Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-04-18


of misunderstanding and iealouses, of
ignorance and lack of discernment, OF
want of appreciation and sympathy on
the part of employers, Is manifest here
and there: hence we hear of strikes aud
boycotts, and the instruments of rest
less associations, cruel instruments, that
reveal condition of affairs, in the
spheres where they are employed, that
is in strange contrast with the condi-
ton which will exist, and which is sure
to come. when every man will see in
every other man brother, "when the
wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the
calf and the young lion and the failing
together and little child shall lead
them"
Looking now at the sweeping tide of
restlessness and ungodliness, the surg
ing pillows that rise and fall today, in
some parts of our country, one inclines
to be pessinist, rather than an opti-
mist, that is, to see things going to the
worse, rather than to the better.
Besides the scenes that we have al
ready fixed our eyes upon, let us not
fail to notice the marks of Indifference,
apparent on the countenances of many
citizens, whose virtues no man can ques-
ton and whose aims in life will bear
severe scrutiny, indifference concerning
the very things that threaten national
institutions and private comfort and
peace. Conscience, in many true-heart-
ed men, appears to be almost asleep
at least, it seems to have lost its power
to move them to ceaseless activity and
to the maintenance of a bold and decid-
ed position concerning vital questions
that touch national life and prosperity.
They find it easier, and far more com
Portable, to drift with the tide, or stand
on the defensive than to breast the
stream of evil influences in any form,
or fight the battle that must be fought
if victory is to be gained, or prosperity
secured.
Whatever we may think about it, one
thing is sure, the Devil, that old SER
pent, is not asleep in this country today !;
he has not retired to his den to rest
after activities continued for century
in the midst of this people. He watches,
seizes and uses every opportunity pre-
sented yea, he makes opportunities for
himself and his servants. 1t is the NOR
al people, the Christian people, vast
numbers of them, who are asleep; they
dream on almost unconscious concern
ing the fearful ravages that are made,
the dreadful ruin that is wrought by
evils that, like poisonous serpents, i'll
fest our nation, our cities and our homes.
In view of crimes against national
and individual life, in face of evils aris-
ing from low conceptions of duty and
responsibility in the sacred realm of
marriage, in knowledge of the poverty.
beastliness and soul destruction incident
to and inseparable from the sale of intoX-
icants, and understanding something of
the sin and misery that are introduced
into national and personal life by each
violation of Gods holy law, it does seem
IA, ii men, true men, men worthy Oh The
name man. ought to take a position, de-
fine their position and live their position
and that position ought to be on the
side of utter and eternal conflict with
and everlasting hatred for. all that de-
grades man, made after Gods image
all that blasts his hopes in time, make,
him in spirit like demon and sends
him out of this world, a moral and spirit
ua wreck.
If time allowed, | might specify {
number of particulars wherein every
moral man, every religious man, every
true lover of his country, ought TO stanC
fast. in profound conviction OF right auC
act in every possible way for the benet
of his country and the brotherhood o
man. But | must contine myself tC
one or two points and to Il limited survey
from our present standpoint. There ar,
in this country today probably 100000
sources from which streams of strong
drink are flowing, carrying dismav, dis
tress and ruin to multtudeS of men WhC
were once hopeful, courageous, prosper
Gus and happy. These streams flow GU
and ON, passing through Christian
churches to leave filth and decay
through colleges to bear bright, promis
ing and happy young men 10 dark anc
awful future; into factories, Wher,
weary and Worn men and women arr
tempted, allured, led on, until the brain
reels, and manhood and womanhooC
are swept away and bodily, menta
and spiritual ruin is the result loun!
men from pure homes, brought into TIN
clerkship, surrounded by temptation,
incident to new kind of life, are touch
ed and facinated in this formative period
are borne away on the tide of dissipa
ton to scenes and experiences, tn
knowledge of which would cause pa
rents tears to flow and hearts to bleed
The social circle is often reached by thi
stream and by its swift tide the light
hearted, the free, the gay and the limo
, cent are alike swept into sadness, bond
age, tears and guilt, while hope depart
, and then under fatal fascination the in
dividual sinks into eternal sorrow, los
in the deep, dark cavern of a fearful
eternity. These streams flow into ant
dash against thousands of hearts AM
, lives, and shake them to their founda
tions: sweep sorrow and anguish int
parents hearts. that were once full 0
hope and comfort concerning their son
,, and daughters, the idols of the HON
circle; sweep into palaces and cottages
into mansions of the rich and novels O
!, the poor, sparing no subject upon whor
they can exert their destructive power
These streams are bearing away at thi
hour bread from hungry and innocen
children, clothing from their backs
roofs from above their heads, privilege
God given; yes. these streams ar
i. sweeping away from wives the protec
ton, the sweetness. the comforts, tn
hopes and the love to which by sOlem
covenant they are pptitla1 Npa IA