Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-03-27
DIVINE ETHICS AND TOWN
POLITICS.
THR REV. MR.. LEE FURNISHES AN ABsTAcT OF
HIS SERMON ON THIS THEME.

POLI1IC6.
THE REV. MR. LEE FURNISHES AN ABsTAcr OF
HIS SERMON ON THIS THEME.
Mr.. Editor II thank you for your kind
and apprecistive review Of my sermon ON
the above theme. A courteous critic pro-
tests against 'implied imputations against
the public spirit and generosity Of the cti-
zens Of our town" did not know l made
any such imputations. disclaim them. My
hearer must have inexperienced me. At
all events 1 join him in protesting against
such implications, whether made by myself
or inferred by him. Aud now, though your
editorial (of March l2) seems to me sufi-
oient, partly because OF your suggestion, and
partly because a number have expressed the
desire to see tho sermon in print, / will give
an outline Of it, which, as It was unwritten,
is all that 1 onn well do.
The text, Pnil. pa, Look not every man
on his own things but every man also on the
things of others," like the prtoept Of Christ
and Moses, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself, makes man's due regard for himself
thelaw Of his action to ward his fellows. Thus
the ethical teaching Of the Scripture avoids
both indiv.dualism aud socialism, the extremes
into one Of which most human schemes Of
social order fall. Socialism ignores the rights
of the individual, takes away incen-
tives for individual action and development,
80 lowers the quality OF manhood and tends
to barbarian Indiyidualism selhshly iso-
lates the man and in like manner destroys
incentive TO effort and reduces him to the
condition Of a savage. Personal freedom s
not more necessary to the integrity Of man
hood than due regard for our organic aud
responsible connection with society. What
estimate shall man put upon himself7 The
same which Christ did when be tasted death
for every man, and be Is to estimate his
peighbor at the same high price. The recp
rocal oblig atoms arising from these conditions
are recognized in some measure 10 every or
der of society which has found q place in
history. In the feudali4m of the medieval
time, there was mutual helpfulness between
lords and vassals. When that system was
overthrow by the introduction OF the prin-
ciple OF equality, and the struggle for per-
sonal liberty against organic ID oppression
Was continued through centuries, the rights
of the individual gained unprecedented prom
inence and jealousy for them secured express
sion in the laws aud institutions Of modern
times. This is the order Of things which We
in New Eogland inherit Equality before
the law implies protection for all. This il
the practical operation OF Pauls principle Of
due regard by each Of the interests Of the
whole.
Gradually the spirit OF the text is finding
expression in political life. The impulse to
the civil service reform is hsre Public Of
fice has bet n used for individual and partisan
ends The fundamental idea of the reform
is that public office il public trusts trust
to be held for the pubic good. This same
pfinolple ought to govern the legislator. He
10 bound to look after tue interests OF the en-
tire people over which he legislates. The
Congressman belongs to the United States
not to his district 'only. be is to consider
measures Sith reference to the welfare OF
fifty millions Of people True, many fail
here, and most are often under very strong
tenn ptations to do so. But here Is the test OF
real statesmsushp. Not long since MAssa-
chusetts paper complmented Congressman
on having run ahead OF the rest Of the ticket
in the election. The reason given was, not
that be had evinced any especial efficiency In
conduct OF public affairs, but that he was
very afable in manners and whoever had
business with him WAS pleasantly received
That is all good so far as il goes. But when
q little later II WAS reported that he voted for
8. J. Randalls scheme to abolish the whiskey
tax in order to str, ngthen the tariff and re-
manufacturer the measure Of his unselhsh
patriotism was more easily taken. 1t Is nat
ural and desirable that q representive reflect
the opinion of his Immediate constituency. but
that is a very different thing from being 80 sub.
ject to per, onal or local pecuniaTy interest as
to defy an accepted principle of political eel
ence and exempt from taxation a luxury
which like whisk-y degrades and adds to the
burdens OF society while imposing 1t on a
90 and An ha inty -
of every mans Bible and newspaper and ev
cry boys spelling book 10 per cent. Nor is
q legislator bound to act upon the opinion OF
his district against his own convictions of
righteousness. Hon. Isaac Touosy, Senator
from Connecticut, a pro slavery Democrat,
was rebuked by the Legislature of his state
snl asked to res GA bscanse he voted for the
Nebraska bill, but refused. Hon Francis Gil
stte senator from the samA state, was asked TO
resign by the legislature because he took rad
ical anti slavery ground, but refused. Gre
iary Lamar, when Senator from Mississippi.
having made a hard-mouey speech in Con
gress was called upon 10 resign by legsla
lure of intlationists. but refused. All these
men replied IN substance that they were enact
| ing measures for the whole country and must
| do what was for the good of the nation as
they understood it. This is generally accept
ed doctrine because it implies a due regard
| Oy every man OF the lutereetb OF Otuetb
Ii is equally applicable TO the common oiti-
zen in the town meeting, This is the most
democratic assembly that we have. 1t is
gathering of citizens to consult together con
| cerning matters of common interest, and
within certain limits to leg;slate upon them.
| So far In 1t every man is q legislator, and like
every other he is bound TO consider the inter-
ests of the whole town. This meeting has
very important place 10 our history. De
| Toqueville discerned in II the fundamental
force in our political order. 10 the idea OF
| all advising together upon what shall make
the community better to live in, there is
something very attractive. But every thing pro-
posed has relation to taxes, and SO every man
| has temptation to forget the good Of the whole
in the defence OF his own pocket. After the
| last town meeting | was asked three times
within a few minutes what / thought of q
| Vermont town meeting. and was obliged TO
| say that was surprised at the narrow range
| OF motives and low order of considerations
| by which questions seemed to be decided.
| Take for example the railroad, not to discuss
the merits of the case, but to illustrate the
fact that individual and pecuniary interests
received undue attention. ! apprehend that
no one who was at the meeting will affirm
| that any others we're urged. II is to be I'D
| mitted that these are OF prime importance,
| but they are not the whole, aud perhaps not
those most vitality concerned. The gravest
matter involve ed is the continuance and growth
of civilized and Christian communities in
soutt ern Vermont. 1t is important to con.
slider whether We will do something to sus.
tain around us towns which shall send to us,
to our places of business and our society,
young men and women from good schools
| and Christian homes. In our time the rail-
road is necessary 10 civilization. No man Of
sense would dream Of debating the value OF
the Pacific railways on merely pecuniaTy
grounds. They are the economic foundation
OF high order of civil cation from the At
lantic to the Pacific, the bond Of our nat on
al unity, the avenues and the swift oourers
of enlightenment and Christianity. 1t is a
little thing to say of the railroads that grid
the Northwest, that they pay the corpora
tions that build and conduct them. They
have added an empire to Ohristeudom which