St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-07-14

feared undue and precipitate expansion
OF our possessions. as lOOSening the ties
of union and those who desired it. as Il
step toward dissolution. have suffered Il
common discontinue. The immense
social and political forces which the eX
iStence of slavery in this country, and
the mNIncIble repugnance to it of the
vital principles of our State. together
generated. have had their play upon the
paSSi"nsa and the interests of this people,
have formed the basis of parties. di-
vidcd sectS. agitated and invigorated
the popular mind. inspired the elu-
quence. intlamed the zeal, informed the
understandings, and fired the hearts of
three generations. AT last the dread
debate escaped all bounds of reason.
and the nation in arms solved, by the
appeal of war. what WAS too hard for
civil wisdom. With our territory um-
mutllated, our constitution uncorrupted.
Il united people. in the last wears of the
century. crowns with new glory the i'm
mortal truths OF the Declaration of In
dependence by the emancipation of II
race.
find then, in the method and the re
suits OF the century's progress of the
nation III this ampitcation of its do
mann, sure promise of the duration of
the body polite, whose growth to these
vast proportions has. as vet. but laid
out the ground plan of the structure.
For find the vital forces of the free
society and the peoples government.
here founded. have. hy their own viror
II.iI,4 tins n.,tnr.,1 Il, l.
and symmetry have knit together the
great frame as its bulk increased. and
the spirit of the nation animatrs th,
whole.
CONFIDENCE INCREASED p-EDICArION
DISSEMINATED.
y careless observation of the crimes
and frauds. which attack prosperity in
the actual condition of our society. and
the lmpcIlcctinu of ouu means ior their
prevention andrrdIeS>. lcad>, sometimes
t" IN untiv"rahle comparison between
the present and the past. IL this country.
i> respects prnhitN nt the people. No
doubt coNttouSncS> has not ceased in the
world. and thieves still break through
and steal. But the better test upon
tins point Is the vast protlI>ion of our
wealth and the infinite trust shown hN
I he manner in whhh it is invested. 1t
l. moi too much to say that in our time.
and c"n>picu"u>lN in our country. Il
Large share of every mans property i
III other mems keeping and manage
mcnt, unmatched. and hcNomd personal
control. This confidence of man in man
l. ever increasing, measured 10y uuI
practical conduct. and rrtutc> these dis
paragrmcnt> of the general morality.
Know ledge. intellectual activity. the
mastery "t nature, the discipline of life
all that makes up the education of Il
people. ale developed and ditfusrd
through the MASSES of "ur population.
III :" ample and generous distribution
a. L" max" this the conspicuous trait in
ON national character. a. the faithful
prov I>l"n and extension of the means
and opportunities of this education are
tic cherished institution of the country
Learning, literature. science. art. are
in their widest range and
highest reach. 10y Il larger and larger
number ot our people. not. to their
praise he it said. :i> a personal di>tinc-
ti"n. or Il selfish puSSc>sion. but. main
lN. a> Il generous lcaNen. to quicken and
expand the hcalthiul fermentation of
the general mind. and lift the level of
popular instruction. So far from breed
in" Il distcmpcrcd spirit in the people.
tins becomes the main crop OF authnri-
tN. the great instinct of obedience. at
l. 10y cdu";Itl"n. SAYS Aristotle. Il
have learned /" do 10y choice what other
men do 10y cnn>tI;lint of fear
PRIVATE >nIICIrUpE FOR THE TT HIIc
VEAL.
But. through the period " hose NraI>
We count to-day. the greatest lesson of
all l. the pIrp"ndrllnce of public oNcI
private. ot social over selfish. tendencies
and purp">c> in the whole body of the
people. and tia, persistent fidelity tn the
genius and spirit oi popular institutions.
of the educated CLASSES. the liberal pro
tcS>l"nN. and the great men of the com
Try. These qualities trau>fIS,. and blend
the huc> and virtues ot the manifold
ray "t advanced civilization into u sun
light Of public spirit and trrNid patriot
ism, which warns and irradiatcs the life
of the nation. Excess of publicity as
The anlmating spirit and stimulus of
society. more probably than its lack.
will excite our snlicitudcS in the future.
Even the public di>contcntS take on
this color. and the mind and heart of
the whole people ache with anNictic>
and throh with gricts which have no
mcan"r scope than the honor and safety
ot the nation.
AMERICA STILL \ CHRISTIAN NATION.
The church, throughout this land. up-
held 10y no political establishment. rests
all the iiImer on the rock on which its
Founder built it. The great mass of
our countrNmcu to-day find in the bible
the bible III their worship, the bible
in their schools. the bible in their house
holds the sufficient lessons of the fear
of God and the love of man, which
make them obedicnt servants to the
free constitution of their country. in all
civil duties. and ready with their lives
to sustain it on the fields of war. And
now. at the end of Il hundred wears. the
Christian faith collects its worshippers
throughout our land. as at the begin
ming. What. half IL century ago, was
hopefully prophesied for our far future.
goes on to its tultillment: "AS the sun
rises on IL Sabbath morning and travels
westward from Newfoundland to the
Oregon. he will behold the countless
millions assembling, as if 10y il common
impulse. in the temples with which ev-
cry valley. mountain and plain will he
adorned. The morning psalm and the
evening anthem will commence with
the mnltltudcs on the Atlantic coast.
be sustained 10y the loud chorus of ten
Thousand times ten thousand in he val
ley of the Mississippi, and hr prolonged
by the thousands of thousands on the
shores of the Pacific"
EUROPE PREPARING To FOLLOW IN ORR
PATH.
We have taken no steps back ward.