Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-07-14

" ! mcnCrmtut orator. hit7 fNh nav '''' ''
leved by one sensible address az Amherst,
by Charles Francis Adams lie discusses
.. the duty Of our colleges as regards religion
, and civil life. Whatever may he said Of
the general progress Of civilization and SOC
ciety it is quite evident that the relative in.
fluence of the agencies Of civilized life has
materially changed within three centuries
Force can no longer be depended on as
permanent adjunct to political power The
pen works more powerfully than the sword.
From this postulate Mr. Adams proceeds to
consider the political obligations Of scholars.
The great danger to the state in these
days arises from the decline Of sensitiyencss
TO purely moral obligations in civil life.
Notwithstanding the distribution Of civil
forces between the executive, legislative and
judicial departments Of government in our
country il has come TO pass that a principle
Of corruption has crept in, which disturbs
the proper action Of the machinery. The
executive power has been confidcd to feeble
and ignorant hands, and the consequence is
that large share Of its vital energy has
been transferred to, and divided among
those holding for the moment legislative
power. This unhappy transfer Of the function
Of the executive to the legislative depart
ment which was never intended in our gov
eminent, has been a source Of continual
weakness and growing corruption in our po-
litcal life The legislature has usurpad,
from the mskliul or timid hands of the ex-
ecutive power which should have been kept
wholly from its grasp. Thus the three or
four hundred legislators have come into the
possessions of functions for whose use they are
in no sense responsible Assuming to con-
troll the appointments aud dictate the policy
of the executive branch Of the government
they have had power without responsibility
have brought the executive into contempt,
and have made the legislature hot-bed Of
corrupt, personal politics. Appointments Of
all sorts have practically been taken from
the executive, aud he is only the agent to
record the DEGREES Of rings or Of small
combinations Of men in the legislative de-
partment. And this has changed and cor
rupted our general legislation, and made the
great questions Of law and craftsmanship
subsidiary to the personnel of a diplomatic
mission, custom house or a post-ofIicc
The effect has been to make it impossible
to secure strong executive, and to subject
the legislature to constant process Of de
tcrioration. Another of ia results has been
to throw the politics Of the country into the
hands Of rings and associations Of men who
use the Offices and the powers Of the state
for their own selfish and personal ends. Nor
is the tendency TO divide the functions Of
government, which were intended to be kept
separate, among its various branches, dmin-
isbing, and therefore, the chance of the Ill
innate dissolution of the republic is ncreas-
ing day by day.
Mr.. Adams does not find in independent
and solitary voting" as he calls it, amy rem
edy for this dangerous tendency "Solitary
voting is in its utility very much like the
act of the soldier who should fire his piece
to bring down the sun Parties are neces-
sary in order to arrive at practical results,
and it is the right aud duty of the citizen to
connect himself with one or the other Of
our political associations to the extent of not
sacrificing his own views of the general
good. The moment any individual becomes
satisfied that the party to which he belongs
is surendering to corrupt counsels, is guided
by unworthy agents, for selfish aims, then it
is his duty to separate himself from it and
throw his personal vote and influence against
it. A large class of honest, incorruptible
voters, who are not swayed by selfish inter
ests, with profound intelligence of the prin-
ciples of the government, and with deter
mination to hold private ends subordinate
to public welfare, and party objects to the
common veal and casting their ballots with
such reference, might hold the balance Of
power, and keep the ship from rolling too
much to the one side or the other.
But the pinch is to discover such class.
class thoroughly trained for the response
bility Of electorship versed in history, con
yersant with law armed for controversy
able in debate, commanding in influence and
ready TO throw themselves into the work Of
guiding the masses class also, full of hero
ism, able to rise above all personal fear and
confront popular indignation and uphold
what is right and true however nwelcome
to the popular passions or frcnzies Of the
moment.
Mr. Adams finds this class in the scholars
Of the country; chiefly in those whom the
current of events is drawing to the conduct of
the public press. Here he expects, in the
future, will be found the forces which will
check party abuses, and viii pursue and
bring under deserved scom all the greedy
and seductive demagogues of the land
There is no doubt that the journalism of the
country is, in some respects, attaining a
higher rank and wider influence. 1t is
keenly observant and endowed with all the
freedom that is consistent with truth, and
law and the highest interests of the public
II is certainly tremendous power, And Just
so far as its draws into its service men, not
greedy for dollars, nor ayarcious Of small
prizes; not plastic as wax nor friable as pun
ice not to be swept off their feet by public
admiration or driven from their center by
public indignation skilled in controversy
yet hating sophistry and shams; honorable
and just, not slanderous and vituperative full
OF kindness and yet full Of righteousness so
far as 1t does this, will ii develop the wonder
ful power which is latent and possible and
make it palpable and effective. But il il falls
INTO the hands OF unworthy uieu, Who ,ts1 ii
TO make money or to serve hatred, malice or
spite; who suborn it to ends of party tri-
umphs or party corruption, who make II the
reservoir of public and private scandals, and
the channel of gossip or malignity, il it
takes so mean course as this, it sinks be-
meath its possible elevation and loses its
power, or else adds length TO the already too
long lever by which public and private vices
are fast dissolying the fabric of society
The press, Mr.. Adams sees, is two-edged
sword. As in all the great forces of civiliz-
ation, there lie in possibilities Of deyiltry,
disintegration and destruction. Consequent
ly he speaks only Of duties and of possible
results Providence has put an agency into
the hands Of the cultivated, scholarly mon
Of the age, by which they may increase the
sensitiyeness Of the public conscience and
add TO the force Of moral obligation in civil
life Under His guidance, and the co-ope-
ration Of all good men, ii is possible TO in
fuse the true spirit of honor justice, and
patriotism among the evergrowing millions
of our country and make this the most en-
lightened nation of the earth. 1t is GER
tainly worth while to cultivate such sense