American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-05-09
VOLUME 3.
Communications.
IS Fanatics, and
Radicals

have long been applied to men whowould
"Rather be right than be President. >
Men who preferred the approving smile
of their own conscience before the loud
applause of their fellow citizens. But
these words of reproach have become
Jewels in their crown of glory. When
Abraham Lincoln said "This Union could
not permanently endure half slave and
half free," he was called ga fanatic. =
Now let the word be inscribed to his hon
or. as we thank God for as Union all tree.
We pity the metallic headed gentlemen
who never had soul enough to believe in
human progress. To-day they find them
selves far in the rear, wondering and cur
sing that the world has left them. They
might have known better. Ideas must
keep time to the Steam Press, Locomo.
tive, and Telegraph. What was radical
yesterday, is conservative today. And
now look ahead and you will see these
fanatics and radicals have taken new
position, still in advance. As pioneers
they are, under fire of the enemy, cut
ting away the barricade preparatory to
another charge; there is where you will
be tomorrow Once you cursed these
men for saying slavery should not go in
TO the National Territory next for say
ing the government had power to coe.ce
State; next for saying, the captured
slave should not be returned to the enc
my next for confscation next for
emancipation next for employing color
ed soldiers; next for paying them as
much as white men next for amending
the Constitution and now, FOR the Civil
Rights bill. Thus step by step you have
followed these same "Fanatics," "Radi-
Gals" and "Aboltionists, cursing as you
went, until not only the South Carolina
Legislature, but the Batter County De-
mocracy have become "Abolitionists. -
About the time they become reconciled
to the Civil Rights bill, these Fanatics
and Radicals and a Two-THTRDs vote will
have left you dreaming.
When Gen Butler tried to arm the
regre, he was cursed by the same men
who afterward gave thousand dollars
for a negro substitute. Once Democrats
in this Comfy cursed the Old side cova-
ncnters for conveying fugitive slaves to
Canada at a later day they conveyed
themselves tu Canada to avoid the draft
Thus the curse has come back upon their
own heads, and the beauty of it is, while
the Old side ,cOat vote, descrters can't
We can never repay the. debt of graf,
itude we owe to such men as Lovejoy
and Sumner, !or their services in this
great conflict of ideas. Their devotion
can only be compared to that of the ear
ly martyrs. Those who, ten years ago,
applauded Brooks for his assault upon
Sumner, are now emigrating to Free
Kansas to find free homes, and rejoice
that the eastern wind brings no cry Of
the slave, or crack of the masters whip.
Preachers and teachers driven from the
slave States by nfuriated 'mobs as "Abo-
litionists," go back to finish their work
and find the monster dead, with no hope
of reconstruction.
What consolation to the friends of
humanity to know, that this country at
last has soul, spirit born, and purif-
cd amid the smoke of battle which en-
neither be bought nor sold by executive
power. All they wanted was to know
where johnson was, and they could tell
whether they were with him or not
Those who made haste to bow at his feet,
now find themselves cold and lonely away
back in the rear, while a solid two thirds
occupy the position, but few months
ago called Radical" These weak kueed
suppiants have done but little, and they
might all be called '.DooliHles."
The world moves, and ia the van must
ever be found the United States of Amer
lea. The cry of humanity is, onward
He who takes backward step, must per-
ish by the way-side as the advancing col
umns move on. These "Radicals' are
still ahead, clearing the road for another
step yoa will be there o-morrow-and
wonder as you do about your present po-
sition that you were not there sooner
Andrew johnson, in calling Sumner "a
traitor" called two-thirds of Congress
traitors, and the Civil Rights bill treas
on, as the sequel proves. lie is just
learning the truth of his drunken inaug-
ural. That "All power comes from the
people" Where are all of those men
who, six years ago, scoffed at the radical
term, "Irrepressible Conflict" Why
hare they not stopped 1t before this. Their
resistance has been as chaff before the
mind II 10 ne the voice of God which