiority has given them
absolute control over the natural in
telligence of the people. The Prot
estant portion of our population have
initiated too generally our supersti-
tious and priest-ridden Catholics
One man has done the thinking and
acting Of hundreds, instead of the
on -fn n thNf .Vfnfis
gence aud morality which should be
like an arbitrary law in its control
ing influence on the consciences and
lives of appointed rulers. In this
respect Maryland may not differ
from many other States but such
condition of things should not be al
lowed to exist where an education is
so easily obtained and where every
freeman is q sovereign, possessing a
prestage, which should make him
one of Gods terrors to evil doors.
In one essential particular our
citizens are much behind other States
North an west. lntemperance is our
reigning curse and public sentiment
makes whisky selling and drinking
honorable, rather than blasting dis
grace. In the States of Wisconsin
and Minnesota, no respectable bust
ness men ever think of engaging 10
retailing and wholesaIing ardent spir-
its, public sentiment comforting such
an honor upon the lowest class of
society, who are fit for no higher
calling. Even hotel keepers feel
ashamed to be seen dealing out liquid
damnation, and are often placed in
position in community where they
are Stunned by moral, temperance
men, as unfit for the society of the
intelligent and refined Public SEN
timent in Pennsylvania and New
York is of the same character; and
this remark will hold good in regard
to every Eastern and Northern State.
1t is next to impossible, anywhere
in the South, to find q country or
village merchant who does not in
corporate whisky among his articles
Of trade, and universally on the plea
that men Of small resources can't
succeed without a stock of LIQUID
poison. Religious and would-be pi-
Gus church members, often talk in
the same way, and engage without
eompunctions of conscience, in re-
failing stimulants; on the plea that
''if we don't, somebody else will
Such men often remain in churches
for years, and preachers at last come
to think it expedient not to interfere
with them, lest in pulling up the
tares they might destroy some heads
of wheat also. Such was the gener-
al tenor of society before the war
and it was but the outgrowth of
American slavery, the vilest institu-
ton that ever beheld the sun. 1t
required more than century to diff
fuse the light of personal liberty
among the first American colonists,
who fed from the tyranny of a per-
verted public sentiment in the old
world, to Cypress and donineer over
few religious exiles in the new
and it will require the same length
"a t4A-AS W AONOnbtAuCG OOuLutIU 81
ciety, on basis alike acceptable to
God and honorable to man. Whisky
selling and drinking are to be made
odious this can only be done by the
diffusion of light and education of
the people to a higher and nobler
standard Of intelligence and piety.-
The various Christian churches, to-
gether with other benevolent associ-
atoms, are to be the leavening infu-
ence which is to reform and save So
ciety.
Slavery is now out of the way,
and God is bringing into requisition
numerous agencies for changing the
natural consent of public opinion,
and IN bringing light out Of darkness,
and order out of chaos. Blunted
moral sensibIlities must be sharpened
by the fearless application of the
| great doctrines of revelation