Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-02

are not all so sarcastic as that l sent
you last week. Que Of them, from pro-
lessor in one Of our New England colleges
with whom have had some sharp tilts on
other subjects, says;-"l know you will be-
licve that hasten with fat greater alacrity
to signify my cordial agreement with you
than to venture on any criticism Of your
views Happily now am wholly at one
with you again as to the subject matter Of
yourarticle in the last FARMRR. But, my dear
doctor, the agricultural college question is as
nothing to the tremendous odds against you
in this conflict. However, this sufFices, that
God and his revelations thus far vouchsafed
to man are 90 your side. l think you have
hit exactly upon the only class who under
all conditions aud in all tho circums tances
environing us are able to solve this question
Of questions, and bring in, il it is ever to
come, the day Of practical christianity, and
it is the agricultural class for the reasons you
have given. | am glad you keep the mould
off your lux aud the rust of your pen," etc.,
etc.
And Saul, too, is among the prophets, for
here we find, in the last Vermont Chonicle,
noble article under the heading. THE
People love TO have it So" from whose pen
| know not, but which substantially reiterates
with stronger and clearer voice, the senti.
ments Of my article. Let me ask you to
copy the following paragraphs -
An eminent professor in one of our SEM
insries is accustomed to make the remark,
without quail fcatiou, that all lasting reforms
have their origin among the lower classes OF
society. The greatest reformer that ever
lived found His most attentive audience among
the common people, Aud the great men
who have been called to the ministry of the
truths He revealed have shown their power
by moving nightly the masses. The early
growth Of the church in the Roman empire,
the reformation in Germany, the revolution
in England, and the early emigration to this
land, witness the truth Of this statement
The colonies that have left their mark upon
this northern continent were not those that
came from the upper classes of the old social
system they were those that came from the
lower.
There is no need that the illustrations be
multiplied. The rule scarce admits Of ex-
ceptions. All reform works from below up
ward. 1t is like all true growth, by dove.
opment from within, not by accretions from
without. The upper classes Of society are
like the ripened fruit upon the outermost
branches Of the tree. We could look for no
more growth 10 them, ouly corruption and
decay. They must be plucked of aud cast
into the earth again, that their seed may
spring up IN a new growth aud to a new
frutage.
The remedy for this evil condition must
be sought then, il what has been said is true,
in change in the mental and moral con-
dition Of the people. And this change can
be effected only through the agency of the
school and the church.
So long as u cloud rests upon the reasoning
faculties Of the masses, so long as prejudice
aud passion bear rule, so long may we ex-
pect the class who hold the balance Of power
to be made the dupes Of crafty aud unclean
men. 1t is idle to OK.
pect that those whose knowledge Of political
events is confined to their own immediate
locality, save only as they catch some Of the
political gossip afioat, or learn the party war
cries, can act intelligentIy upon questions of
national interest. And Of 4 class higher
than this it may be said, that those ,cho de.
mand and support a strictly partisan prssS.
must al,odys expect TO remain in that ign0r-
ance 'ohich is fatal 10 the exercise ofthe ju-
dicial poOerS.
But mach as the schools may do to secure
the mental elevation Of the people, the
churches have even II greater work in soeur-
ing moral reform. As much more impor-
tant as is the moral status than the mental,
so much more important is the agency of the
church than the school. When DR.. Frank
lin was ambassador at Paris, he remarked
to one Of the French statesmen: "IIe who
shall introduce into public affairs the princi-
Piles of primitive Christianity will change
the face Of the world" That was the work
our fathers attempted to do, and the partial
success that crowned their efforts is what
has given permanence to the institutions they
Where can We find in the press of YER
mont at least, anything that goes straighter
10 the mark than that? We must hail the
Chronicle as co-laborer in the field Of pro.
yress and practical reform. 7. IL. IL.
Newport, Feb. %.