Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-04-18
NEW sERIEs-vOL. VINO. SO.

prosperous, and there had been so
much talk of dis-union and war, and
it had been so long coming, and the
people were so unused to fighting,and
so habtuated to minding their busi-
ness and making money, thatalthough
we stood on the very edge ofa ghastly
fouryears strife, men would not be
reused to see it. No capable orpotent
hand was stretched out to avert its ca
lamities and horrors The storm
found us unprepared because we did
not choose to read the signs of its ap-
proach, and although we weathered it
out, 1t was with fearful peril TO our
free institutions. and loss Of life of
which no man wishes now to think.
If we do not greatly err-we lay
no claim to the gift Of prophesy, but
simply assept an honest disposition to
read the plain signs of the times-we
are lowering now on the brink Of dam
gers as great as any through which
we have passed. Ominous hints begin
to fill tho air. The Radicals regard
the continuance of power in the hands
of Andrew Johnson for the next three
years as fatal obstacle to the schemes
by which they propose TO secure the
eentrol ofthis country for all time to
come. They have tried the arts of
conciliation to move HIM from his
faithful adherence to the Constitution;
they have tried threats, too, and vitu-
peration; but all alike in vain. He
will not change policy bottomed on
the supreme law either upon the sug-
gestiens OF stimulated friendship or
under the spur of party dic;ation. He
has chosen his position cautiousl " and
wisely, and he means to bold it firmly
and forever. 1t is not TO be supposed
that mon as ruthless Of heart and as
void of principle as the Radicals who
rule Congress, viii suffer their assaults
upon the Constitution to be repulsed
without seeking vengeance on him
who keeps ward over the great char
ter and defends it from spoliation. If
they cannot make away with the su-
preme law they will do their best to
destroy its guardian. Hence it is that
we begin to hear whispers of impeach-
ment and dark threats of a revolution,
to be directed to tho overthrow of the
presidept There was Q tine when
we might have disregarded these and
like portents of evil which are now
abroad. Bat re have learned lesson
which we mean to remember. "Sixty-
lday" skirmishes expand into mighty
wars. The bluster OF demagogues, if
they chance to have power, sets bay
lonets clashing and rules the thunder
Of artillery A bee may thrust its
litAle'sting through crevice in the
armor of the strong man and smite
him to theearth; and smali politicians,
Incapable TO reconstruct or even to
carry oa ao established government,
may yet be able to preeipltate rev.
olution which will result in its over
throw
\ 1t is well to be warned ia time. If
the storm is coming let us not be un-
prepared tor ID If the President of
\ the United States is to be made a vic
tim of party malice because of his
maintenance of the rights of States
uudor the Constitution, and bis refus-
4 al to obey the behests Of lawless
iaction--if he is to be impeached by
such accusers as ThaddeGs Stevens,
f aud tried before such judges as Charles
D Sumner, we have q vision, dreadful
f but distinct, that the decree which
! shall unseat him will be registered in
D bood-Whose blood, time alone can
, shoe Philadelphia AGE.
! THE TARIFF BuRDEN.--As a subject
in tcrestinr TO all consumers. we ob.