American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-10-02
THE TRIsIs.

We cid the midst Of crisis, on the
eSent ofwhich depends the future peace
and prosperity Of the nation. Harden
ed BY The 6ercs::vicissitudes Of the last .is
years, we look on alphabetically while the
republican institutions in which we glo
ry are endangered, and we watch with
ianguid curiosity condition of affairs
which, ten years since, would have con-
vulsed the whole country with the wild
est agitation. The co ordinate branches
of our Government are at variance BY
a fatal error, the National Legislature
has left the Geld, for the time, In the
power of the. Executive, and a faitaless
President 10 making the most of the op>
portunity, The laws of the land are left
unexecuted, or are boldly set aside at the
despotic will Of a single man, who, bin
ded by ambition, and surrounded by such
satellites as Binekley, Jeremiah Black,
and Montgomery Blair, seeks to convert
representative governments into a dieta-
torship, and who scarcely wells his pur-
pose to rule or ruin, Eager TO reap the
full benefit of his apatasy, the Democrat
&c party Is strainiug every nerve to get
once more into power, that it may renew
its old alliance with Southern rebels and
reconstruct the Union as nearly after the
old pattern as possible.
All the burdens left US by the war are
skillfulIy taken advantage of to persuade
the unthinking that Democratic rule
alone can restne tie blessings of light
taxes, low prices, aud specie currently -
Every local question is turned to accoun /
where passion or prejudice can be work
ed upon. Every art, which the furious
lust of power AMI of the spoils of Office
can suggest is eagerly put in practice to
gain votes on specious pretexts. The
results we see in Maine and California.
What. then, are we doing in this per
ilous conf uucture? Exhausted by the
labois aud sacrifices of the last six years,
sersnely confident in the justice of our
cause and the triumph of our arms, we
supinely wait to see power psss into the
hands of the enemies Of our great cause,
that they may nullify all the results of
our triumph. Petty local questions, of
infnitesiual importance, are sufficient to
divert us from considering the over.
whelming issues at stake. We pause to
think whether an individual is all that
We would have him TO be, before we can
bring ourselves to vote for him. len that
individual is as nothing himself, and we
should only look upon him, whether
worthy or unworthy, as personifying, for
the momedt, the great principles for
which we have willingly sacrificed half
n million of lives aud countless millions
of money. In these supreme crises of a
nations fate, individuals are nothing but
the instruments with which we work !;
and bad instrument, used TO good end
may be thousand times preferable to a
good instrument used to bad end. Let
not apathy or passing disgust paralyze us
In the hour of our triumph, until the
fruits Of success turn to ashes on our
lips. t'#s
For let US calmly consider what is it
that lies before us 10 the immediats fu-
lure. We have Congress which has
been calamity struggling for a double
purpose-to secure the results of the war
In durable peace aud permenent unfit,
cation Of tine country, and, at the same
time, to preserst the legislative power of
the people through their chosen repre-
sentatives. On the other hand we have
\ President whose native subserviency to
the old oligarsbic and rebel element of
the South has led him to quarrel with
the party which placed him in pcwerwhose
violent passions and narrow mind have
made him the tool of adroit aid reckless
schemers; who gathers around him, by
d natural affinity, the worst elements from
every sectioh, and whose temper, inaam.
ed by the opposition Of Congress to his
will, is evidently prepared to commit any
action which wodld give him a tempora.
ry advantage over his antagonists, at the
Cost of plunging the whole country into
confusion.
These differences between the Execu,
sivc and the Legislature, iu'olviag not
only the policy Of the country, but the
fundaI entail structure OF its govern.
haeht, are rapidly approaching a crisis,
Twelve months since, Mr.. Johhson con.
tented himself With stigmatiziug Con
gress as 4 Sody changing upon the verge
of the gevef6tfieu'" Six month ago,
AL.-Ll