Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-25
For the Freeman.
The IrrepreSSible Conflict.


The great battle that was begun in the
garden of Eden when our first parents fell
from their integrity, and has been going
on IN some form or another ever since-the
conflict between truth and error, right and
might, is being waged to-day with increas-
ed vigor. 1t has been truly styled 50 the
irrepressible conflict for it goes on and
on as surely as the stars in their course.
s There is no flag of truce; there is no
armistice between the belligerent forces;
there is no hating for reinforcements. or
waiting for supplies. The eternal God is
on the side of truth and righteousness.
The spirit of evil and all the miniOns of
error and unrighteousness are on the other
side, but the power of the Omnipotent is
sure to conquer ut last. There is no neu-
tral ground for us; we must be on one
side or the other-how stands our record
to-day9
The world moves and progresses; the
great evil of yesterday is not the crying
sin of to-day. Every generation has its
own peculiar errors and sins to combat:
its own peculiar duties to perform.
The last decade has witnessed the great
est victory for God and humanity the
world ever saw in the destruction OF the
slave oligarchy 1t was a costly victory;
costly in blood and treasure. but it was
only after the first-born of every house
hold was slain that Pharaoh would let the
bondmen 90 free. and it was only after our
Union army had defeat upon defeat, that
our government was ready to do what all
along God meant should be done-to un
loose the bonds Of the captive.
That battle is ended. but the conflict be-
tween right and wrong still goes on, and
must 90 on, until that millenial day is ush-
cred in, when the lion and the lamb shall
lie down together"
As the light shines more and more unto
the perfect day. as knowledge increases.
sins that seemed fair to look upon in gene
rations past. show to-day in all their hid
eous deformity. Things that our fathers
practiced with good conscience, may be
deadly sins to us, for :" these things in the
times of mems ignorance God winked at, "
but now that the light has appeared and
shown us the right. we cannot evade the
responsibility that increased light has
thrown upon us.
1t appears to me that the great battle of
to-day is between the hosts of intemper-
ance and the friends of sobriety, and reli-
gion Intemperance has a mighty army
Satan and all his emiSsaries on earth OF
hell, are on that side. and-(naust l say
it9) some who profess to be followers of
that great reformer, Christ, are fighting in
the ranks Of intemperance. They have
wealth, power, and numbers, but there is
one essential lacking, they have not got
God on their side. - If God be for us,
who shall be against us9n
The temperance movement was never
before the people in the light it stands to-
dav. We are NOW in the valley of decis-
ion. 1t is nor for each of us to decide
whom we will serve. The work is before
us in all its gigantic proportions, and we
cannot evade the responsibility that rests
upon us. 1t is Gods work, and will 90
on whether we aid it OF oppose it, but il
we refuse to do. the work. He gives us, He
will raise up others to do our work, bu
shall aoe stand guilness?
would that every Christian man anC
woman could be made to see that there Is
no neutral ground. If they are not per.
sonaIIy working for the advancement OF
the temperance cause, their influence
surely is felt against it. The exigencie
of the times demand bold, outspoken de
Tenders of our cause, not silent sympathiz
ers. As in our late war; if man die
not freely cypress his patriotism he wa
deemed to be a sympathizer with the Sc
ceding South; so it is in this war.
1t requires no prophetic eye to see tha
temperance. or prohibition, OF free rum, i
to he the great issue in our next elections
and it hehooves those who do not wisl
drunkenness and all its attendant horrors
to rush in upon us as flood, to besti
themselves and see that every temperanc
man does his duty. CHARITY.