St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-07-08
THE sT. ALBANs OUTRAGE.
A Sermon Preached I'm the st. A1ban
Methodist Church, sunday, March ~


Methodist Church, Sunday, March Al,
by the Rev. f. w. Culver.
The law is Stacked. and judgment doth never go
forth. Hab. 1,
But sin is a reproach to any people. Prov. II,
Man is born subject to law. Enact
ments originating in the wisdom of
God reach to every faculty of mind
and body. In whatever direction man
seeks activity he finds laws inducing
desire and yet limiting its gratifica-
ton. Around man as well as within
him is operating this energy divine.
Civil laws exist by the will of God.
They are, if righteous, the natural
form the will of God makes use of for
expression. Civil law is IA conservatOr
of public peace, order, and safety, and
when intelligently and judiciOusly en-
forced affords protection to the citizen,
and the stranger in his person, proper
ty and reputation. And this civil law
gives shape and form and permanence
to society. 1t gives confidence and a
feeling of restfulness to its Individual
members. Here we have order and
peace. Here we have room for the
quiet growth of our being and bust
ness. The sheltering arms of power
are about us, and the weak are made
strong in their protection. Intelligent
laws make provision for the punish
ment of offenders, whether of the pub
lie peace or of individual rights. And
for me to say that the welfare of the
individual and society rests with the
careful observance and maintenance
of righteous laws is but to state what
is an axiom for the hope of mankind
is involved in this question of the OBJ
servance of law. Well may we then
be careful how we undermine this hope
and strength of the individual, the
community and the nation.
But nothing can be clearer to the
sober common sense of this people
than that law is being undermined, it's
dignity slain, it's behest trampled in
the dust, and that in the very pres
ence of the tribunals of our courts.
What is the simple logic of the late
outrage committed in our midst This
outrage that has met with nothing of
public rebuke or of judicial censure or
punishment, but rather with express
siOns of favor and concentrations of
the party committing the assault from
some and an OminOus silence from
others.
Now | have no part or interest in
any political sQuabble that may be in
progress, or may have been, or may
yet be; no interest or part in any To-
cal matters that disturb the peace of
society no friends to serve no enc
mics to punish. | disclaim any inter
est or purpose in what | may say, save
that of urging the maintenance of
wholesome, righteous law, in the in
terests of the peace and order and
safety of individuals and of society. L
do not even know personally the par
ties to the affray could not to-day,
were | to meet either of them, call his
name, never spoke with either to my
knowledge, never was patron OF
either of the parties. Neither have L
any words to offer in justification of
the indecencies of criticism, or OF any
man who deals in personalities and
throwing mud. And while | believe it
delicate and difficult business for the
editor of IA political sheet to be saint,
| do believe that even local political
editor should have what is akin to
that which is theOlOgically termed
conscience and courtesy in his criti-
cisms, however searching or adverse
they may be. No one has the right to
make capital or game out of the little
gossip, and possibly but few have ever
spoken stronger words against uncau
did, ungenerOus, indecent criticism,
than the speaker. And l say that a
sOuless editor is worse than a sOulless
corporation, and l repeat that l have
no immunity to offer any man who
stirs bad blood and strife by pricking
sensitive persons with the point of his
l.. I lai,
sOnal feeling or antagOnism toward
either of these parties in question, or
any interest in any party or political
contest or in any matters any way re-
lated to this affair, | have, neverthe-
less, as a citizen of this town an inter
est by some few questions involved in
this affair; questions of vital import
ance, not only to me but to every per-
son in this community; questions that
legitimately grow out of this atfray
questions that have to do with the
morals, religion and liberties of the
people questions l purpose to calmly
but fearlesSly discuss.
The first question that presents it
self for consideration is: Shall human
conduct be regulated by law or by the
dictatiOn of the pugilist? Had this
outrage met, as it should have done,
with speedy and deserved rebuke
that would have promised cOndign and
merited punishment, this question
would then be out of time and place
at this sacred hour and in this sacred
desk. But the fact that leaders of
public sentiment and men high in of
fetal positions applaud the act of bru-
tally, makes it imperative that some
body shall speak for law and order
and safety. And first allow me to sug-
gest that it does not avail to apologize
for or condOue this act of brutal as
sault on the ground that the assailed
had stung the assailant to exaspera-
ton by the fangs of his impure pen.
This fact may recommend the assail-
ant to clemency in the melting out of
punishment, but it does not eNOnerate
the man who committed the outrage,
nor the men who commend him for the
same. The law provides redress for
whatever of injury the assailed may
have done with his Shiny pen, if such
he has welded against the assailant.
But was this man, who committed
the assault, or his family living, or
friends dead, slandered, or villitied, or
injured in person, property or reputa-
ton by the assailed9 | have asked
the question of the friends of the as
sailant and have not yet learned that
anything false was contained in the
statements against which exceptions
were taken, for my own part am not
able to pass judgment in the case.
But it will be urged that this assault
is condOned in that others may have
suffered. Yes, but others have means |
of redress by the provision of law.
Rnt allow me to inform any who have |