1864.] 309 • [Price. 



most brilliant displays of wealth and fashion, and of the exhibition 

 of the most deplorable vice and misery; here in constant and closest 

 contact and shocking contrast. Her levity and brilliancy cannot 

 mask, and, therefore, but mock her woe. 



The causes operative there to produce these results, should be 

 beacon warnings to us. There, though there be not legal slavery, 

 is every inequality of rank and wealth, with laws to perpetuate that 

 inequality. There has long been suffered an unhappy loss of re- 

 ligious faith, that has dissolved the sacred attachments of fiuiiily, and 

 made a jest of promises that should be regarded as holy. There 

 abound women more than can find honest employment and adequate 

 remuneration ; and many more men than can obtain wages to main- 

 tain themselves and family. These form not families, and know not 

 their salutary restraints, nor enjoy their conservative happiness. 

 Hence the same author says of his own nation, "Woman is no longer 

 esteemed for the love and happiness of man, still less for maternity; 

 but as an operative." Let us hope this is but the darkest side of 

 the picture, portrayed by one who, though painting from the life, 

 paints with strongly contrasting colors. Yet are there writers there 

 who have given us perfect portraitures of women, found even ia 

 France. 



It is to the families of the commonwealth that nearly all of moral 

 training is to be traced. There the sentiments and principles of 

 religion are effectually cherished and enforced. There spring the 

 impulses of charity, that often surpass in contribution the aggregate 

 of the public revenues. There the sentiments that give tone to 

 public opinion are formed ; an opinion that makes and executes the 

 law, and guides the national policy. The families of society are the 

 ballast of the commonwealth, that preserves law and order, in the 

 midst of excitement and disorder, and restores tranquillity after a 

 state has been convulsed by violence and rebellion. 



And does the Government demand soldiers for its defence under 

 tho.se circumstances which have occurred in all history, in a world 

 with elements of evil as well as good? It is in the families of the 

 commonwealth that they are to be found in greatest numbers, with 

 the best physical development, and best moral training; with pa- 

 triotism, loyalty, and intelligent efficiency. These bring with them 

 a double pledge of fidelity, in the love of the family, whose eyes are 

 upon them, and the love of country. These act under a sense of 

 duty that the homeless cannot know. Though war can only spring 

 from evil, and no war can ever arise where one party is not in the 



