The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-02-17
Now and Sixty YeafS Aga.


1t is frequent cry, on the part of those
who look gloomily upon the future, that
political animosilies have reached a pitch
such as was never seen before. But men
would not hold these opinions, il they knew
the history of their country better. The
great struggle of 1900, which terminated in
the elevation of Jefferson 10 the Presidency,
was distinguished by an acrimony 10 which
the present times afford no parallel. In fact
for more than four years prior 10 that event,
party spirit ragged with fury which neither
respected the amenities of life, nor ac-
knowledged the claims of friendship. The
newspapers were filled with libes. Family
ties were rent assunder. Personal assaults
were frequent Things went so far, that
John Adams, when Vice President had 10
arm his servants, in expectation of an at
tack from the mob. Thousands of persons
filled the streets of Philadelphia, on anoth-
er occasion, threatening vengeance on the
administration and some of the more hot.
headed even went SO far as 10 propose drag
ging Washington from his house.
There have been many periods of polit-
ical excitement during the present genera
ton but none like that. The election of
Harrison plunged the whole nation into a
fever OF song singing, speechifying and bar
bacue-holding. That of Polk was said at
Gus of 1856 was regarded, by hundreds Of
thousands, as involving the Union itself--
But all these political hurricanes passed
away, in succession, with no other perma-
nent result than the clearing up of the at
mosphere. The truth is the American peo.
pie, though nominally excitable, have
solid foundation Of common sense at the
bottom OF their character aud hence, when
ever The violence of antagonstic parties
threatens serious consequences, there comes
reaction; compromise ensues; substan-
tial justice is secured; and the country is at
rest. The past has taught us confidence in
the future. There have been worse times
than these. A month of The terrible strug-
gle between the Federalsts and their op-
ponents, shook the republic as much as
year OF party strife does now.
We do not deny that dissolution of the
Union, like everything else political, is
among the possibilities. When the time
comes; if ever it should, that the supposed
interests of one section are regarded as
more important than the preservation of the
federal compact, then separation begins
to be probable. But the noisy talk of alb
stractionsts, either North or South, must
not be taken for proof that such senti-
ments exist. The mass of all communities
are essentially conservative. They are more
than this, they are indolent i'll political af-
fairs, and are never really reused except in
great emergencies. They abhor extreme
opinions, love justice, desire to see fair play.
The sound public morality, the pure patri-
otism of this immense majority, will not
permit either wrong permanently to be
perpetuated, or factious idealogsts TO des-
troy their country. AS the republic gets
older, it strikes it's roots deeper and wider,
and becomes more tenaciously fixed than
ever in the habits and hearts of the people.
The tempest that would have Frustrated it
sixty years ago, now only shakes its mighty
branches nor should the roar of the storm
in those multitudinous leaves deceive us
for the great oak that braves out the hurri-
cane makes more noise than the little sap.
ling that is torn up.-Ledger.