The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-08-04
NUMBER 45.
Educational Department.
Prepared expressly, Jy a professional teacher.
for The ALeghdnian.1

l.
for The AHeghdnian.1
THE STABILITY OF THE PEOPLE
Three years and quarter since, period
of political excitement running through
eight years eliminated, by the lombard
ment of Sumter, in open, inexcusable
rebellion against government noted for
Its leniency, and which, during the greater
portion of the time since is formation,
had been controlled by the men who re-
volted against it. The great mass of the
Northern people with painful yet patient
anxiety had watched the course of events
from the commencement to the close of
the agitation Of question that had ever
proved the dire source Of all our woes
The yielding of more territory to the do
minion of an institution at war with the
conscience of the North, as well as that of
the founders of the republic, had been
demanded. The North answered firmly,
manfully, that such thing could not be
by her consent. And then came rebel
lion, horrid, bloody rebellion. Frightened
at the prospect of civil war, there was
time when the concessions sought could
have been obtained. The advocates of
wicked system preferred to draw the sword.
If any mans memory is at fault concern
ing these things, let the records of Con-
gress and of the Peace Convention be his
resort s#Hl a
And now we wish to call attention to
one of the leading causes of the noble
steadfastness, and unwavering determine
ton, of the people through these three
years and quarter Of trial by devastation
and blood. The generation that had laid
the toundatlon-stoncS of the republic amid
the confusion OF war, and that had ccmen.
ted those stones either with their own or
their kindred's blood, were not all departed
from among us (and are not yeti when the
tocsin of strife sounded that the fabric our
fathers had reared we must preserve. The
nation announced itself equal to the task.
But the magnitude Of the work underta-
ken was far from being ful1y comprehen-
ded. Enthusiasm reached Its highest
pitch /; and in this, as in all other en- thu
siasms, there must come time when it
would begin to ebb. Ard with the com.
mencement of that ebbing, began the
danger of total reaction. Would the
people, disappointed in their fond hopes.
with defeat instead of success, delay in
stead OF vigor, toll instead of triumph,
relapse into dependency and turn from
their avowed purpose? Our fathers had
taught us to nourish schools, to open all
the avenues to intelligence, and to make
ourselves reading, thinking, intelligent
people in all affairs pertaining to our ma
tional character. The teaching of our
fatners, it was ours to test Thank God,
thank God, right noply it has stood the
trial! t
With buoyant spirits, with undoubting
faith, the nation heard the tread of its
first army as it went forth to battle
When those columns returned broken and
defeated, amazement filed the heart, but
new and stronger determination pervaded
the man. Another time there was pro-
crastination instead of earnestness, then
defeat instead of progress, and then disas-
ter instead of vigor. Does the nation
despair? do the people grow faint 2-how
throbs the national pulse? Rejoice -
Our fathers taught US not in vain. At
the fireside, In the home circle, the paper
is taken from the table, and the book from
the shelf, and the people see that the
struggle is their struggle, and that har-
vest is reaped only through toll and sweat.
The old grey-head, lingering for few days
more as one who hates to depart on his
journey, tells how our flesh before us bore
muskets on CALLED shoulders and marched
in winter without shoes, and shows where
"'tis written in history" Then younger
heads respond, "We'il not give up yeti"
All! it IS our schools that enables the peo-
pie to see that their zeal was too much for
their Judgment. And thus it is that the
people do not waver, even though there
are men and presses that have found moth
ing better to do than to turn their backs
upon their country, and bow down before
and utter matin and vesper hymns over
dying institution, which: in vigorous life,
disgraced the day and put mankind o
blush. Of these men a future generation
will probably say: ''I.et their memory bo
forgotten by all living" 90
"a Among the list of school warrants
issued from the Department of Common
Schools, at Harrisburg, during the month
nf lima ORR tho f,1lov,,rr 81