Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-08-11
LIGHT In THE EAST.


While the last few years will mark
one of the most important periods in
this progressive era, among the civil
lied nations Of the earth, an advance
ment not less wonderful has been made
among the pagan nations of the East.
Europe and America have made remark
able strides in the arts, in science and
in discovery; what preceding genera
tions have considered impossible, this
age has accomplished what ancient
philosophy failed to comprehend, is plain
and simple to day. But the advance
ment in Asia has been in a different d.
rection; it has been the conquering of
prejudices and the overthrow of opinions
that are as old as Confucius it has
been the opening of the doors of nations
and the minds of millions, to the infu-
ence Of enlightenment and Christianity.
Japan, nation powerful, populous,
skilled in some of the arts and older
than the authentic records of history,
has yielded to American diplomacy and
opens her ports and gates, which for
hundreds of years have been closed
against the world, and the American
seaman finds haven and welcome in its
harbors. Some of the princes and learn
ed men of this oriental country have
visited Europe and America, and re-
turned home to establish the customs,
and initiate the improvements of our
country. American teachers, engineers,
and scientific men have been invited
there and are founding schools, direct
ing in the management of government,
building railroads and pointing out the
mineral and productive wealth of this
island nation. China with population
six times as numerous as that of North
America, and customs and laws that
were ancient in the days of Abraham.
has learned something of the progress
and condition of other countries, and is
seeking to introduce into its vast terri
tory the forerunners of civilization, rail-
ways and telegraphs. John Chinaman
has been abroad and learned something
of the habits, as well as the vices of the
world, and when he returns to his ma
tive hills, his story is more potent than
the story of the missionary, and the
friends and brothers of the adventurer
are anxious to visit the countries where
labor is rewarded and the laborer is as
noble as the king. Persia, great ano
powerful in the days of Cyrus, but now
cursed with poverty. ignorance and Mo,
hammedanism has felt the power ant
seen the glory of other nations, and he
rulers are to day inaugurating system
of improvement and reform. The Shal
is abroad and will see enough of civil
cation and refinement to induce him t
make better government in Persia
He has given power to a European nc
bleman to construct railroads across tn
plains of Persia and should the Baro
be successful, few years will see tn
iron horse in the places where the al
mics Of Xerxes fought, and the old n
ins of Babylon will reverberate with til
sound of refuent civilization. The a
mics of Russia are crowding down fro
Siberia and introducing the mannel
and the laws of the Muscovites, amor
the countries of Central Asia. De Lee
seps, now that he has finished the sh
canal, which connects the Mediterran
an and the Red seas, is making prepar
tions to make the survey of railros
across Asia, and the nations are reaC
to connect the Atlantic and the Pacif
with iron rails, so soon as the survt
shall be completed. In many countri
the field of missionary labor is beir
opened and enlarged, and in all d
rections is the light Of modern advanc
ment being let in upon the benight,
regions of the earth. 1t may be God
way of completing the work which tt
missionary and the philanthropist h
long sought to accomplish, by sendil
the railway and the telegraph in a
vance, to introduce knowledge and Chr
tianity among the millions of the Ea
We welcome anything that shall anne
crate the condition of the six hundr
millions of human beings that are
day in darkness and paganism in tn
portion of the world, and if we read t
signs of the times Alright, the next ge
Grafton will witness an advancement
these countries such as the world
never seen.
The st. Adams Messenger of Aug. 4
devotes column to the Vermont c.
trail Railroad, in which it inserts ar