Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-26
Hear Him.

There are those, no doubt, among observ-
ing and thoughtful men, who have sighed
to realize the modicum of truth in Claren-
don's sheer at clergymen, of whom he says
"They understand the least, and take the
worst measure of human affairs, of all man
kind that can write and read" But again
they have been comforted to know that, at
least in our time and country, there is but
modicum of truth in Clarendon's broad as
sertion. We have just been re-reading a
Fast-day sermon of the Rev. S. r. Seelye,
ID. d., of Easthampton, Mass, which is as
plain, as practical in its dealings with the
great evils of our time, as the utterance of
the most patriotic lawyer might have been
in the times when patriotism and law were
not so incompatible as nowadays. "This
all pervading corruption that reaches from
Washington to Easthampton," says he, ais
what makes us afraid what hold it has
taken upon the nation How it has affected
us How much manliness it has taken out
of us Under this corrupt system, how
often have we done the meanest and wick
eldest thing we could do, in selling our votes,
not for money, but for party or for office !"
And how true what he says of the doings of
the politicians two years ago is of the con-
gressional doings now. Hear him "What
are the so-called statesmen about ? They
are trying to make President. And what
sort of President do they want t? The
greatest and wisest the strongest and best
man? Not at all. Such a one they do not
want, and will not have. They want man
who is base enough to sell them all his pa
tronage before his election, and who after
his election will fill their pockets at the na-
tons cost. A pure honest, upright man,
who, if chosen to Office would rule in the
fear of God, stands not the ghost of chance
with our politicians. And these corrupt,
bargain-making politicians to-day have their
foot on the nations neck. They select
our rulers, and compel the people to vote
for the men of their choice. They capture
the caucus, and thus control the nominal
ing convention, and distribute the offices
among their friends We the people, go to
the polls, and do their bidding and share
their guilt without sharing their pay. What
do they care for us ? And what ought they
to care, while we are the willing slaves of
such contemplate masters p
This clergyman does not fail to bring the
matter home-to make the local application
as good in Vermont as in Massachusetts or
anywhere else. Says he: And let us re-
member that we are to put away, not the
sins of others, but our own and that we
are to do works meet for our own repentance.
We must begin to build before our own door.
Or, in other words, we must become true
and honest and upright ourselves. And the
first step to be taken is this: We must re-
solve to emancipate ourselves from all bond
age to rings and parties. That we will no
longer do the bidding of the paid hirelings
of ofice-seekers, nor permit unprincipled,
0, what shame ought to cover us for what
we have done in the past And what a
proof of the nations degradation is given by
the fact that here in Hampshire county, that
is so filled with churches and noble institu-
tions of learning, the very garden of the
Lord, knot of greedy, goddess men have
ruled the electors with rod of iron. And
we have submitted to their swayr'
This may not be agricultural matter"
but it is matter of which agriculturists are
thinking, many of them deeply and earnestly.
And there is need.