Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-07-19

faint has at times poisoned the general
government itself and, like some sub
tie, malarious influence in the physical
system, it reached the very heart of the
patient and nearly accomplished our ru-
In. 1t was an educated southern aris-
tocracy that attempted to control our
government and dictate the principles
upon which it should be conducted. 1t
was the ignorant southern masses who
aided them in their attempt to execute
their threat. that they would legally call
the roll of their slave property, under
the shadow of Bunker Hill monument.
1t was the intelligent masses of the
north who few to the rescue and saved
our country, and preserved from dcstruc-
ton the brightest example of civil liber-
ty that the world has ever witnessed.
In that struggle, we witnessed anoth-
er example of the important fact that
the unequal distribution of intelligence
may result in intensified barbarism:
that an ignorant people, with an IN
principled, though educated. leadership.
are more to be feared and more wretch
ed themselves, than those in a purely
barbarous state; that the enginery Of
civilization in the hands of such peo-
pie, and even the mental power acquired
by the few, like firearms in the hands
of the savage, make them only the more
dangerous foes to all without, while it
makes the condition of their own masses
the more wretched. by the elevation of
the unprincipled few: on the principle
that an educated villain is more to be
feared than an unprincipled fool.
That conflict of ours should teach the
world not to look Tor true worth to any
particular class, or to those of any par
ticular calling that the material of
which heroes are made is not oftener
found in the gilded palace, than in the
frontier hut; in the counting-room of
the banker. than in the workshop of the
mechanic in the Offices of professional
men. than in the cottages of farmers.
What humiliating lessons to aristo-
cratic pride are recorded in our eountry's s
recent history! When the nation saw
not the peril which awaited it; when it
was lulled to quiet repose by artful de-
eeiVers; when the poison of which
have spoken was insiduously working its
way to the very heart of the body poll
tic. and the true source of that political
malaria was yet matter of doubt,
whence came the warning of our dan
ger? Did it come from the politicians
From the wealthy and learned of the
land? No; that warning voice came
| from the masses. Low and almost inau-
dible at first, it gradually swelled Its
volume, until even the politicians and
the would-be aristocracy heard it, and,
at first, scOffed at these plebian disturb
ers Of the public peace. ana sneered at
their warnings of approaching evil. The
crisis came as they had predicted. The
Republic was called upon to determine
whether slave-drivers should rule, and
that source of political malaria and
death-African slaTery-should settle,
like black pail, over the land wbeth-
er honest labor should henceforth be
counted disgrace, and the industrial
classes should be crushed to build up a
labor and laborer-despising aristocracy.
in that great moral contest which fol-
lowed, and which at last aroused the
long-slumbering sense Of justice and
right, and led the northern people to
fully comprehend the situation and pre-
sent united front to the common enc
my, whose pen was welded more fear.
lessly or more efectually, in the nation
al cause than that worthy, self-made
man, the son Of humble farmer, who
then stood at the head Of the American
press-Horace Greeley?
When, by cunningly devised schemes,
the traitors had robbed the government
of all means Of self-defence, and had
gathered around the national capital,
like the coil Of the serpent when about
to thrust It's fangs into its helpless vic.
tim when traitors in disguise ilied ev.
cry department Of the national service
prepared 10 do their deeds of shame
when opportunity should offer; when
od-thirsty assassins at the south,
stealthily watched for opportunities tc
murder, in cold blood, those who ven.
tured TO protest against their deeds Of
treason, and even thronged the thorough.
fares Of the north, awaiting az epportu,
nifty TO she'd the blood Of the chosen ex.
eeutiye Of the nation when the stOutesl
hearts paled at the fearful prospect,
whose powerful arm lifted the cloud
which hung over us. and with the might
Of Hercules, bore up the destinies Of :
nation 2 Was it not the ''rail-splitter'
1 from our ranks-Abraham HBeoln2
/ UnlearBed in the wisdom Of ths
schools. be carried with him AL his boa.
est plebian simplicity. Though be bad
CHOSEN the profession Of the laE, be yel
belonged 70 the class from which b.
sprung and industrial pursuits had CIV
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