The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-04-21
The Duty and Hope of the Nation.


q The duty Of independent journalism, and es
<pecialiy Of that which represents political sop,
spcsition, never was more clear or more easj
& than now. IF the press sometimes guides o.
B directs public opinion, it does not do so in the
sshadow of great calamity such as at this mo.
s,ment darkens our path. Then Il only SAYS whal
s.the people, one and all, say. Il moves in uai-
s@son with the audible pulsations Of the popular
Sheart. 1t pretends to do no more. In fact
9the deeper the sentiment, the more reserved and
s9guardei its ut.erance. Regan an Goneril talk.
ssed great deal while Cordeiia E.luyed and wa.
Asilent." No where, such is our proud conscious
.33ness, has sorrow for Mr. Lincoln'a death been
.smore unaffected and sincere than It is At th;,
smoment in the ranks Of the great Democratic
%party, Of whose views we try to be an expo
& nent. 1t is matter Of no slight qualification t.
Mreuember that, on Saturday last, there appear.
aed in this paper words Of earnest and disintcr-
8ested praise of 1Ir. Lincoln, which were written
#when be was believed to be in foil life. We
sspoke Of the bo!dness and generosity, and mag
Snanimity Of bis iuiIiatory measures Of recon
sciation, and we meant what ~e said. We do
anot condescend, beyond the brief notice we have
ggiTen elsewhere, 10 speak Of oar reward for
gthis in the piifui outbreak which mischievous
smen sought TO excite against US. It was too
scontempube to be thought Of, and we turn from,
sfurther recollection Of It, to try to put in words
some of the thoughts which this appalling cal
Catastrophe suggests. Perhaps it is too soon tol
! do so calmly and CONSIDERABLY.
! The record Of the death Of one of The bostl
5of the Roman emperors is this: sIn the deiir-!
sium which followed the first access Of disease,
5the good old man was heard 10 mutier about'
sthe welfare of the republic; and IN fhe mOmentsl
cot returning sense which preceded his decease,
sgave to :he tribune of his guard the watchwofd5
shquanaafy." II the sure aim Of the assas,inF
had not fatally struck the seat Of reason. aud5
"a moment OF consciousness had been gUuchsa.elf
Ito the dying President, ne may fancy or WEI
,may hope that such, III view Of the awful and'
speFilous future Of his countrY would have beeni
his last Injunction. Never mere tan now y.eref
'needed seadIness, sternness, dignity, regard for#
Justice, moderation, which looks beyond the ma Z
,tura passion of the hoac into dim eyeatnaHtIess
In snort, "eqganimity." That there vii bes
IA pressure urging 20 different course, in wlucls
Violence shall predominant, Is certain. Thatg
lhe supposed tendency af Sir Llnco.n's success
sor IS an element IN the calculation Of these arg
uhcers Of evil, is quite apparent, and there iss
some danger that just as there seemed to be al.
chance Of smoothing the pillow fer weariels
and wounded nations repose, we are, under thes
natural proyoCation Of deed Of horror tofyr.s
yet craftsmanship and rush into a new and fer-a
Ger crusade Of blood We trust, making all al E
lowancc for reasonable resentmeuts, that in lbis
forecast we may be mistaken. We think il :Lz
least premature wrong to the new President, 5
10 take for granted that he means to digavow {
and set at naught the tentative peace policy Of s
bis predecessor. All patriots should be willing
to hope for the best and we, as Democrats.
say to Mr.. Johnson, as we said in his last hours.
to AIr. Lincoln, that in generous, moderate. &
and magHanimous policy, he will deserve theE
support Of all good men. b
Let US then, Americans, one and all. Demo-s
Gratis and Republicans, while ,ge minals ourss
tears over the bloody remains Of the dead S
while we unite in stern denuncation OF a deeds
oi horror, and in ezactinq fall Justice on indi- 1t
7idual agents, their aiders and abettorr. acces-
sories before and after the fact il there be anv 81
et Us hope for the future that. in moulding Doi s.
cy. Mr. Liucoln's example may not be in vain =
doe 81