Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-05-05

tons OF the earth cannot spare them. All
the wornout aristocracies Of Europe saw in
the spurious feudalism ofslayeholding their
strongest outposts, and banded themselves
together with the deadly enemies of our ma
tional life. IF the Old World will discuss
the respective advantages of oligarchy or
equality; of the Union of Church and State,
or the rightful freedom Of religion; of land
accessible to the many, or of land monopo-
lied hy an ever-decreasing number of the
few, the United States must live to control
the decision by their quiet and unobtrusiye
example. 1t has often and truly been OBJ
served that the trust and affection of the
masses gather naturally around an indiyid-
ual. IF the inquiry IS made whether the
man SO trusted and beloved shall elicit from
the reason of the people enduring institu-
tions Of their own, or shall sequester politi-
cal power for a experimenting dy-
nasty, the United States must live to solve
the problem If question is raised on the
respective merits of Timoleon or julius C@-
sar, of Washington or Napoleon, the United
States must be there to call to mind that
there were twelve Caesars, most of them the
opprobrium of the human race, and to con-
trast with them the line of American Presi-
dents. The duty of the hour is incomplete,
our mourning is insinceref, while we express
unwayering trust in the great principles that
underlie our government, we do not also
give our support to the man to whom the
people have entrusted its administration
Andrew Johnston isnow, by the constitution
the President Of the United States, and he
stands before the world as the most conspic-
uous representative of the industrial classes.
Left an orphan at four years old, poverty
and toll were his steps to honor His youth
was not passed in the halls Of colleges; ney-
ertheless he has received a thorough politi-
cal education in craftsmanship in the school
of the people and by long experience of pub
lie life. A village functionary; member sue
cessessively of each branch of the Tennessee
legislature, hearing with thrill of Joy, the
words, "the Union, it must be preserved;
a representative in Congress for successive
years; Governor of the great State of Ten
nessee, approved as it's Governor by re-elec-
ton; he was at the opening of the Rebellion
a Senator from that State in Congress.
Then at the Capitol, when Senators, unre-
buked by the Government, sent word by
telegram to seize forts and arsenals, healone
from that Southern region told them what
the Government did not dare to tell them,
that they were traitors, and deserved the
punishment of treason.
Undismayed by perpetual purpose of
public enemies to take his life, bearing up
against the still greater trial of the persecu-
ton of his wife and children, in due time he
went back to his State, determined to res
tore it to the Union, or die with the Amer
lean flag for his winding sheet. And now,
IL Al TTr.koJ CA,4o- L. L.,
returned to Washington as conquerer,
with Tennessee as a free State for his tro-
ply. 1t remains for him to consummate
the yindication of the Union. To that
Union Abraham Lincoln has fallen a mar
tyr. His death, which was meant to sever
it beyond repair. binds it more closely and
mere firmly. thaa ever The hlow aimed al
him, was aimed not at the native of Ken
lucky, not at the citizen of Illinois, but al
the man who, as President of the executive
branch of the government, stood as the rep
resentative of every man In the Unite
States. The object of the crime was the
life of the whole people: and it wounds the
affections of the whole people, From
Maine to the south west boundary of the
Pacific, it makes us one. The country may
have needed an imperishable grief to touch
its inmost feeling. The grave that receives
the remains of Lincoln, receives the martyr
to the Union; the monument which viii
rise over his body win bear witness to the
Union: his enduring memory will assist du-
ring the countless ages to bind the states
together, and to incite to the love of our
one undivided, indivisible country. Peace
to the ashes of our departed friend, the
friend of his country and his race Happy
was his life, for he was the restorer of the
republic; he was happy in his death, for the
manner of his end viii plead forever for the
Union of the States and the freedom Of
man.