Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-03-05
tFrom the Sunday Mercury.l
The Tide Turning.


Two incidents have recently occurred
and been duly recorded in the newspapers,
which, although they have elected but lit
tie interest and remark, are full Of pecu-
liar significance, in the fact, that they have
signal indication that the American people
are growing resontful and res,ive uuder
the "Reign of Terror" to which they
have submitted for the last two years like
so many abiect and crouching slaves
} We alude to an occurrance which trans
pired in San Francisco, California, where
Government official obtruded himself upon
a meeting called for the purpose of pro.
tesing against the pessago Of law by the
Legislature placing greenbacks upon par
with gold in point Of valuo-but was forced
to seek safety in fight from the popular
indignation that was aroused against him
on account Of hisunwarrantable interfer-
eDce; and an other, in Lancaster, Ohio,
where the establishment Of the Eagle, a
paper devoted to Peace principles and to
Democracy, was destroyed by soldiers in
stigated by Abolitionists, in retaliation for
which outrage the Democrats arose, attack.
ed and gulted the dwellings of the leading
fanatics of the town.
These, we relterate, arc very significant
demonstrations. 1t is the last hair that
breaks the camel's back. The Americans
bave always been patient, law abiding
people The Anglo saxon element, so
largely infused into their veins, ma kes
them slow to anger, and to forbear violent
and bloody resistance to wrong and op-
preston whilst peaceful remedy lies
anywhere uear their grasp, But this very
characteristic makes them, when once a.
reused to fury, and under :he goading
spur of heated and ungoverable passion,
'terrible as an army with banners"
Possibly it would be we'll for those most
directly interested TO study this feature of
our people, and not count too largely and
too surely shamed the American charter
abroad and provoke derision and mockery
all over Europe.
Nobody would deplore more deeply
than ourselves the reign Of anarchy and
social chaos in our midst. Wo have the
example Of France before us, that in the
wild maelstrom of revolution and popular
ephrenzy Humanity bleeds at every pore
and that no dove comes from the ark that
floats upon its heaving and turbulent wat
ers that the good suffer with the bad,
the innocent with the gulty--that all
like are whelmed beneath its yeasty and
remorseless waves. And yet there is
something more terrible even than this to
contemplate. 1t is the paralysis of a
great people struck dumb and motionless
in the presence of gigantic despo tsm-
fearful to speak, lest some hired mnion of
the prevailing and aboundirg tyranny
shall sbrike the audaccus utterer down
fearful to write the God-gifted though,
lest press and writer full under the ban of
mailed and gauntletted power--carlul to
move, lest some talebearing informer shall
whisper suspicion of disfoyalty md trca.
son. o what mental agony to live in
such rayless and starless night of bond
age as this, to one who has once tasted
the sweet Of refined and enlightened liber-
ty To break auch bonds whole heca-
tombs of lives have been sacrificed, aud
the worlds history is Illuminated with
the chivalric deeds of those who have died
in martyrdom to the holy cause of truth
and justice.
What has been, may be again. ellis
tory is philosophy teaching by example"
Hence, we say, let those must interested
profit by the warnings of the past, and
beware how they tax too much the pat
ience and forbearance of this people,
Even worm will turn when trodden
upon; and is less expected Of man, fash
Toned after Gods own im,ge and bearing
about him at least some Of the inehable
attributes Of his Maker And may we
not hope that the ro.aliatory incidents we
have cited will have their due effect in
checking those disgracoful exhibitions of
lawless and usurped authority which be.
come almost chronic, and teach their au.
thors that it will do "to play" with that
volcanic fire which flames in the popular
heart, and is constantly fed by the enisoy
ment and luxury of popular I;atseerty?