Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-03-14
NUMBER 10
Craftsmanship.

In poDtcal life, the United States now
presents sad want of great Statesmen.-
That calm depth of thought which embraced
the whole Union in iss compass, tins. absence
OF all sslf-intsrssis. when the good of the
Union was at issue, so remarkably display
ed on many memorable occasions, BY those
great men OF 9 past generation, al e now very
rarely Witnessed. OHly few years sgo, and
end how many politicians, were thsre-;f
they can be SO called-vhe were above ell
prejUdiess of party, and ties Of pelisisal
erseds and met the great questions Of the
day with force Of argument, and brillianey
OF illustration, glow of sloqusnos, and an
irresistible appeal to the patriotic feelings Of
the whole nation, cooling the excited passisn
modsrating public opinion. and hushing the
tunult Of civil strife They covsrted no
popular prejudice. and labored to interpret
ne political ism, to please opposing parties.
From these higher regions Of pure intsllsetu.
ality, they osme down to wreste with The is,
sues thrown ints the senate or the popular
canvass. and carried conviction to the minds
OF the million. Selfish ambition for the mo-
mont stood agbast ct the briIliant picture Of
its own unwsrthiness, aud before the law
msa bowed with veusration. and In the glow
of the sudden blaze of intellectual light. they
saw the harmonious workings no National
and civil ordinances; they saw the dspsns
dsnes Of a0cial institutions established by the
God of nature between the human being, and
the climate, soil. and products. of tho region
they inhabited. To contemplate that bright
era in our political history, ssrikingly brings
cut the deficiency Of the present. time, in that
charaoter of craftsmanship. Our what are
now called great men, with few exceptions.
see but one side Of the questions at issue
They dissecs facts to suit their own theories.
and found those theories upon partial state
mont of facts. They are constantly in a
mist, and contemplate fscss Of the gravest
matter. blinded by passions. Like children
at plate, they shake their fists al each ether,
and threaten, instead Of ealnly rsasssing.-
Rule or ruin, not every personal sacrifice for
the good of all, hsa come to be their motto
The present relations Of the States are net
produced by the arbitrary arrangements Of
written constitutions, for every constitution
is the outgrewth of the neesssities Of the peo.
pie. 1fto-day the Union was to be dissolved.
and oar Governnsnt that has showsred
blessings, with almost infiAite lberality.
over our land, was shattered to pieces, even
while the wreck lay strewn around, the peos
pie would ysarn fer what had been Destroy
ed. Yet cur statesmsn--at least, those who
claim the leadership of opinien-- encourage
and strive to pepulsrize the idea of the im-
Possibilities Of present relations between the
North and the South. and cautiously use
every means to extend disooatent, in the hspe
that those unknown and untried, will be as-
ospted. What scene, we as nation, pres
eni-a chaos of confused factions, struggling
for mere distractions, which serve for lure
for honest, but toe eonfdipg men, while by
action North and South, the country is Inn
psrilled.
What cOmmotion would one NOTE Of the
clarion voice of Clay excite What change
IN the arrangements of the masses would be
effected by one appeal from the heart Of
Webster There are few wbs can say. net
Massachusetts,, or Virginia. or Louisiana,
but the United States is my country. The
occasion exists for the men who shall fill the
seats of those departed Upon whom shall
fall their mantles of wisdom and patriotism