Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-06-09
THE JOURNAL.
Revolution.

tive encroachments of those in power on the
rights of the people invariably precede open rev.
olution. All the past warrants this assertion.
The reformation is powerful illustration. Con-
stantly increasing corruptions of the Papal au-
thority, by series of acts, step by step, paved
the way, until grand and final act (the sale of
indulgences) brought upon them the crisis, and
the independent resistance Of Luther awoke an
enslaved world to the enormties of an usurped
power The series of acts had long been pro-
crossing, but the unwarrautable issue Of indul-
gences was the final erownng act. So in all
revolutions in all time, the same will be found
true. English history tells the same story. The
French revolution Of $50 was preceded by long
continued series Of enoroachments Of the kingly
power on the rights of the people The stubborn
pride of their rulers, pampered by long possess
ion of power, and failing to yield to the demands
of justice from an outraged people, cost them
the Throne, and brought FRANCE an endless sue
cession of troublous days. The American Revo-
luton furnishes the same example. We arc gen
orally inclined TO look only to the immediate
act, and overlook the many successive acts which
Boston harbor, as expressing Indignation and
resistance to the stamp act was the immediate
act and the right to TAX the colonies as claimed
under that act was certainly the immediate cause
Of the Revolution, but this right had been
claimed years before, and it had been only by
mutual concessions and concilations that the
evil had been avertod. A long continued series
of wrongs and expressions for years continued,
was the cause,
II has been said with truth that there was
scarce ever a revolution that light not by timely
and judieious measures, have been avoided or its
evils lessene1. The demands of the people are
invariably the result of oppression. A well-gov
ernod people, with wholesome laws, judiciously
and wisely administered never rebel against con-
stitued authority. Those demands unheeded,
through too secure reliance on power by those
in authority, there surely follows civil turmoil
and revolution. which time alone can rectify and
time alone oycrcome oftentimes ages succeed
ages before social order and political security
can be evolved out of the chaos of revolution.
Hence it is that those in authority reposing in
fanced security, blindy shut their eyes to events
transpring and fail to see the inevitable consc-
auences thinking that each succeeding act of
oppression will be overlooked as those that have
gone before-bind and fatal fatuity-till at last
some crowning act of infamy more damning than
Others follows, and the impending crisis-the .
revolution succeeds, as surely as the thunder fol-
lows lightning. To those not carried away by
prejudice, or passion, or self interest, the warn
ings of history speaking with fearful earnest
ness leading TO the irresistible conclusion that
all this is even now going on.
The Democratic party is being revoluionzed, |
and with it the country. 1t has been gradually |
undergoing change and now the unmistakable |
evidences of revolution pervade its every fea
ture. The weight of the foreign influence, and |
the undue influence of the vote and corruption
of the elec lions, created n serious change, and
whether true or false, eXered power which has |
gradually wrought dssensions in the party.
Power long enjoyed renders its possessors su-
pcrcilious, arrogant, presumptious But the real
evil lies deeper-all the old questions of the
party have yielded to the overpowerng force of
public sentiment, and are now no longer living
issues. One all-controlling, unsettled question
remains successive compromises have averted
the evil not removed it. The same impending
evil against which the powerful intellect of pa
triots songht to guard-that which stood promi-
nent in the minds and lives of Clay and Webster
his laboTs to avert which surrounded with halo |
Of imperisbable glory the expiring moments of
the sage of Ashland and which stood beacon /
light in the pathway of the defender of the Con /
stiution, melting him to utterance of that never
Obe forgotten invocation to Heaven, still exists.
After reviewing the question of slavery and de-
Tending his own loved Massachusetts, from the
nspcrsions heaped upon her, be concludes the
brilliant reroration "Whcn my eyes shall be
turned to behold for the last time the sun in
Heaven, may not see him shining on the broken
and dishonOred fragments of n once glorious
Cnion !-on States discovered, discordant belig-
erent on a land rent with civil feuds. or drench- !
I'd. it may be. with fraternal blood Let their
last feeble and lingering glance rather behold the
the gorgeous ensign Of the Republic, now known
and honored throughout the earth, still full high
advanced. its arms and trophies streaming in
their original lustrc not stripe erased or polu.
ted, nor single star obscured, bearing for its
motto no such miserable interrogatory as what
is ell this worth 9 those other words of de-
fusion and folly Liberty first and union after
wardsn but everywhere, spread all over in
characters of living light, blazing on its ample
folds as they float over the sea and over the land
in every wind under the whole heavens that 9th !
rr sentiment dear to every tue American heart
Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and
giving
TO the lifelong apprebensions pervadnp eyerv
thought and act of his life. The perpetuty of
the Union was the object and solicitude of both
those great statesmen.
What has the Democratic party done during
the last four years TO avert the pending evil
How does the administration stand on the oues-
tion and before the country The Democracy
rallied at the last election to the support of Bu-
cbanan, on the compromises, and on the princi-
pie of Popular Sovereignty, which the Executive.
over his own falsfed signature endorsed and it
was believed that the impending evil was for
time at least warded off. How soon the illusion
was destroyed by the administration policy on
the Lecompton question, is too well known. The
specific instructions given to the Hon. Robert j. .
Walker, that the Constitution should be submit
ted to the people, bis reiterated wishes that such
should be the case, and his infamous treatment
Of an honorable man exhibited dupicity unpar-
alleled. The corrupt acts of the administration,
as exhibited by the investigating committee in
fha fso ncfo al