The Shasta courier., 1862-01-04
The Old and New.

A year has passed away, and arc other is
horn, The one is known in memory, the
other in expectation. We gather the sheaves
of the past. even as we SOW for the future
The last year has been full of most porten.
tous events. 1t witnessed the ripening Of
the most gigantic rebellion ever seen on the
face of the earth, against powerful govern
ment, lulled into dangerous security, and
narcotizcd BY the persistent efforts of wicked
men, SO that when the blow fell, it was diff
cult for time to tell what effect it would
have upon the body of the slumbering ma
ton. The trial of the question of whether
man Is, or is not capable of self-governHenf,
was then submitted to humanity and sub
mitted with every advantage to the negative
sideroe ahe issue. How was 1t met ana no"
hos II been answered /? 1t was met by the
energies of great nation, and answered IN
the full awakened wrath of great people,
who have said, whatever betide, that this ma
ton shall stand as longas its men were iiv-
ing. or could furnish an arm to strike. But
the saddest of all the lessons we have learn
ed is that most depressing one, that we have
had, all along, so many men IN our country,
participating in its councils, commanding its
armies. and in more subordinate ranks. con-
trolling its elections, who could become trail
tors; Whatever else this government may
have taught, it has but poorly inculcated the
lessons of patriotism, its duty, and RESPONSE
bilities. We have permitted treason to gath
er head, foolshly the while, sleeping in the
fancied dream that all was secure, when the
wolf in fact, was at the door. Men who are
self-conseious that they are true to their
country, are slow to believe in the political
wickedness of others, and thus for years has
the poison of secession and its twin of trea-
son, became tolerated, familiarized and en-
deared to great bodies of men.
When the future historian shall compile
his tablets of these stirring days, he will pom
der long and thoughtfully over the anoma-
lies that this revolt presents. He will ask
for the clue in human nature, which will
make him understand how people, vain
glorious with boastings of their freedom, yet
laid by the implements of thrift, and went to
war with their brothers, for slavery. Nations
have warred before for liberty, but what Glib
bon ever wrote of strife for despotism in.
augurate by a people? Curious enough
will this question become to him, when be
still further sees that nearly all of those who
originated and waged this wretched war,
were in no sort of way interested in the sup
posed rights sought to be maintained, by an
arbitrament that destroyed them, even in the
efforts to establish. He will also reconcile,
if he can, the consistency of men who vaunt-
ed their patriotism, TO whom the example of
Washington was as naugbt, of men calling
themselves Democrats who ignored the teach
ings of jackson and Jefferson. Accomplish
ing, if he can. these seeming impossibilties,
he will nevertheless be incompetent to ex-
Slain how people could be so mad as to
throw away certain and assured good for at
best a precarious and doubtful one, which
redressed no wrong, but was prolific of all
evil. and which so far from establishing any
right it may be destroyed many that before
existed.
But these things are not for the living gen.
Grafton. Each, in his sphere, at the present
day, must go steadily forward, in the path
that seemeth right to him, leaving the con-
sequences to the great God of us all. Cheer
fully, then to the great work of maintain
ing the country, its laws and rules, let each
in his place betake himself, satisfied that if
he does not all the good he would wish to,
he, nathless, has done all that lay in his
power.