is not a Utopia, but—a judgment-day, that is to say, a more determined separation between the children of light and the children of darkness, between good and evil; a more rapid approach toward the last crisis.
The new man of the New World stands anew upon the line of separation between the powers of this world, but upon a higher platform, and with increased knowledge; and with a clearer consciousness he is again called upon to choose between them.
The wheel of life rolls with accelerated speed; all the powers of nature and of matter are made subservient to a mighty will. The roads to hell as well as those to heaven are now travelled with the speed of the rail-road and steam. The business of earthly life is hastening on to its close, and I seem to hear those prophetic words on the last page of the Book of Life;—
“The time is at hand.
“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
“And behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
What can give preponderance to the scale of the good, and double the number of the righteous and the holy?
In the salutation of that New Year which the hosts of heaven conveyed to earth, upon that great New Year's day, from which the earth dates her centuries, it was sung:—
“Good-will to man!”
What is it that can give force to this good-will to man?
The statesman of America has answered:—
“The Constitution of the State; free political institutions.”
But the Constitution of the United States has received Slavery as a “domestic institution,” and defends it on the ground of the right of these free states.
