The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-04-01
From the Mentor
Our Position and Duty.


utter ruin and re-establish liberty repub
ican basis. But to achieve this, requires faith
in its possibility energy to work for its accom-
plishment; and patience to wait for the fruit
Faith, without works, is dead" and work,
without faith, is a weary toll We are sorry
to see some Of true, and heretofore hopeful,
Democrats, sink into inertia, and indulge IN
dependency. We do not much wonder at It |
for there are discouragsments every where. 4
Constitution violated, country ruined and
people in tears, Is enough to touch the heart. |
and unuerve the hands but what shall we DO ?
Sloth will not save US, nor dependency bring
safety. Besides,
The darkest day,
Live till tomorrow, will hars passed away" !
Let US remember that labor conquers all |
things. The work is great, but the reward will !
De glorious when it is accomplished. And al
though we were defeated last fall, we should |
not be discouraged The result was brought
about by fraud. 1t viii be oar own fault II it
= s .ss,:....cL Even pnr enemies do not buast o.
yer it. They are satisfied to enjoy the fruits
Of their ll-gotten victory without exultatiOn.
A Democratic host Of $4,000 men in "a single
State, and nearly two millions in the North,
they know well IS not to be dePised And the
same reason that fills our opponents with dread,
should inspire our friends with hope and actiy-
ity. We stand to-day stronger in truth, strong
or in light, and stronger il the hearts OF the
people than ever before. They cannot b. blind
to passing events they cannot be indifferent to
the destruction of their liberties. Tney see
the laws ira npIed OH; theiI taxes MULTIPLIED
an hundred fold; and their sons slaughtered by
thousands. They may view all this in siIence,
but they caanot see it with satisfaction. A
corrective must be sought. The only hope
presented is in a change Of policy; and there
Is no hope Of change Of policy, except there
be first change Of administration. Ia this is
an element of Democratic strength. We may,
therefore, reasonably hope for very material
accessions from the opposition ranks. And
these acees5ions will be of the most desirable
kind oE conservative men, truly disgusted with
their former political associations. Here aud
there such men will adhere TO our al e4dg m City
ho8t and with this augmented strength, victo-
, ~ is sure. Our attitude, then as party, is
most imposing and commanding. We know
that some fear-and they have reason to fear
from wha: has already been done-that if cor
ruplion and fraud cannot carry the present cor
rupt and fraudulent party into power again,
that torce will be called to their aid. This may
be cUntlugeatly true; but not unless the DemUc-
racy invite it. IF we show a craven heart, or
indifference to the result, we have nothing bet
[ ter to expect; for that they have the disposition
TO use force, when necessary, the elections in
Kentucky and Maryland abuudaaty prove
But If act like freemen, conscious of our
rights and determined to maintain them, there
is not the slightest danger. Planting our selves
upon the Constitution and laws, we should
boldly resent and rebel By force If necessary the
3 IL
! rants 5elgare should be the watchward from
| Maine to California in the Democratic camps
But it should not rest in mere declaration.-
Act1l preparation foy actlge resistance to forcibie
iqterJsrenoe sioold Be promptly and thoroughly
made. Resolutions will not do; newspaper full
limitations will not do; but complete organiza-
rjo;,. embracing every State and ramifying every
township vii be effective. This organization
should be poltics!, not military but 50 oI-
gani1ed that military fol;~n could be speed
ily evolved, if need should req@lre' The
time for the transition would be when ice
should be used to prevent or control free eec-
tions. When that time comes-and We sincere
lY hope it may never cOme-the Democrat who
would hesitate to repei force with force, and
maintain his rights, even at the point of the
sword, s arrant coward and deserves to be |
q slave. w Q 90 not DeileTe IL VIII ever De ne |
cessary TO go the extreme length Of physical |
resistance, but the very best way TO avoid it is |
to be prepared for it. We feel morally certain !
that in SO doing is our best security. If we !
assert our rights and our manhood with manly |
courage, they will not be violated, and there |
will be no occasion for exertion of onr power;
but if we trust to the virtue or forbearance of /
our enemies, we have nothing to hope
Let US, then, organize at once. Let there |
be a roll in every school district, on which every
Democratic name shall be inscribed. Let us |
90 to work in earnest This is our country
still. 1t is for us and our children, and wo TO !
the craven that will surrender il to the despoiler
while hope remains. We should say TO Mr. |
Lincoln--and say in tones that could not be |
mistaken--''We will obey every legal obliga-
ton but touch not our chartered liberties
When authorized by the Constitution, you may |
command, and we will obey you like children
but 60 beyond it and we re sist you 10 DEATH
''If Gen. Mcclellan is true man WHY ia
every traitor his noisy champion f"-N. z.
Isri6u,s.
If q. Lincoln ia true man, why is eve-
~ man who for the last twenty years has
been advocating dissolution of the Union
has champion7 If be is an honest man,
why is every thief his advocate and friend I
If he is true to the flag, why is ii that the
New York Tribune which stigmatized the
Stars and Stripes "a Haunting lie" defend
ing himF Please answer, Dir. GREELY.