The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-07-08
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
WHO HAS DONE THIS?

A little more than two years ago we
were united, happy and prosperous peo-
pie, the most favored on the earth. The
whole machinery of our Government NOV
ed smoothly and beautifully, just as our
fathers had arranged and set it in motion.
The several States were managing their
own local concerns and domestic institu
tions to suit themselves, without molesta-
ton or dispute. The general Government
conhning itself strictly to the letter of the
Constitution, was discharging such duties
and exercising such powers as were dele
gated to it by the several States, and 40
more. Domestic tranquility reigned su-
preme; the people in every section pros
percd and were happy beyond any prece-
dcnt,i in history, real freedom prevailed
and WAS accorded to every citizen in the
land. What change has como over us
since then. In the whole history of the
world there is no parallel to the rapid fall
which we have sustained That people
SO prosperous, so free, SO happy, so ele-
waited in the family cf nations, should
madly throw all away, and sink so rapidly
and thoroughly into bankruptcy, despot
ism and national ruin, must be an enigma
and a marvel to all the nations of the
earth If all the fends from heaven
that fell'' had been turned loose upon us
in ar evil hour, could they have worked
the ruin of the great Republic more rap
idly or more effectively?
In the name, and by the memory of our
fathers, we ask lohat has done this? Who
h"s done thisf The question presses it's
elf upon the heart of every man in the
/ landAin his business, in his attempts to
be gay, throughout all his waking hours
and even in his dreams, it comes again an6
again-loho has done this9
/ AZ anecdote, illustration and fable arc
at present in high favor at Washington
we trust we shall not offend, in that quar-
ter at least, if we attempt to answer the
question fashiomably. Indeed, some o
the ablest teachings of the people in tn,
past, and the noblest sentiments ever in
euleated-particularly in times of grea
national peril-haye been through homel,
illustrations of animals and birds. Th,
! fables of ancient Greece and Rome wer
! productive Of great good in their day
May we not even now profit by their ex
ample? Not long since we were in TIL
city of New York, and, having leisur
hhour, visited sBarnums Museum. 1t i
not our purpose to enumerate the thou
sand and one curios;ties which are ther
collected, bat simply te speak of one par
of the show. In one of the rooms W
came to large cage, filling almost tn
entire room, and in it were confined, il
one common apartment, great variet
of beasts and birds OF diffe rent and antag
onistic natures. For instance, we notice
the wolf and the lamb, the fox and th
goose, chickens, cats and rats, coons an
rabbits and pigeons, and many other ami
mails which we do not now remember 9th
cage was full.) But in addition to thos
we have mentioned, we shall never forge
that there were two or three restles:
meddlesome, ,pestiferous, mischief maxim
: monkeys in this modern Noah ark. Th
animals, we were told, had all been pu
S into the cage when very young, befor
their several native propensities had bee
developed, and the experiment tried, b
constant association and abundant feeding
to subdue the natural antipathies whic
existed among them. The Snowman claim
/, ed that the experiment was success, an
exhibited the huge cage to his auditors q
1.-The Happy Family
: We stood by the cage and watched tn
family for some time with considerabl
interest and curiosity; being amply an
v regularly fed, we saw no disposition mar
ifested by any of the inmates to prey upo
each other as when in state of natur,
but every one, save the monkeys. locke
worried, fretted and miserable. Their
was no peace, no rest in that cago; tn
monkeys were incessantly meddling an
/ interfering with the other members of tn
{ family. Not an animal was permitted t
| eat or to sleep, or to enjoy in any way