One of the marked signs of the times, is the unruly, irreverent, disobedient character of the youth of this country. “Young America” has assumed a remarkable degree of independence, and a kind of dare-devil spirit, that is really shocking and alarming. This corresponds with the apostle’s description of “the last days,” when he says of the children, they will be “disobedient to parents.” This trait of character is rapidly developing itself and spreading very generally among the American youth. We look for no improvement till Jesus comes. In the address of Dr. Thomas before the Old School Presbyterian General Assembly at St. Louis, he made the following allusion to the spirit manifested by the youth in these last days:— World’s Crisis. “The great want of our age, sir, is a spirit of obedience to law; of reverence for constituted and legitimate authority; of respect for those who exercise authority, whether in the family, the State or the church. Let me illustrate the habits and temper of Young America, sir, by an anecdote respecting the late Hon. B. F. Butler, whose sobriquet of ‘Sandy Hill’ was familiar to politicians of twenty years since. He was invited to a Mission Sunday School in the city of New York. The Superintendent introduced him to the boys as the Attorney General of the United States, one of the most distinguished citizens of their native State, and an active friend of friendless youth, adding, while he pointed to the clock, that Mr. B. would limit his speech to fifteen minutes. Well, sir, they listened with fixed attention, but they kept an eye on the clock. The orator warming with his theme, forgot the limitation of his time, and had passed the bound only a few seconds, when a tattered urchin, probably a newsboy, and so familiar with slang terms, suddenly sprang up, and pointing to the clock, exclaimed, ‘Sandy Hill, your time is out!’ That, sir, is an illustration of our respect for those in authority. Our political papers practice and cherish this pernicious and degrading habit. Our people speak familiarly and contemptuously of the President of the United States of America, the highest dignitary on earth, as ‘Old Buck,’ ‘Abe Lincoln,’ or ‘Brandy Johnson.’ Is it in the use of such epithets that we ‘fear and honor the king’? Is not this the conduct of those that ‘despise government?’ of whom St. Peter says, ‘presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.’ Sir, the tendency of our times—perhaps it may be a natural abuse of the nature of our free institutions—is to despise government, to cultivate a spirit of insubordination. Why, sir, if you will pardon me for relating it, I had once a curious exemplification of this Young Americanism in my own household. It has already appeared in the public prints without my consent, and, therefore, it may not be indecorous to allude to it. I had a little son about four years old, who, of course, I thought a very bright and promising fellow. During my temporary absence from home for a few days on one occasion, his mother relieved the weary interval with reading to him the story of the revolutionary war. The little fellow treasured up146the scattered facts and anecdotes, and narratives of the battle-field, until his youthful patriotism was kindled to a flame, and his blood began to boil. I returned home late in the night, when he was wrapped in slumber. He arose later than usual. While we sat at breakfast he came down, and seated himself by my side in silence. He withheld the familiar welcome—the customary kiss. Evidently his mind was engrossed with something. He sat brooding his topic for a few moments, and then turning to me, he said, ‘Father, are you British?’ ‘My son,’ said I, ‘I had the good or bad fortune to be born in England, but like the Irishman, I was brought over here so early that I became a native.’ ‘Well, sir,’ said he, his childish face all aglow, and shaking his little fist at me, “We whipped you once, and can do it again.’”