Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-09
THE RUTLAND HERALD
The Reform Spirit of the Day.

.erjstic features of the times. If there
be any single trait by which the historian
will distinguish the present from the past
it is the all-pervading enthusiasm or rage
for reform It ,agitates every nation
and all classes and it comprehends near
ly every Isubjeot of thoughtland action.
Everywhere, on every matter and In all
ways, the great heat of humanity throbs
for reform. The shout that goes up from
myriad voices, all over the civilized world
IL, "Let old things be done away let the
old landmarks be oblit Grated" The spir-
it seems to pervail to walk no longer
in ancient paths no longer work with
ancient tools; no longer think in ancient
formulas, and no longer believe the an
oient creeds. The times are sadly out of
joint, and they must be reformed, is the
cry of the million. These reformers pro-
nounce antiquity humbug, precedent
sham, prescription lie, and reverence,
folly. They boldly announce that the
world has been priest.ridden, king-ridden,
judge-ridden, school-ridden aud wealth
ridden long enough, and now the time
has come to declare our independence in
all these respects. They know the past
cannot be changed, that is forever immu-
tsbly fixed, but it can be repudiated, and
it is. The future can be shaped TO our
ideas, and can be made glorious one. A
new age will be commenced, not of gold,
or of silver, or of iron, but an age of
emancipation. Society shall be upheaved
from it's foundation and have all but a
new creation: It is held that in religion,
politics, medicine, law, morals and man
ners,it il the mission of the present to rev.
olutionize the world and therefore indis-
criminate war must be waged against all
establishments, and our ancestors shall no
longer be our masters. and all fealty to
their antiquated notions must be re-
nounceed. Henceforth to be old is to be
questionable, aud nothing is to be held
sacred which has long been worshipped,
nothing venerable which has long been
venerated. These are the glad tidings
the rfornaerS Of. the age are commissioned
to announce.
Reform then, is the watchword of the
hour. What does it signify? Literally,
TO r.make, reconstruct, recreate, but it
does not necessarily signify to improve,
to make better or to exalt. When we
have pulled one thing down and put an
other in its place, we have certainly
achieved reform; but whether it shall
prove benefit or an injury, blessing or
curse, is yet a problem, so that the re-
former, however benevolent his designs,
is not necessarily benefactor. but MAY
by possibility be the greatest of malefac.
tors. 1t should be remembered that all
reiormers begin with distinction. Some
thing which has existed and answered the
purpose--perhsps been useful and cher
ished by the tepderest associations-must
first be demolished. Tho old mansion,
which has 20 long sheltered us, must be
torn down before the new one can be COM
menced. This ia in itself an evil, SAYS
the reformer, cut of which good may
coma-may not but must. This in re-
form depends upon several contingencies.
How long must one wait for the substi-
tute? What will be the character Of the .
new when we get it? How long will it ]
AXE to become used 10 and test il 40 it can |
be determined whether better thing has
been gained These are very pregnant
questions. All reform ia at first mere ex-
pertinent for gcoi or evil, as the event
may prove.
All cannot drink in this new spirit of
reform. for there is something dear and
precious in tho idea of rest, repose and
stability, and all things in nature tend to
this condition, and the soul yearns for it
as its highest good. The modern spirit of
reform accepts no such doctrne-it ia
rssless, busting, disturbing spirit, utter
" at war with state of repose. This ia
in itself an evil, though it may be coun-
te, balanced by thu supervening good to
be accomplished. The evil, perhaps,
would Re greatly diminished if reforms
could he conducted slowly and deliberate
ly, giving time TO adapt the people gradu-
ally 10 them. But unfortunately, moder.
alton rarely suits the temper OF reformers;
their zeal ia so f4rvent that they cannot
brook delay, snd what they have to do
must be done quit ky. They reject the
good old maxim of GLOW and sure" and
al must be iuTy, fairy and agitation.
Down goes cne thing, up Coca another,
before one can say which il up or down.
In this hurry burly Of the reformers "we
krow not what dfy may bring FORTH"
and il can hardly be gid, ST tficit nj mt
the day is the evil thereof" because to
sc'usl PRE- sent lila we must add the per-
picking fear of change. There is hardly
a nation or a people that have a single
yer Of certain profound repose. And
Row Otherwise is it with the American
people What have we in our institu-
tions which can be rested upon IA pstab-
lished But, on the contrary, what have
we but shocks and revolutions, ups and
aoNuS, ms nhu ou'r, ouS uoctElue To-Day
and the opposite tomorrow, through the
endless see-saw of political platforms ?
What absolute confidence is there in any.
thing that depends wholly uron man, or
is there an abiding feith in anything bu-
man and there is little except mathe- I
NAUTICAL truth that is not called in ques-
ton. Truly this active epirit of reform
must achieve a vast amount of substantial s
rs fora before it can compensate the world
for the evil resulting from the everlasting
fuc'uatiou, distressing uncertainty and
continued instability which prevails in
this era OF the worlds history. !
These.are but some of the outlines of ,
the tendency of the modern spirit of re-
form into which we are drifting, and it 1
msy be we'll at future time to consider {
its Effects upon religion. LOYALTY. Law. edu.