Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-11-16
The Past and the Future.

AT this date one year ago, says tic
Patriot anil Union, we were on the eve
of Presidential election. The State
elections had gone against the Democratic
party, No reasonable doubt existed Of
the election of Lincoln. The Republicans
were in high spirits. The air resounded
with exultations at their anticipated victc
ry The streets Of every city and village
were ablazc with the torches Of their
Wide.Awake PROFESSIONS. Democrats
were depressed and disheartened. Defeat
stared them in the face as a party, and
they saw with gloomy forL lings the pro.
monitions Of danger to the Union. What
was the language of both parties at this
time, and how does it now look in the
light of experience and existing facts
The Republicans promised unexamplod d
prosperity as the result of their SUCCESS
They treated the idea of danger to the
Union with disgusting levity. Men who
ventured to raise a war ming voice against
the perls Of the future were treated with
unsparing rdicule. They were ill boding
prophets professional "Union sewers
dough. faced politicians-Southcrn lick
spittles, cringing at the lash of the South.
ern task.master. The election of Lincoln
would quiet all this party clamor, raised
fer the purpose Of frightening freemon into
compliance with the demands of Southern
arrogance, They would subside like
whipped spaniols after the election of the
Republican candidates. Then would GOA,
monce tic bright chapter in American
history. n protective tariff would de-
velope the long dormant resources of the
North-give employment to the laborcr
and prosperity TO every branch of n.anu-
facturs. The blighting cusse Of slavery
would be foreve. excluded from the terri
tories, and the soil partiticred out among
hardy Northern cmigyants. There would
bc work for the laborer, Gland for the
landless, " prosperity for the manufacturer,
unalloyed happiness fer the people, and
the beginning of the golden age for the
American Republic. Such we're the pre-
dictions and promises confidently uttered
by every Republican orator and every
Republican press in the land.
Where are now all these promised blcs.
sings We have protective tariff, but
what good does it do US! We have a /
homestead law, but what advantage is il
to the landlcss!
One year ago the Democratic porty an
ticipated danger to thc Union, and be-
sought the people not to elevate to power
the represpntativoS Of a Sectional party
They believed it to be dangerous 2xpor.
ment IN popular 6 yernmcnt to chose its
rulers in the face of the earnest and defiant
protests Of the people Of one half of the
States. They contondod that concession
ard compromise was not only just policy
but necessary policy for the prosperous
government Of a nation so diversified in
its interests and institutions as our own
They argued for peace and hsrmony.--
They pleaded earnestly for the Union.
But their counsels and warnings were un,
needed. The people believed that there
was no real ground of alarm--and scothcd
into security by the promises of party
leaders committed the fatal bluuder of
trusting sectional party, The Demo,
cratic party recognized tL,,- right 10 make
this decision, and bowed in submission to
the popular will.
We cannot repair The e:Eors Of the past,
but we can profit by its lessons in the fu-
ture Our first duty is to put down re-
bellion against our lawful and Constitu-
toaal government, regardless of the errors
Of opinion instrumental in its elevation.--
Our next duty is to put down tie Repus-
lican party, which deceived the people
Happily its decline is as rapid as its rise
1t has received a fatal blow in Pennsylya-
MIA. In New York 1t seeks concealment
in a union with Other partieG. In Ohio it
did not venture to set one of its own men
up as a candidate for Gouernor-but con-
,ensed to the election of a life-long Demo
crat. In the extreme west it has won its
asst victories. Decay is eating into its
neart. 1t is everywhere dwindliug down
% its original abolitionism-aHd Sc insu-
and lawless is this faction that
he Administration will at last be con-
strained to tu-n 10 the Democratic party
rs its 6rmest supporters and the only true
National organization capable of spbduing
,ebslliOn and maintaining constitutional
government.
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