Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-03-07
The Reign of Ruffianism.


step as to travel in disguise and enter incog-
nito into the Federal Capital. did so for suf-
hclent reasons. We take it for granted that
Mr.. Lincoln is not wanting in personal cour
age, for we know that whenever in the course
of his life be has been called upon to exer-
else that quality it has never failed him,
whether for aggression or defense. We take
1t for granted, therefore, that the peril which
threatened him was imminent and great, and
that it was one against which personal cour-
age could avail nothing. The danger, no
doubt, was one that did not concern him
alone; it was not, probably, secret assassin
alton or public murder in some precenceited
riot of which so old and brave soldier as
Gen. Scott warned him to beware. AS the
measures resorted to to escape it were extra
ordinary. SO elso, without doubt, was the
peril itself.
What was it? We no more know than
our readers. But this we do know-that it
is the only instance recorded in history in
which the recognized head of nation
head, whether by choice or inheritanee-has
been compelled, for fear of his life, to enter
the CAPITAL in disguise. Tyrants have fed
from their palaces under false names and as
sumed characters, when the exasperated peo.
pie have compelled them to abdicate their
thrones dethroned monarchs have escaped
in the garb of common men at the approach
of foreign enemy presenders to royal seats
to which they had no right, have sought from
secret hiding places and with feigned names
and purposes to rally the discontented into
open rebellion; but never before among a
civilized people has King or President been
reduced by the circumstances of the times TO
such an extremity for protection, where his
right to govern was unquestioned ard un-
questionable. What, then, is the conolu.
sion? Simply that one Sc ction of this coun-
try is only mi.civilized. 1t may call itself
republican it may profess the abstract faith
of Christianity; it may possess, to certain
limited degree, the arts of a cultivated peo.
pie; it may live under some of the forms of
enlightened society; but it wants that inhe-
TENT moral sense, that accurate conception of
social law, that intelligent submission to the
purpose of civil government which mark the
highest civilization. 1t is merely semi-bar-
barous in its spirit, savage in its instincts,
reckless of human life and human rights,
faithless in everything but brute force. unn-
telligent in its aims. and unscrurulous in the
means with which it seeks 20 attain them.-
In a society SO constituted, it ia not strange
there should be found many persons who
could conceive and execute some diabolical
plot of slaughter, sparing neither sex, nor
age, nor mum bers-such as the destruction
of a railroad train-that the death of one
man might be compassed, in the hope of ac-
comp]ishing thereby the overthrow of pop
ular Constitutional Government. Against
such designs, formed among people posses
sed of the vices and forces of civilization
without its virtues and restraints, personal
courage, or character, or position, may avail
nothing, and there is no defense but evasion.
1t seems probable that had not Mr.. Lincoln
resorted to this method of escape, neither he
nor any of his party would have ever reach
ed Washington alive.
Four years ago the reign of rufianism Yves
openly instituted az the South. The popular
intelligence and morality of that region knew
no niger method wherewith to meet the pro-
oras. of anin;op opd tba ~ c.o,r.L &C ..
How many men and women were banished
and killed in the year 1856 at the South for
believing that Slavery is not the best form of
human society it is impossible to say, or even
TO know. We have counted at least score
recorded in single newspaper within brief
period. and these, of course, were but frac-
tion of the whole. When, four years later. it
is evident that the hostility to Slavery is be.
coming still moro universally difhused, and
it SO far successfully asserts itself as to for
bid it's extension into the Territories, then
rufRanism becomes still more rampant, and
men are imprisoned, banished or killed not
by scores, but by hundreds. When this state
of things goes not only unpunished but al
most unrebuked by the country at large, and
it assumes even on organic form in the plun.
der of public property, the seizure Of public
forts, and the defiance Of the supreme law of
the land, what reason have we for expecting
that the fierce and brutal spirit which rules
the society where such rufianism grows will
stop at anything which seams to dim its in
telligence likely to aid in the accomplishment
of its ends9 The attempted assassination of
Mr.. Van Wyck at Washington, the proposed
plan to get rid Of Mr.. Lincoln, whatever it
was, and at whatever expense of the lives of
others, even of women and children, are
merely new developments of Southern and
slavsholding barbarian, the only way in
which innate Hufians can meet the new exi-
gencies of the moment. And these will be
followed by acts with more certain results.
unless, in the mean time. the supremacy Of
law shall be asserted in obedience to North.
srn civilization. and by other means than
persuasive words NJ r. Tribune.
~ Orders have been issued ter the en-.
rclmsnt of all citizens subject to militia daty
in the District Of Columbia.