American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-05-10
BE OF GOOD CHEER |

Hlsboiy hc dppaiiiHS udbufe VI tHt
calamity has befallen us is deeply and
solemnly comprehended but the same
wonderful elasticity which has sustained
US under all the pressing reverses of the
war is yet serving its purpose, and the
/ people are looking to the future with
earnest apd hopeful eye The life of this
Republic is dependent upon no person or
/ dynasty, but upon millions of honest
hearts and intelligent minds The deep
trouble at Washington develops the
strength IF our political structure
! Though every member of the general
government had heon stricken down, the
union of the States would have remained,
and each would have brought to the ma
tionaI rescue its full Executive and Ju-
dicial force We may be panied we may
be humiliated may shudder at this
/ bloody smirch which shows so grimly
upon our annals but we bate not one jot
of heart or hope We would make no
arrogant boast, but we feel and know that
the people will rise to the great occasion.
The destnies of this Republic were never
confded to the hands of tensel play
actor
We have noted, as it was our duty to
do, the evidences ofpublic feeling through
out the country. We fndprofound grief,
better regret, and painful and passionate
emotion. We have seen tears in the eyes
of strong men but they were the wit
nosses, not of weakness, but of a firm and
unfnching purpose. If the wretched
man who has brought mourning upon the
nation had been capable ofreasonably es-
timating the natural result of his crime,
he would have seen the folly if not the
guilt Of his devilish enterprise. Assassi-
nation has rarely been followed by revo-
luton, because it naturally turns the
minds Of men to the value of law and the
necessity of order. We believe this must
be apparent to the hastiest observer.
Great meetings have been convened in all
parts Of the country the pulpit and the
press have spoken in no uncertain tone;
the public authorities everywhere have
taken official cognizance of these events;
and in every speech, message, proclama-
ton. sermon or article, we find not merely
a wholesome dread Of anarchy, but stern
determination to resist it in its very be
ginnings. We have not contended with
treason 50 long without learning the sa-
credness and value Of intelligent loyalty.
The murder Of the President makes all
classes. the so called high and the so call
ed low the rich and the poor, those who
are more and those who are less cultiya-
ted-it makes all conscientious men con-
soryatiye Inddelity to the Constitution
never showed so grimly Gs today. The
blood of the martyrs has been called the
seed of the church-the murder Of the
President may prove the salvation of the
nation Hereafter, we must count liberty
and order as costly possessions, and be
very mindful of the price which VIC have
paid for them The time may come when
bloodshed shall not be the condition of
hnman progress and Of personal rights,
certain aud unquestionod; and nothing
will hasten the day OF placid security
more surely than the desperate and bloody
business which, while it has shocked, has
also instructed us. 1t is astonishing to
find the country SO quiet, so firm, so self
sustained. Never has it been SO fixed in
its purpose-never so determined at once
and forever to extnrminate treason to its
last trace. We mean to have a country.
We mean to have governmrnt. We
mean to have peace, order, security. We
mean to have obedience to all just and ne
cessary laws We mean to have true
civilization. We mean to blot out the
last signs of barbarism in our institutions
and our legislation To effect these hon
orabla purposes, we mean to make all
events, whether adverse or fortunate, our
helpers SO, with firm mind and inflexi-
BILE purpose, stands the American people
today Men may be murdered, but not
Truth, Justice and Humanity.
We trust that there may not be too
much anxiety respecting the feeling with
which tidings OF this heavy event will be
received abroad We can afford to bear
illiberal and uaintelligent comment and
need not be restive under uncharitable
criticism, while satisfied of the rectitude
of our puarposes. When Bellinfham
shot Mr.. Percival in the lobby of the
House of Commons, the British Govern
ment still went on. When the Cato-st.
conspirators came within an ace of muir
dering the whole British Cabinet at a
ministerial dinner party, the British Gov
ernment stih went on. When a. mad
woman fred pistol at George III. at the
theatre, the British Government still went
on. A Just constitutional government
bears charmed life-it is only autocra-
cies that the dagger or the pistol of the
conspirators can overthrow.
1t would be strange, indeed, if at such
moment we should despair of the Re