St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-23

have had great war with Russia; an
other in India. We have had wars IN
Afghanstan, Abyssinia, Ashanti, Benin,
Burmah, Chitral, Canada, New Zealand
and Egypt.
II the reign has not been one oil peace
abroad it has been one OF paclhcation at
home. The reign opened om'nously.
There was a depression OF agriculture Tar
more threatening than that which at
present obtains. The farm laborers. by
hundreds of thousands were on the
parish; they were angry and gloomy I;
riches were blazing everywhere. In the
towns a wild Chartism was looking Tor
ward, under guise OF certain points, to
the overthrow of our institutions ana
the establishment of republic; a spirit
OF discomfort was everywhere OF loyalty
to the crown there was none otiow a
certain social level. What has happened:
The revolutionary party has Vanisneo
now and then one may hear wild WORD
shouted at a Hyde Park meeting; 1t
evokes no response; there is no longer
any party which seriously purposes any
change in the constitution. The whole
nation is united in loyalty.
What has effected this change! Pros
perity partly But the successive meas
ures of reform in a still greater degree.
What we commonly call reform IS the
extension of the franchise, thing OF
Importance, no doubt, but OF small I'M
portance compared with the various re-
forms which have affected the daily life
OF the people.
Formerly the mill-owner and the mine
owner took the children at six and seven
years of age and worked them all day
long in the run Of the mill, sometimes all
night. That power was taken from
them; it was proclaimed by Act OF Far
lament that man shall not have power
to work a hand more than SO many
hours day.
DEBTORS PRISON ABOLISHED.
Next in importance was the abolition
of the Debtors Prison. When the Queen
assembled the throne it was possible to
lock up man tor lille who owed few
shillings. Think of the barbarity, the
stupidity of it Think what a burden,
what terror, was taken from lite when
those accursed walls of the Fleet and the
Queens Bench were thrown down
To these acts add the abolition Of fog
cling in the army and navy. Remember
that in 1887 every captain OF a ship had
it in his power to fog man for anything
without trial-to give him three dozen
lashes or as many dozen as be pleased
There were cases in which, to make the
man smart, the captain logged the last
man down from the yards. 1t is won
dertul that our sailors foughtas they did.
This reform affected the whole of that
great class from which the army and
navy are recruited. They can now enlist
without fear OF degradation. Hence, the
faces, both of soldiers and Of sailors, are
stamped with brighter, prouder air
than formerly.
Again, since the whole nation has re-
ceived the right of vote, it was shameful
that any single man should remain uned.
ucated. So the Education act was pass
ed. man may no longer keep his child
away from school but he has nothing to
pay for his schooling. We are turning
out every year boys and girls whom We
have not only taught to read, but whom
we have made eager and greedy readers.
1t is. therefore, fortunate that the
stamp has been taken off the newspaper
and the duty off paper, for cheap press
and cheap literature have been rendered
possible tor this army of readers. They
cry continually for more. Journals sell
by the halt million. For those who de-
sire more serious reading and study there
are springing up everywhere freelibraries
by means OF which the people command
for nothing the whole literature of their
country. past and present.
By these acts, by the repeal of the Corn
Laws, by the amendment of the Poor
Law, by the reform act of 1867, by