American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-19
The Now Ern


the Church upon the Middle Ages" nor
did he dilate upon any of the stock
themes whcih usually render College COM
mencements venerable, but dull. Mr..
Brady, we are informed, sin ain address
of Notwithstanding character" spoke
of the present condition of the country,
glanced at the past and looked into the
future, and thereby ''elicited great ap-
plause." We have not received the par
ticular fruits of Mr.. Brady's rambles,
and must take it for granted that they
were ripe, juicy and profitable. We find
other orators, of the annual literary turn,
speaking after the same fashion in suf-
ficient practical way, and reminding us
not only that we have history, but that
we are in fair way to profit by it. Here
tofore, we have lived pretty much upon
the experiences of past ages and of for
eign nations. Practically, ourrevolution-
airy ancestors vigorously contended for
liberty; but for illustrations, for argument
and for political philosophy they went
back to Greece, to Rome and to the one or
two great periods of English history
They built new structure upon an old
basis, and the democracy of l776 was
but an extension OF the republcanism of
lGl0. But no man familiar with our po-
ltical history Immediately subsequent to
the Revolution, can be ignorant of the
grave doubts which wise and good men
entertained of the practicability, expedi-
ency aud perpetuity of democratic insti-
tutions. Our fresh, young and promising
career was always spoken of as an exper-
iment, aud, indeed, it has been so even
down to the present day. The bugbear
Of the French Revolution came to COM
plicate difficulties The Federalists ad-
vocated strong central government rs u
check upon popular passions, as defense
against foreign aggression, and as curb
upon the license Of the States. The Re-
publicans democrats, or Democratic Re-
publicans) looked with suspicion upon
Presidential and even upon Congressional
authority. These parties, however, were
continually changing their relative posl~
tions as the fortune of politics shifted, so
that Mr. Otis at one period in Massachu-
setts occupied almost precisely the ground
which Mr. Jefferson at another had occu-
pied in Virginia. The traces of these
disputes, at times acrimonious and threat
ening danger, have never Disappeared
They were perpetuated in the notification
Of Federal authority by South Carolina
until they finally burst upon the country
in the bloody and destructive contest
through which the nation has nov vicIo-
ri usly passed. The war has been full of
various and advantageous results, among
which, second ON ly to the abolition of
Slavery, We reckon the vindication Of the
authority of the General Government
Nothing can be more fatal to the peace,
prosperity and progress of nation than
an uncertain condition of its fundanen-
tai law-the continual stimulus of factCn
aud fruitful mother Of anarchy. To know
what we may be saved in the future We
must remember the dreary and restless
past There have been thousands upon
thousands of speeches made, there have
been tons upon tons Of volumes printed,
there have been doubts, discussions and
contradictory decisions without number,
concerning the origin, nature and limiia-
tions Of the American Union. One doc
trine was taught in the colleges of South
Carolina, aud another in the colleges Of
New England Here the Union was
held to be a firm, binding and indissolu-
bic compact, and there it was as streuu-
ously maintained to be nothing more than
a limited copartnershlp, terminable at the
option Of either party. The day Of the
dreamcrs, the driyelors and the dotards is
over. There is no longer room for an ar
gument-the case is closed--thc powers
of the General Government are defined
Upon that point, at least, the Senate is no
longer a debating club. The choppers Of
cheap logic may hang up their utensils
the game of notification is closed. We
are among those who believe that this
| positive condition of the law of the Union
is among the greatest advantages which
the Rebellion has brought us The peo-
pie understand thoroughly the whole ma
ture of the crime Of treason, that it can
be committed, and is one Of the basest of
crimes. 1t often happens that some great
vcissitude apparently adverse in the life
Of an individual not ouly strengthens him
for future difficulties, but develops way
of avoiding them altogether So in q
public case like our own, We cannot help
feeling that there has been an immense
addition made to the capacity Of the peo-
pie for Judging upon points as yet left
open, and to the clearness with which
they will perceive them to be no longer
debatable. 1t is easy to see how much
it will strengthen and how much it will
support us. II opens to us the prospect
Of a great, intelligent and determined peo-
pie, with definite aims and well ascertain
ed land marks, no longer tossed upon a
sea of endless differences, but united up
on those maia conditions which will Sc
cure safe and prosperous condition Of
public affairs.-N T. 7riBuae
PLAINLY SPoKEN.-Almost the
oo1,, tb;nc, tho Datroit Conyant;op