Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-12-28
What has Failed ?

hat HAS dilCd1
II is instructive to see the change IN
those venal and vicious prints which a few
months ago were so clamorous in their
zeal for the support of the constitution,
the execution of the laws, and the prcser-
walton of the Union. Then nothing was
so sacred as the constitution, nothing SO
absolute as the laws of the United States,
nothing so precious as the Urion.
But now they do their best to cheer on
the traitors whq threaten open war upon
the govcrnmenty they anticipate the dir
est evils from arJ attempt to execute the
laws, and they instantly demand OF tho
man whorl the people have chosen for
their President pledge in advance OF hls
inaugural oath, not to make his Office
terror to eyildoers.
At the same time they insist that the
constitution of the country, devised by our
fathers and laudcd throughout the world
as the wisest frame Of government ever
made by man, has become e6ete and inad-
cquate, and that it must be patched and
tinkcred by such wise men as Brooks,
O'Conor, and the valiant Lathers to keep
it in being These men, in word, are
trying to convince the world that our fed
eral system of government is failure
They proclaim it to mankind that this
great republic, in the midst Of an unex-
ampled prosperity and glory, is on the
brink of utter ruin.
When we look at the condition Of our
affairs at Washington and in the South. it
seems very clear, indeed, that something
has failed but what is it?
In the first place, James Buchanan has
failed most ANONYMOUSLY, through sheer
incapacity, moral aud mental, to adminis-
ter the government according to the con-
stitution. He has collapsed completely,
and it would be great relief to the coun-
try if he could be got out of the way at
once. But the country is strong enough
to carry the load till the 4th of March,
when he will make his exit into private
disgrace.
In the second place, the combination Of
lema aeoguisn,, conservatism and scoundrel-
ism in New York, which lately aimed at
erasping the government Of the country,
has sienalIy failed. So many Of its i'll
strumcnts have fled from justice, so many
are now receiving justice, so many have
destroyed the Influence they once had by
their violence. and SO many are manifestly
training for the traitors halter, that as
conspiracy it has lost its terror, and when
it loses the run of the Custom-house and
Post-officc and Navy Yard, will soon be
wiped from the face of the earth.
4 third thing that has signally failed is
the political organization lately known as
the democratic party. a few years ago
its prestige seemed unassailable, its re.
sources incalculable, and its power invin-
chile. But having sold ITSELF to the great
slavcholling interest of the South, it de-
stroyed its character, drove away its best
friends, and was in the end wholly disin-
tcerated and dissolved. Its failure is
complete aud final.
Finally, the grand conspiracy Of slave.
holders and their satellites has failed Of
its object, which was to keep the govern
mcnt of this great republic under the abb
solutc control of an oligarchy through the
power Of political machinery, by foment-
inc groundless divisions at the North, and
by personal intimidation and threats
These things have failed but the govern
mcnt Of the United States has not failed,
and will not fail !; the inextinguishable
love of liberty will not fail the good
sense, the reason, the sense of justice Of
the people will not fail the productive
,,,,.., ,f ,,+uro will nnt f,i the pnerUv of
industry will not fail and the goodness
of the Divine Providence will never fail.
-EreRinL Post.