The national Republican., 1867-11-06
wAroHMAN, WHAT OF TIE NIGHT ,

wATCHMAN, WHAT OF TaE NIGHT
When old systems and old ideas are changing,
and new phases and conditions in government
and society are displacing the worn out and the
obsolete, men are apt to grow alarmed and i'm.
asine that they see awful dangers ahead, and
thoy tremble with terrible forebodiugs In re-
spect to the future welfare Of society. This
nation has passed, or. we may more properly say,
10 passing through a very trying ordeal. The
war introduced q state Of things unusual and
very much at variance with all the old and long.
established Institutions which were deeply seated
in the regards and affections Of the people 1t
was and is like the breaking up Of the fountains
Of tho great deep. and turning the currents and
the policies Of government into untrisd and wide.
ly diversified channels Men now seem astounded
and immensely bswildsred at the announcement
Of policies and principles wholly untried, and
grow timid and hesitate at the fearful PROPOSE.
tions which dreamsrs, seeptics and Utopian
philosophers enunciate. This 10 tho hour for
schismatics and impraotieable schemsrs, and
dreamers In religion and politics, and 1t Is also
the time for alarmists and prognosticators Of
evil to abound. There are now plenty Of people
both North and South who will persist in b.
lisving that the colored population Is armed,
and that this class Of our people are meditating
q sort Of San Domingo massacre, and unfortu.
nately there are some newspapers that insist
upon tanning this Hsmo and In proclsiming "a
trar Of raoss' just about to begin. more
silly and ridiculous hnmbug cannot well be con.
ceivsd. II 1t come, as come II may, 1t will bs
owing to the foolish spsculations Of unwise
scribblers Of newspapers, whose vocation Is the
Sensational, tho absurd and tho ridiculous.
We have been told repeatedly within the last
twenty -four hours that there are within an area
Of sixty miles In and around Washington 80, 900
colored men fully armed and ready for any emer.
gency; that they are only waiting for some op,
perfume occasion, or for soma NAT Turner ts
cry "havoc, and let slip the dogs Of war, " whsr
the white people will be murdered indiscrimi
nately. Now, as strange as 1t may appear Their
are many people in Washington. and in the por
tions Of Virginia and Maryland immediately sur
Funding Washington, who believe this story
Tho absurdity Of such a condition Of thing
among tho colored population is so transparent
humbug that the chief wonder Is that anybod
In his senses should yield the least crederce +
It; and yet there are plenty Of people who &C
oept it as true, and are consequently alarmed ou
of all propriety at the imagined danger which /
upon us.
That old Institutions and old forms of societ
must give place to new conditions and new Of
ganiIations is apparent throughout the wOrlt
and that the American civil war has mightil
helped to prscipitAte this condition Of things
undoubtedly true but that, with proper de
gree of caution, and an honest treatment Of al
questions of reform as they arise, We shall Ia.
ourselves liable to a further reign Of bloodshsd
We do not believe.
We do not discuss this question in any sens
of party politics, for are only desirous Of pro
noting the best good Of all BY our suggestion
and remarks. Let US be patient, and not In
dulge in sensational speculations which schemini
and unwiEe people promulsats, and we shal
come out all right in the end. The nation wa
saved from the evils Of secession by its well
directed efforts in suppressins the rebellion
will also avoid its future dangers by firm ad
hersnce to the right, always Ignoring the pa,
sionate and the sensational.