Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-05-15
The Dangers of the Times.

surrection of States. Submission to the
laws and the constituted authorities of
the government is the only safety to any
people. Governments are formed, consti-
tutions are adopted. only for the protec-
tion OF the weak, Majorities can protect
themselves in the absence of these re-
straints, by the power of might minori-
ties have no other safety but in. the laws
and the constitution of the country
! Whenever these barriers are overthrown
! there Is an end to free government: pop
ular impulse takes the place of governs
ment, anarchy prevails, and in times Of
excitement no one car ioretell what eX-
cesses of violence the unrestrained impul-
ses of men may lead to. That people
which takes the law into its own hands,
regardless OF the forms and restraints OF
written law, inyolles demon of discord
which can only be allayed in blood, they
who take the sword shall perish by the
sword +" the Yictors OF to day may be the
victims Of to morrow they who destroy
personal liberty, freedom of opinion and
the freedom of the press, break down their
own deienses and leave themselves open
to the next popular outbreak, which is as
changeable as the winds. More crimes
.
erty than tyrant rulers ever had the pow
er to perpetrate.
This spirit of nsubordinatlon to govern,
mant has been growing in our land for
years it has been taught IN our pulpits.
illuminated from the bench, and sown'
broadcast over the land by the press. Ap,
peals have been constantly taken from the
country, to what is falsely termed the
higher law which is only another name
for licerse, violence and mob law, These
teachings have been the primary cause OF
bringing on the nation its present calam-
ity Of civil war, and if not restrained by
bette counsels will eliminate in reign
of terror when no mans life or liberty
will be safe beyond his physical power to
protect it.
When the violent and reckless are EN-,
couraged and melted by the leading men
of the country to acts oi personal violence
under a mistaken impulse of patriotism,
what power can restrain the same men
=, when by another impulse as unreasoning
they are impelled TO resist the govern
ment which they think they are now de-
tending? The men who to day violently
compel law abiding citizens to raise the
flag of the Union in token of their sups
port of the government, will, when their
passions or prejudices are thwarted by
, that same government, rs fiercely assail
this honored ensign Of our country, blot
out perhaps one half its stars, hanging at
half mast union down, drape it in black,
and offer 1t other indignities which has
heretofore been dono by those who are
now most clamorous in their demonstra-
tions Of fidelity TO the flag of the country.
We have been led to these remarks by
observing the spirit Of insubordination
and the revolutionary declamations of
many Of those claiming to be the party
friends of the present Administration. A
political clergyman in New York recent>
ly said:
" / disapproyo of the principles of the
Revolutionary war. 1t was waged against
lawful authority, regard the war of
1872 as still worse, The Mexican war |
opposed with all my heart but the pres,
ent war approve. 1t is a Holy war. 1t
is war for the determination Of slavery"
The New York Times of Wednesday
last uses the following reasonable lan-
, guage:
r " Ne will simply remark that the
President runs no small risk of being SUI
perseded in his off oe, # he undertakes to
thwart the clear and mamie t determine
tion of the people to maintain the Gov.
ernment OF the United States, ar d to pro,
teCt its honor. We are in the midst Of
revolution, and in such emergencies the
people are very apt to tind some represen.
tatiyc leader, if the fUlms of law do not
happen to have given them one. IL
would be well tor Mr.. Lincoln to bear
in mind the possibility of such an event."
The New York Post, OF late date, in an
article replete with y!tuperltioH upon the
President and Mr.. Seward, in which the
Secretary i7 characterized as "dribbler,"
says: "Ihe mora men we can concen-
trate under the command of somo officer
who means to defend the Union and not
only the capital and the less attention
we pay to orders from tho government,
the better will we be prepared to meet
the rebels"
In this dreadful emergency the conser-
vative men of the nation have great
work to do they have enemies without
and a still moro dangerous enemy within.
} They can only maintain their oonstitu-
tioaal liberties by defending the PresiN
dent and all the constituted authorities of
Ine country. lney are 10 engage III no
fanatical war for the overthrow Of slavery.
They will submit to no military dictator.
ship usurring the powers of the govern
ment. They must fight with the single
purpose Of maintaining the constitution
and the laws-our government as it WAS
transmitted to us by our fathers. It is o
war Of defence, not Of aggression. In
this sense, and in this only, it is a holy
war, and the heart, and when necessary,
the hand of every patriot in the county
is in it.-Mhgaakic Ne,os,
GsaBA young gentlemn graduated at
j Yale recently with a white head and
wbiskers, who entered with auburn locks
and no BEARD The change took place IN
one night, on account Of the anxiety in
cident TO a biennial examination.