Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-12
NOW. TO RSC.fPE R'.E.VICS.

Have the reverend clergy, lay or priesily,
any specific to propose, any remedy or nos
trum, that will make US simple, reasona-
bic, honorable persons, living within our
means and helping our neighbors? Is there
any shortcut, or turnpike road TO virtue?
Yonder in Washington square, in Union
square, in Madison square, in TUmpkins
square, in the Central Park, are the happy
children running, shouting, playing. What
fair young faces What candid souls How
shall we save them from becoming to-mor-
row the fierce gamblers of the gold cx-
change, OF the stock board aud of business?
There is but one way--the old way-the
way of the Teacher who walked in the
fields and bade his friends consider Tie Ill
lies. That way is the constant appeal TO
the human conscience, to the consciousness
that honesty is the best policy in a sense
Poor Richard could not comprehend. The
value Of preaching is the response Of the
moral sentiment in the hcarcr. 1t is moth
ing given to him; it is his perception that
he has in himself all that is needed. How
truly, therefore, is it said of the great
preacher, of Wesley or Of Charming, that
each in his own way awakened sinners"
And so, in the great parable, when the
prodigal "camo to himself" h. arose and
went TO his father. 1t is ourselves that
moves us, and the most effective preaching
is the appeal to that deepest consciousness.
If our times are reckless and extrava-
giant and corrupt, the man who lives sim
ply, honestly, cheerfully, dining his friends
81
W on the stalled OK and Lafitte of "A with
doubt and heart-ache, is the best preacher.
He does all that man can do-very much
more even than Presidents and Secrl taries
of the Treasury, or paper currnncy-to
make panics impossible. This man may
be rich and surrounded with beautiful
things, but he is their MASTER not their
servant. His mind and heart and soul are
furnished beyond his house, beyond the
golden house OF Nero. His ches may ny
away, hut he has costiler treasures that no
panic can assail.
We can escape pancs, then, brethren,
only by being and doing that which We
know to be truly manly. The reproach OF
the motherto her child, "Aren't you asham-
ed of yoursclf?" is the instinct of the deep
est wisdom. lis significance is that wrong
doing is unworthy that inner self Of which
the child is con scious. Tae spectacle of a
commercial crisis is 50 immense and i'm
posing that the observer very easily for
gets that the reason and the re mcdy are
obvious enough. john Jones cannot
live beyond his means without disaster
sooner or later, and he cannot depend upon
the word OF a hundred men, sume one OF
whom will probably he false, without con-
stanty feeling that lie is at the mercy of
others whom he cannot control. John
Jones is the world of credit, and of trade
based upon it, and the remedy for him is
the remedy for that world. Every specu-
lator and gambler in every pursuit is con-
spirator against honest industry. And as
long as respectable men take TO the road in
Wall street, like the iootpads century ago
upon Hounslow Heath, so long legitimate
business will be in danger, panic is con-
stantly possible, and riches will be ready
every moment to spread their wings and
fly away.-Georgc ". Curtis in HdTpcTS
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