Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-02-01
Revolution.

hevolutlons never retrogade. Progress
/ is the law-the shibboleth of civilization. =
1t is interviewer with our social, political
and religious systems, and stands out as
fthe great pillar of fire and cloud in the
march Of Time: Ever since the Magma
Charta was wrenched from King John,
and Martin Luther startled the Diet of
| Worms with his do6ant adherence to his
religious 'dogmas, progressive developments
in civil and religious ideas have revolution
lied Church and State gradually leading
the human understanding into the mystery
of self-governnieut and free agency The
carnage of Bosworth field King Richard s
overthrow, the blending of the Roses, and
the union of the Houses of York ana
Lancaster, in the marriage of Henry Tudor
and Elizabeth Plantngenet, we're but mighty
events, upheaving and reconstructing social
and political order, in obedience sto the law
of revolution and progress. Fer out of this
elimination of the years ofinternecine strife,
blood and butchery in England, probably
resulted the calm in the Eastern Continent
that gave time for Columbus to mature his
purpose to search for;a new world, and thus
open to the surfeited districts of the old
world an oatlet'for emigration, and by the
startling wosder of his discovery, to draw
the minds Of rival royalty to an investiga-
ton Of the bearing Of new Continent up
on the destiny of the old.
Mark the periodical commissions in the
religious and political systems of the orien-
lttal world and draw from them the instruc-
tive lesson that revolutions never 20 back
wards. Whilst the correctness of the IDEA
that the past is the interpreter Of the flu
ture, may be fairly doubted, and the assump-
ton that philosophy teaches by example
considered obsolete and exploded, yet these
do not obscure the great historic facts that
the malignant prosecutions of the Refor-
mation-the slaughter Of St. Bartholomew
and the contest between the Commons and
the Crown the sanguinary conflicts Of Wex-
ford and Drogheda-were but cpochs and
prcpelling agencies in the onward strides of
religious and political revolutions.
We thus may be instructed by history as
to the probable result of the revolution that
is now convulsing our own country. fit is
the experience Of all nations that revolu-
tons never 60 backwards, we may be as
sured that the difficulties which have pro-
duced the present distraction will not be
settled until the irritating cause is removed
The Southern States will not recede from
their position, unless the basis of reconstruc-
ton embraces a clear and distinct enuncia-
ton and guarantee of equal rights and priv
ileges. The terms of adjustment will have
to be so complete and unequivocal as to ar
rest and dissipatc all doubt as to future re-
latious and obligations. And. too, we must
confess to desire to have all obstacles to
future harmony and concord entirely re-
moved, now that the revolution is progress
ing. These quadrennial disturbances of
the commercial and monetary affairs Of the
countryside existence of constant sus>
pense in the public mind in regard to our
political institutions, render it considera-
ton of great magnitude and significant per-
tinency that the defects from which have
sprung this revolution, should be finally
and forever uprooted. We might have
chosen more appropriate period for the
inauguration of these reforms, but events
not of our seeking have been precpitated
upon us, with which, as rational men, we
must grapple. Let us aspire to direct the
storm SO that as little harm and disaster
shall result from it as possible. We must
rise above the character Of mere croakers, and
endeavor to realize profit cut Of what seems
to be universal chaos and con fusion.