Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-04-14


This cry of reform awoke the nations
from the moral death sleep Of the dark
ages. And if there is one thing,
which above al others, is now
necessary to the welfare Of our whole
country, it is a general reformation.
Our institutions, our preccleats, oar
growth, has been unlike other nations
we have had AL extraordinary growth,
and as is generally the case in such
thrifty shoots, the time must come
when she must suffer from such over
growth, or promaturity. The devel- |
opments are to many to deny that
that period has arrived. For does
not the political, the professional, the
mercantile corruption Of the country,
and more, the power of the Go ldcss
fashion, point Enthusiastically to this.
conclusion. First, look at the crime,
and rottenness, parpetratea in our
political circles. They a.e too numer,
Gus to mention, too atrocious to recall.
And if in the future revelations follow
revelations, as in the past, we cannot
imagine what the crisis will he.
Yet, however bad our known con,
dition is, it is doubtful, il the crimes
discovered would farm even Il small
minority of those committed, In dis
covered crime, in large majority OF
cases Of great guilt, the prisoner goes
free, by surrenderiug portion Of the
stolen wealth, while the poor man,
with less guilt, meets full justice for
orrim o;sde9fdd i4 with a little yengence
Indignation is 50 aroused as u p''''>
the great criminal to be imprisoned
his punishment is often light, for il
COMES e->r--tire clemency with par
don. Illustrations are noJ nr,v yes>r,,
for this is the common course, as il
the case of the great New YorI
rascals, who are now soon 20 be goo,
citizens again, By surrendering a por
ton. of their stolen wealth. And the
and their families can roll aloAg il
stolen wealth, the remainder Of thi
pilgrimage. The Canal thieves, ant
the convicted distilers, are EXAMPLE
Ill the other direction, all of whicl
make great crimes popular, and teacl
men to rob, and steal, that it is =!
most beautiful art, and very lucrative
Next, look into proressiona! life
Here we have our highest type O
manhood, and Of course the innocen
are in the preponderence. But If ever
some Of these are guilty, what may w,
expect in the lower walks Of life, or a
Chaucer has 50 truly said, "if goll
rust, what should iron do" Lawyer
will give argument aud counsel, ant
lie for a miserable scondrel, for pay
and to defeat justice, and it recoil
upon themselves, till they perceive NJ
difference between the innocent an,
guilty. Doctors trlda with the live
of paupers by experimenting on them
to praye some layonte hobby, bu
vastly oftimes does he trife with th
purse of the rich, and when thcs
Doctors meet in their clubs room
inake gay over their lupe8. In al
our social life what field for reforma
tion, in dress, in amusemcnts, in mat
tiers Of waste and needless extrava
gance, in all these things there SHOULD
be general renovation. The worl
generally acknowledges that reform
are needed, but lack the mora
courage to make an effort, and wha
is worse, men lack the moral courag
to hold up the hands OF what mora
leaders there are, unless actuated b
some selfish purpose or aim. Eli
people lack that independence {
mind so essential TO true greatness
Men in social life and that are i
authority "winlS together" too mucl
and slip along over hard things
which they should unqualified
denounce. The oal condition {
society must first be improved, an
toned up, before lasting reformatio
can be produced. This must be don
from within. You cannot force me
to be moral, you cannot shoot mora
ideas into men. What we want,
man Of good sense, trained tror
childhood to fear God and be loyal t
Him, fearless in their determination t
stand, and strike for tie right, an
always, ard everywhere, quick t
punish wrong. How strong woul
such nation he.