Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-28

condition Of society is still very imperfect.
There are yet many claims TO be adjusted,
many inequalities to be levelled, many
wrongs to be righted. But society Is not
radically wrong, as some maintain. Not
destruction, but Improvement Is what the
case demands. oven thought he had
found n remedy in communism, but that
princ pie proved false when carried out to
its legitimate end. The speaker believed
i'm equality, but il was a law Of nature that
all should not I've precisely alike; all have
equal rights but not equal capacities. Men
have their leaders; nature creates an arts
tocracy. Moreover, in country like our
own, the arstocracy reflect the aspirations
and the tendencies of the masses. If a peo-
pie be wprlike, their aristocracy Will con-
sist of men of great military requirements
and renown; if devoted 10 literature, its
aristocracy will embrace men of the high
est literary requirements. Our arstocracy
is one Of wealth, because, as people,
wealth is our chief object of desire aud
worship. Especially is this the case with
our poorer classes. In considering the du-
~ of the present In relation to the future,
the speaker first expressed his assurance
that as people we arc to have a future far
in advance of the pasta future that shall
answer TO our ideals. But our hope is not
in government Some people seem to think
that the improvement OF society is to be
brought about by perfecting our codes of
law but laws, when made, do not enforce
themselves. Government is a creature, not
a creator. Only by individual improve
| al, I,
al reform must precede the reform of soci-
ETY.. A free government does not make a
free people, but free people free gov
| eminent. Government at the best is only
a compromise-an average. The wise and
good are always in advance OF IL and only
"a those below are brought up to tho mark
is progress made. The working man
| thinks that the great remedy for the evils
| of his condition is to be found in the eleva-
ton Of men of the laboring class to Office;
| but while the speaker felt deep sympa-
thy for this class of the community, he saw
no evidence that they in reality under
stood their own needs, or would he likely
to furnish government which would deal
| justly by all classes. In order that society
may make further advance, there must be
adopted higher and purer principle of ac-
ton than is now in vogue, namely, that Of
Christi an morality-tho principle of love.
| The dOgmss Of ChriStianity-tbese were
not essential. The fundamental doctrines
of Christianity were taught long before the
co ming of Christ. The fatherhood of God
his justice and mercy, the immortality of
the soul-these and many other so-called
| Christian doctrines were taught before
Christ came into the world, and were only
emphasized and endorsed by him but his
great gift to mankind was that divine code
of morality of which love is the anmating
| spirit. "Behold a new command give
unto you, that We love one another" Here
| in is the true remedy for the evils which
we deplore. Only as the spirit of love and
bencvolence supplant the spirit Of selfish
ness which now rules government and So
ciety, will mankind rise to their highest
level. The hearer may smile at the reme-
dy proposed. We hear tho idea ridculed
that the race will ever adopt the Christian
code OF morals as a basis of government,
and in their everyday affairs. But let no
prOfessed Christian sneer at the idea. Is it
folly to suppose that love will ever rule
the world? Men-even Christians and
preachers of the eospel--may lack faith in
the idea, but we have complementary we
have the surely OF the promise of Christ
himself-that love will at length prevail.
Censure not the past, censure not the pres
ent, but have faith in and labor for the fu-
ture in love- and your labors will not be
in vain.