Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-09
From the Philadelphia News.
Are the People Asleep?

Are the People Asleep!
| Intelligent men in other parts of the worlC
must look with astonishment upon the spectacle
which our country now presents; for to them
it must be apparent that the citizens Of Oul
once proud and great Republic either do not
know the difference between freedom and sla
very, or that they have not energy enough to
make an effort to preserve the dearest rights OF
| freedom.
In the minds of a part of the American peo-
pie an insane hatred of the men of the South
has so far absorbed all other feelings, that they
are willing to submit to the loss of all the iber
ties and franchises they once enjoyed, and to
endure the most abject servitude under despot-
lc masters for the sake of wreaking vengeance
upon portion of the Federal Union which re-
sisted the efforts of their leaders to destroy
those rights of States and of people which were
guaranteed to every part of the Union by the
supreme law of the land" The rest of the
people appear to be sunk in so profound an
apathy that they sit still, or look after their
money-making affairs, even while band of
outlaws are reveling in the Capitol and tramp
ling all law and all rights under their feet.
The designs Of the Radical conspirators are
now completely unmasked. They do not now
pretend that they sent armies into the Southern
States with an honest intention to compel obe-
dience to the Constitution. They had even
then treated that fundamental law of the Re-
public with contempt, and their whole conduct
since that time has shown that they were bent
on crushing and plundering that part of the
"a Union party. BY speclous pretextss they
deluded the unthinking, and deceived many
who should have known better; and when,
with the vast power of the Government, the
South was crushed, they proceeded to uproot
the fundamental principles upon which our
Government was founded, and to concentrate
the power of the country into the hands of
contemplate oligarchy, which they knavishly
call Congress.
The people look on in mute wonder, and wait
to see what new act of usurpation they will next
attempt Since the world began, no nation has
ever allowed itself to be deprived of the rights
which freemen love so easily and it is manifest
that very many amongst us do not realize the
fact that IN SIX years they have passed from the
condition OF free citizens Of great Republic to
that OF ableot servants of an organization of no.
torious traitors.
An oligarchy has always proved to be worse
government than a despotism controlled by a
single Individual for one master is not so like
to oppress bis people as is body composed of
individuals who recognize no responsibility
and the illegal organization which occupies the
Capitol at Washington to-day respects no law
Can it be denied that there are very many
men in our country who do not perceive any
loss OF liberty, while they can procure the food,
clothing and shelter necessary for their subsis-
tence, and who will not admit that they are op-
pressed until a fearful financial crash reduces
them to want and personal distress?
What have we left Of the freedom which we
enjoyed six years ago?
The Radical party has established the impe-
rial right of conscription, which enables them
to drag any man from his employment and his
family at the bidding of Congress, or of Pres
ldent. 1t has established their rights to take
the peoples property at their will for war pur-
poses 1t has established their right to arrest
imprison, and try without lawful court or Jury
any one who may offend them Need aoe emu
me3dte more !?
Even now the working people are indirectly
giving halt their earnings to support these des-
pots and the monopoists who grow rich upon
the earnings of industrious men, and we hardly
hear murmur Of discomfort. One fact should
be deeply pondered at the present time No
candid man now denies that the people of the
South were insulted and provoked by the Rad
lcal leaders, and their enlissaries and journals,
with the deliberate intention to induce them to
commit acts OF resistance, and thus afford an
excuse for invading and crushing that section
OF the Union. When the war began, no pro-
lection was offered by the Federal government
to the large portion Of the Southern men who
opposed the rebellion, and 10 assurance was
gwen that thelr constitutional rights would be
protected.
The Radicals were determined to have war,
because they knew that without the exoitements
OF war the people would not sustain their usur-
patiops
The country was plunged into terrible con-
tllct, which cost million lives and many bill
hons OF treasure, and the people reioiced be-
cause the populous North proved stronger than
the less populous South. But have we reason
to rejoice that we have had war? Did we not
sacrifice more than lives and dollars to gain this
doubtful victory? Was the South conquered
before the North was enslayed?
Had wise men ruled the nation, war would
have been averted; taxation would not have
oppressed the people, shoddy aristocrats would
not live In palaces; monopolists could not have
used paper money to grind the faces of the
poor; and towards In Congress would not have
been compelled to respect their fellow members.
The Irish Proclamation.
The following is the proclamation issued by
the Fenlans In Ireland an abstract of which
was given some days ago in Cable dispatches
l. R.-PROCLAMATION- IRISH PEOPLE TO
THE WORLD.
w e nave suffered centuries Of outrage en-
forced poverty and bitter misery. Our rights
and liberties have been trampled on by an alien
arlstocrary, who, treating us as foes usurped
our lands and drew away from our unfortunate
country all material riches. The real owners of
the soil were removed to make room for CATTLE
and driven across the ocean to seek the means
Of living and the political rights denied to them
at home, while our men of thought and action
were condemned to loss Of life and liberty. But
we never lost the memory and hope ola nation
al existence. We appealed in vain to the reason
and sense Of justice Of the dominion (ssc) DOW
ers. Our mlldest remonstrances were met with
sneers and contempt. Our appeals to arms were
always unsuccessful. To-day, having no honor
able alternative left, we again appeal to force
as our last resource. We accept the conditions
Of appeal, manfully deeming it better to die in
the struggle for freedom than to continue an
existence of utter serfdom Ali men are born
with equal rights; and, in associating together
to protect one another and share public burdens,
justice demands that such associations should
rest upon basis which maintains equality in
stead (sac) destroying it. We therefore, declare
that, unable longer to endure the curse of mon
archlcal (sacl government, We aim at founding
republic, based on universal suffrage (sic),
which shall ensure to all the intrinsic value of
their labor. The soil of Ireland at present in
the possession of an oligarchy, belongs to u.s. the
Irish people, and to US it must be restored. We
declare, also In favor of absolute liberty ofcon-
science, and the complete separation of church
and state. We appeal to the highest tribunal
tor evidence OF the justice ofour cause History