Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-09-05
Number 81
The Peace Politicians.

The intriguing politicians who are seeking
to prevent vigorous prosecution of the war
forgetthat we are not living in ordinary times
when their chief mission is merely to put an
Administration on trial, but that the exis-
tence of nation, and all the great interests
and future prosperity Of millions of their
countrymeu, are at stake. No matter what
men may think Of the past, Or what criticisms
they may feel inclined to make upon the
mighty events transpiriug around Us, the FIRST
attention of every good citizen is due to the
stern realities of the present and his highest
duty is to stand gallantly by the Governments
which, in this crisis, is the representative of
/ the majesty, the honor, and the power of tho
American people. For the war suddenly
/ forced upon Us by the internal enemies of our
/ country, we were almost totally unprerared.
and it was utterly impossible at the outset Of
the conflict to foresee every contingency, to
guard against every error, and to do every-
thing in the best manner possible. But no
rational or impartial man who scrutinizes the
course Of events, can deny that an earness
and resolute effcrt has been made to grapple
effectively with the extraordinary difficulties
and embarassments that have unexpectedly
arisen, and that whenever experience demon
strated that any particular regulation was
erroneous or preiudicial, il has been speedily
corrected.
And now, looking ell the dangers which
! ~, kso 6
try as fully in the face as possible, with all
the light that the experience ofthe last event
full four months affords, who does not see that
the highest interests Of the loyal section of
this country demand vigorous and earnest
support of the Administration in its efforts
to suppress rebellion, and to roll back the
tide of war upon the wild horde that threat-
ems to precipitate itself upon the capital, that
is even now seeking to gain possession of
Missouri, and that boasts that it will soon be
able to invade Pennsylvania, to capture Phil-
adelphia and New York, and to burn Boston?
We are well aware that this is only an id'e
threat, but what terrible reproseh upon us
it is 20 reflect that more than twenty millions
of loyal people should be thus persistently
and increasingly taunted by band of trai-
tors, who are not sustained by white pop-
ulation of more than a few millions-and
that our captbl is daily and hourly threat
ened by them We must remember that,
I no matter what may be the final termination
of this struggle, our character and position
in the scale of nations is now fairly at stake,
and that if we fail in a contest where the
odds are apparently SO strongly in our favor,
our doom is sealed henceforth and forever,
and we viii be regarded by every vigorous
and intelligent people as tho veriest helots
and towards that disgrace the earth. If We
fail in the discharge of our duty, not only
will the Union be forever broken and the de-
mons Of anarchy and discord, or of tyranny
and despotism reign supreme over our fair
land hereafter, but all our rights will be ig-
nored, cur power destroyed, our self-resrees
sacrificed, and our future destiny will become
as miserable, hopeless, and disgraceful as our
former history nas been glorious, prosperous,
and honorable. Those who pirate to US of
peace when there is no peace, seek but to
lure us to eternal shame, misery, and dis
grace. They are, indeed, the men who are
doing most to protract the war and to pre-
vent the return of the old state of security
and prosperity among US, because they are
seeking to paralize the energies of the nation
and to destroy its capacity to crush the re-
bellion that has produced all our present
calamities. The only safe and true road to
lasting and honorable peace is that which
leads TO the overthrow aad dispertion of the
insurgent army. War was caused by the
traitors first commencing series of unpro-
voked assaults upon'the Southern forts of
the nation and by their efforts to place large
army in the field to capture eur capital
Peace can only be produced by the overthrow
of their army and the triumph Of the Governs
ment over those whohave wantonly aud wick
edly assailed IT, There can be no other peace
which would afford us security, or that would
not cover us with disgrace. There is no limit
to the extravaganza and. in justice Of the de-
mands of the traitors and if the loyal por-
ton of this country, far superior to them in
numbers, should be weak enough to yield un
der the pressure Of threats and the power
Of the insurgent army confessions which
sense Of justice and propriety impelled it to
deny it could never hope to cope in a strug-
gle with powerful foreign country, or to
guard itself against uuceasing future aggre,-
sions.
1t therefore becomes the true friends Of
peace to assist in the vigorous prosecution of
the war. The policeman who attacks gang
| of rioters and seeks to arrest them, does so,
not to fight for the sake of fighting, but to res
store orders and the man who tries to persuade
him not to do bis duty, or who endeayors to
prevent body of policemen, sufficiently
large to quell riot, from reaching the scene
Of disorder, is really foe to the best inters
ests of society, and an enemy of peace, al
though he may pretend that his chief desire
is to avoid collision between the yioiators
of the law and its supporters.
BSr You cannot preserve happy domestic
pairs in family Jars.