Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-23
THE RUTLAND HERALD
SATURDAY, MARCH IS, 1871.
Activity the Characterisfic - y
Civilization

Among the most prominent ohsracteris-
tics of our civilization, which arrest pup
lie attention, is that universal spirit OF
activity which prevails in all the avenues
of life by which individuals and masses
are rushing onward in the pursuit of ag-
grandisement. The bold, impetuous
spirit Of progress rules the public mind,
and more or less imparts its energy to
every citizen. Every American is tempt
ed by bright promises of the future, and
lives and moves and has his being in an
s'morphere of intense activity and excite
msnt. This animates the bold, the ssplr-
log and the ambitious with constant ex-
liberation. It arouses the cautious and
the timid, and, by oeaseless impulse,
ages forward even honest and prudent
nediocrity towards paths over which gen.
ius too often hurries, reckless of the eau.
tione of salutary fear, and Of the whole
some restraints of conscience. And the
Leading effect of this universal activity,
this all pervading, uuresting spirit of
enterprise, is to increase the resources,
and multiply the instruments, and enlarge
the sphere Of physical enjoyment; to
amsss wealth, which is to be diffused again
In luxurious expenditure, or at best to be
boarded as the basis of future schemes Of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. And the tendency Of
this spirit, expended mainly on such
objects, unchecked by due intellectual
and moral restraints, Is to beget selfish
ness, which initiates against all generous
love of country, and arrests all generous
efforts for the common welfare. This sell.
fshness. erecting itself into giant stature
In the breast of the individual, to the
gradual exclusion of noble patriotism
which seeks individual happiness mainly
as connected with public welfare, has in
all ages bsen the bane of republics. It
prepares them for the Remembering axe of
faction. the convulsions of anarchy, or the
iron scepter of despotism, which rules by
self-hness which at length brushes the
fears and hopes of people beneath a
single foot, or concentrates them through
slsvish terror into a single arm. It begets
and fosters individual, party and sectional
animosities. The one desire which it
inspires is to rise, to win, to triumph, by
whatever meass and through whatever
difficulties. Society becomes like one
vast battlefield, where every man, like
Harry Of the Wynd, flights for his own
hand, and disputes success and struggles
for happiness AZ for trophy against all
competitors" In such state of things
there msy b all the outward refinement
which results from the universal emula.
ton to shine by the trappings Of wealth
and station land brilliant advances in
civilization are not only probable but Ger.
tain. "Therc may bs much Of the fair
exterior of virtue, but the danger is that
the spirit of selAshness will silently eat
out the very soul of virtue, and that the
lower passions and propensities, by be-
coming everywhere predominant, shall
gradually sap the very foundation of the
social edifce, and leave it to perish
through its own weight and rottenness."
These are the words of the late Bishop
Potter of Pennsylvania, one of the most
distinguished philanthropists of tho coun-
try, who adds: "Situated as the people of
this country are, they cannot too vigilant.
ly guard against the approach Of that era
of dark and fatal degeneracy when, ac-
oording to the ironical definition of Field
ing, Patriot comes to mean candidate
for place; so0rts, power, rank and wealth !;
and eeisd0n the art of getting all three"
OF this species of civilization, great
poet points out the fatal Detects
-" Egyptian Thebes,
Tyre. by the margin of sounding waves,
Palm, IA, central in the desert fell,
And the ar's died by which they had been raised.
Dali arch,midss Il ON his buried tomb
Upon the pain OF vanished Syracuse,
And Zee ipgy the rage shall make report,
How insecure, how baee,ess in itself
Ia the philosophy whose sway depends
On mere material Instruments; ho~ weak
Those arts and high inventions, if unpropped
Py virtue He with srshs OF pensive grief,
Amid hts calm distractions, would admit
Thai no the slender privilege is theirs
To save themselves from rank forgetfulness."
THE TIcoNDERoGA FERRY.-The par