Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-03-09

| tlcS, repuuate TINS nigh standard. They
labor to gain by cunning temporary ascend
ancy acting up the principle that every
meu was born for himself, and for himself
only without one touch Of genuine human
sympathy, or any compunctuous visitations
OF conscience, they say this worlds niue
oyster, which ! with sw0rd will open" and
make combinations and make alliances, and
hedge themselves about with Influences aud
pale themselves in with wires, that, by touch.
ing tue necessary spring they Gun put the
whole machinery in motion. and work out
their proposed ends. Oh citizens how
| often do we on those whom the Almighty
formed to bless md honor humanity lea p
IRON this noble emlnence TO plunge and wal
| low in the slough OF this wicked gmbitUn-
Au ambition which beginning aud ending in
self, consumes like cancer, all che virtues
| Of the heart
Understand me. do not unde rvalne popu.
lor elections, nor do deprecate honest efforts
to earn and secure personal popularity. But
this confidence in the individual which is cal.
led popularity should be the homage paid to
great virtues uud tried wisdom, and unless
this is so, the institutions of our beloved
country are in terrible danger if indeed, il
will be possible to preserve them at all
Nothing can be presented to human view
|
Deous surrender Of the hearts aud minds of q
whole nation, to the control Of one man. But
where this is done by the machinstions of
party trickster, who perseclte aud prescribe
| all opposition who permit their idol TO com.
mt deeds Inconsistent with the elements of
freedom, and, in the heat Of success, exalt
aud exaggerate inferior qualities into the
most majestic attributes 1t requires no small
hope 10 our institutions to continue to believe
that such conduct aud such a condition will
not beat them to the ground. We need 20
no farther thnE this Que baneful influence
unhalowed, wicked, selfish ambition TO &c.
count Tor our present national Distress and
to show our danger 10 the future-if, indeed
it has not already accomplished the dist
tlon OF the government.
GEORGE WASHINGTON was popular-but
the popularity of WAsHlNGIoN was the graft.
tude OF nation for bis services au undenia-
BILE debt that nothing can repay His
exalted character should be- our durable
model-the clustering of splendid and noble
qualities that made Up the man, should be
our emulation. Ills glory, his memory, deep
| respect for bis virtues, will always exist
Shall We not go back md revive the authority
Of his political character, which seems to
have deserted our people.
Let the ambition OF our public men bt like
the ambition OF WAsHINGToS-the only an.
bitloD which should fud welcome in an
honest heart, let them study his character :;
actions aud it will ilress,bly teach them to
be national; it will iufallibly arouse and
confirm their reverence and love of country
1t is a source of elevatiug reflection, aud
ground for just pride that they are citizens of
country which, in its very infancy, has
! furnished this noOlest specimen Of human
excellence. Let them study it IN every trait,
and initiate it in all its grand proportions.
| Is 1t not SO that our patriotism has become
but drowsy sentinal! Is it not SO that We
are only occasionally reminded that there is
| such thing as OUR COUNTRY to reverence and
| love We look at public affairs casually,
and with national characteristic, guess that
not after close and intelligent aud careful
examination know,-that all is we'll, We are
safe, and so we sootbe ourselves into the
belief that sil is safe that there is no danger
for the future. Is this the part of wise men
ls this our duty What folly would you call
it in him who pursued q journey on before,
TO him unknown and untraveled road, if he
dwelt only on the scenes of beauty and lowell
ness left behind him in his course, and failed to
look and watch where he was next to step,
precipice. What would you think of bis
philosophy who dwells only among the mem
ories of the past. till, with no eye or care for
the future, he stumbles backwards over the
very tollies OF former experience, into disgrace
aud ruin And IS he not questionable patriot
who continues to prate OF Nj aratbon aud
Salims, when he should worn of q Philips at
the gate Of BuDkers Hill and Yorktown,
when he should be prepared, uerved and
armed, patient faithful worker in that great
daily battle for the country the result OF
which is yet to be seen
We have indeed fallen on perilous times
But, We are not without hope, or means
The means are with ourselves.
Shall this magnificent fabric of government
now crumbe TO pieces, shall the stars blaze
no longer n their azure. Shall We, indeed
like the empires Of the past, mark but place
in history 10 paint the moral or adorn the
tale Of the passions of the rnlers and the
madness of the people. II the American
people would this day, in the discharge oi
those imperative obligations which they owe
TO their couDtry, i'll all the magnaninuty ol
thought resolve, to put aside the sin which SC
easily besets them,--the pride Of personal
opinion, and the bondage of party claims and
selfish ambition aud uuhallewed and uDcal!
ed for indignation, and, for the future, es
chung demogogues, take the character and
life OF WAsHIN0ToN for their model stand with
the fathers of the Republic Oh principles
only and, diversified as they were dIversi
fed aud We are diversified, by every variety
Of interests habits and manners deteTmine
universally and reciprocally TO support eact
other. lttnding themselves ialterug IN then
duty and allegiance, they would 60 pilgrim
age to the grave of WAsHlNoroN aud from hiI
ashes rake q spark TO rekindle the expiring
embers OF thei! patriotism. If these thing
could be. Ii each true mao would vow u vow
in the sight OF the most high, that knowing
his duty, God being his helper, 20 do II rgh
loyalty then, indeed, every hill and vale,
would be vocal with the voice of patriotism
every rock throw back aud stream carry will
it the shouts of freemen. Then our couutrl
would be saved with un everlasting salvation
and the parties which now, 10 their 3truggi
Tor power, divide and distract the people
demogogues, selfcoDstituted leaders, an
their objects would % cast into utter gu
: merited confusion. Then would that ia
! which your hands have thrown TO the VIE
to-day, continue to be indeed the flag OF th
,, free with unsullied honor untarnished lustr
unquestionable integrity, the proud on
honored ensign OF great nation.
lie who is passionate and hssty, is gene
Ill. l. II 4. 4