North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-22
VOL. 9, NO. 40.

slIiutlon, IN its Effort :.
! simply used its eleva,,a,, '','' p'"''' ~ n"s
! o4iaia1 ..o.,o,,.-- 11'on and possession Of
| . -''''S OF giving increased
force to is assaults upon the establishes in
attations and principles of the Country
war upon the Son tn has net oeen sufHcien.
to crafty its sanguinary purposes. The
present Administration seem intent on con-
ducting two wars at TIE same time. An open
conflict has been waged from the commence
ment OF hostilties in tie South TO the pres
ent hour, on large majority Of the citizens
OF the Northern States. Why do wise and
prudent men now everywhere dread and
predict civil war in the loyal States p
Would peaceful citizens, engaged in the hap.
Ply scenes Of domestic life, with the appalling
spectacle of civil war in full view, transfer
It's desolating tread to their own corn-felde
and hearthstones, without some cause as
deeply moving on the public mind as the
fierce hurricane that agitates the lowest
depths of the ocean Is the fault of d.
yided and restless public sentiment due to 4
vicious and depraved people failing to appre-
cate the glory and honor of their country,
and inspired with DO patriotic grief for it's
deep Affections, or is it not rather due to
the weakness and wickedness of incompe-
tent and corrupt rulers? We stand to-day
at the end of more than two years of desper-
ate and gigantic war. No people ever made
more sacrifice. Blood has been cheaper than
water, and the wealth Of the nation has been
sported with as the player rattles his dice
Great promises have from time to time 1-
famed anew expiring public confidence, but
the people Low no longer amuse themselves
with the illusions of hope. They demadd,
without further delay, to know for what pur-
pose and in what cause they sweat, and
bleed and die. And first they demand to
know whether this war cannot be wagcd
without a corresponding war for the sup
proaoioi. ami overtl,lUw OF CIVIL liberty IN
the Forth. If it cannot, then it must stop
for that if for no other reason. Extended
boundaries are desirable, the integrity of the
Union is worthy Of national ardor and devo-
ton, but the inalienable and indestructble
our independence and secured in the Con-
can be barteled away in exchange
for no object within the scope Of human con-
ccp,ion. Boundaries viii grow again by the
inspiring force Of our youthful blood time,
the great physician for national as well as
MISUNDERSTANDING, will pour its oblvious
balm into the gaping and CORY wounds which
sectional hate has inflicted in this modern
will descend and the fields will bloom again
under the hands of the husbandrnan. The
golden haired goddess Of the harvest will
preside over the fruits of the midsummer
and autumn, wasted commerce will revive
and flap lis glad wings with newnrss OF
life in all the four quarters of the globe
The flag, the beautiful flag Of the free hear is
only home, will still be known and honored
throughout the earth-all this, and more, of
renewed prosperity and national life we will
behold if the vital powers of personal liberty
older upon earth than Platea and Marathon,
and radiant as an emanation Of olDivinity, shall
be preserved, and emerge at the close of the
conflict unharmed by the flames. 1t will be
the angel of our resurrection. | might dwell
upon the influence Of our free institutions in
achieving the past greatness Of the country.
| might take up that favorite line of thought,
so familiar to such an occasion as this, and
show that popular liberty has been the ma
jestic soul which has given 10 the Guvern-
mert its dignity, its grandeur and its power.
Other nations have borne the eagles of their
dominion farther than we have. They have
accumulated more wealth. Their cities have
outshone in dazzling luxury and magnlfcence
any that point their spires towards the Amer
lean sky. Their commerce has brought
home more ample spoils from stranger lands.
Their population has hcen as the leaves of
the forest and as the sands Of the sea shore.
But why do the attention and interest of
mankind turn from them with sense of
relief and delight to the Western World 3
The student Of ancient history drops the
book from his hands and forgcts to resume
the story in gazing at greater wonders here
than any of which he reads. It is the spirit
of liberty that has worked this wonder
Your fathers upon the rock of Plymouth,
with the wilderness and the savage before
them, the ocean and oppression behind them,
and the wintry storm over their heads, did
not reason on the extent Of the country they
came to possess. They made no calculations
of the wealth it contained. Visions Of Splen-
dor did not float before their eyes. One IN
quiry and one alone engrosscd their minds
" Can we here be free VIII the shadow CT
our vine and fig tree be here uomolosted oy
inquisitors into the rights of private con-
science Will civil and religious liberty
take root and live in this barren sol can
man here be the lord of himself and hoLd MS
rights by well defined tenure May ire0
| tbonchts here elevate the soul; may ireo