The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-02-19
The Degeneracy Of the Times.

the Republican editors and preachers, IN
their Thanksgiving editorials and sermons,
that othe country never was In more pros
porous conditions" there arc many reasons
that cause thoughtful person to doubt 1t.
How country can lie in more prosperous
condition in the midst of terrible civil wsr
than it was before, is something, VIC must
confess, we cannot understand.
All things are greater or less, and better
or worse, by comparison; ana the present
state Of affairs in our country is no excep-
ton to the rule. Perhaps the country is in
a more prosperous condition, financially,
fwhen we refer to the men who have made
fortunes by shoddy contracts) at present,
than it was Immediately after the breaking
out of the rebellion; but compare it, in all
other respects, with what it was, at almost
any time previous, and it needs but poor
memory TO supply contrast that will make
you shudder.
There was time in the history Of this
country when one of its citizens, occupying
a responsible position, could, and did say,
when offered bribc: 81 am poor-very
poor-but, poor as | am, the king of Eng
land is not rich enough to buy me-" There
was time, too, when men in high places
did not betray their trnst--when specie was
considered money-when the men were
brave, and the women virtuous: and it was
considered an honor to hold a position of
trust under The people and not oper them.
It was then considered virtue to love lib
erty and hate tyranny; and an Abolitionist
was believed to be traitor. At that time,
too, s'Progress" was considered improve
ment in morals, and not merely Improvement
in purse.
s. But short time ago our leading journals
were filed with indignant editorials at the
terrible outrages practiscd by Russia in Po-
land, and by Austria in Hungary and ITALY.
We sympathizcd with every effort Of the
down trodIen to throw off the yoke. We
loved and piticd Ireiand-wc welcomed her
exiles to our shores-we jetca Kossuth and
almost worshipped him as martyr to LIB
erty. And the whole country rung with ac-
elamations when Captain Ingraham acted
SO promptly in the Martin Kosta affair."
But, alas! show are the mighty fallen!'
Where are the pure patriots and lofty
minded men that used 10 be found in our
Congressional halls2 Surely not among the
majority there at present. Have we a
Webster, Clay, or Douglas, either IN
the Cabinet or the Senate! Where now are
the pure, incorruptible patriots of the times
past We once all protcssed 10 love liberty
eyan the Abolitionst sha;el9d for freedom.
To-day the Russian feet rides proudly at
anchor in our ports; and its oGicers-.he
minions of despot--arc honorcd with 4
grand reception By the man, who, but ten
years ago, declared from the stump in 1ll-
nois, that ''no man is good enough to gov
ern another man, without the others con-
sent. / say this is the leading principle,
the sheet anchor of American Republican,
ism!" Go to the officers of thegovernment
appointed by this administration, and you
will find them all, or nearly all, ready to
take brbe. Three years ago you could
go to the cottages Of the laboring men and
farmers, from one end Of this broad land to
the other. and gaze on love, happiness and
plenty. Now you find the widow weeping
for the husband slain in this remorscless
war between brothers, whilst her children
mourn father who can no longer provide
them with bread. Their songs Of happiness
are hushed in sorrow, or drowned by the
roar of cannon. The old statue Of liberty
has been tumbled from its pedestal; and The
new one 50 recently hoisted over tile dome
-of the capital, represents Only corruption,
sshoddy and tyranny. i
slli fares the hand, to hastAhing ills prey,
:. Where sssalss accumulates aud msn decay,
Princes and lords may flourish. OF may fadei
.- A breath can make them, AZ breath has made.
Bot bold, free nan, ,their eountry's pride, r
81 When once destroyed, can never be supplied"
And who ID accountable for all this2 Il
It The party, who, for City years, has stoot