The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-12-27
THE PAST AND PRESENT.

the public mind enlightened, aad ~
s formed upon matters Of local as We'll as
national interest. The power was really
4 in the hands Of the great mass Of the
people, and Il was only through the
newspaper, the fair and honorable COM
bats on the hustings, and the universal
interest and pride felt in the prosperity
and greatness Of the country, which in
dueed private discussion, and enabled
The thinking to reach just and correct
conclusions, that caused the grand and
ma@niicently proportional Ship Of
State to move steadily on, and pass tri-
umphantly through the late terrible
storm Of civil war. 1t was from the
love and veneration which every man
had been taught TO feel on these oc-
casions for the Constitution of our faith
ers, which, when he believed it was as
sailed. urged him by every patriotic
feeling to rally around the flag, and, If
possible, save from threatened danger
the almost untrammelled liberty that
all enjoyed. The names Of Our ReVo-
lutionary heroes and patriots we've IA
miliar to him, and their sacrifices, their
sufferings, theirdesperatea nddetermined
efforts during a long and bloody war,
which eliminated in our separation and
independence from the mother country,
and the appearance of Il new and free
nation upon the great map of the world
&y.aa II arli
ries. Each felt that such rights as he
enjoyed, under, and by virtue Of that
Constitution must be preserved. The
educated and the ignorant, the statesman
and the soldier were all aetuated by the
same motives, all governed by the same
| impulse. None dared even when dis
aster had overtaken the national arms,
and the whole land was depressed by
the objectionable blunder of some mill
tary ehieftain, to openly advocate q
change. of the Old established system Of
our fathers. Had President Lincoln,
supported and sustained as he may have
been by q partisan Congress, attempted
it, he would have been hurled by an
almost united North from his high Ex-
ecative Office, and possibly met with the
fate Of Charles Ist, Or probably passed
! bis days III hopeless exile at some st.
Helena.
&dhering strictly to the great charter
oi; 4 nations rights; ever regarding it
as too sacred and inviolable to be triaed
With. he successfully brought to a close
the bloody civil war, and the firm and
iadomitable johnson, eoatending against
an imbeeile, reckless and ianatieal Con-
eress, has, Is far as Executive power
can be exerted, restored The country to
peace ana union. But how changed
within tie last Two years have become
the sentiments CT ctr people, They
have ceased 10 be jealous Of their rights
as 5hey once We're. Everything now
must be sacrificed to party. Public dis
eussion no longer encouraged, and reel1-
less statements Ct q corrupt press re-
gardad as & truthful. oppose and criticism
OF The desperate schemes Of a iawless
body at Washington. The silent acqui-
escence Of the American people in the
most unquestionable assaults upon the
Constitution, and the submission to q
state o. affairs more despotic and tyran-
nical than exists anywhere where people
profess 20 be civilized and christian
lied. Constitutions are regarded as a
dead letter, and everything indicates
rather determination TO destroy, and
pull down what it has required almost
rivers OF blood and minis of money to
build UP, than a fixed ana firm purpose
to add to the greatness, the grandeur,
the stability, and the wealth OF this
colossal republic. Immense numbers of
greedy politicians are enriching them
selves out of the hard earnings Of the
oppressed, and ''taxation without repre-
sentationo is an axiom preached and
advocated by these liberty-loving politi-
cal school of progressives.
The gulf between the Past and Present
is broad indeed, and the responsibilities
upon those who mould and control
public sentiment are heavy, but we hope
not beyond endurance. a constitution
and a government that Is worth sacri.