The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-07-10
The Condition Of the Country.

The Condition Of the Country.
The Hon. George H. Peudleton recen,,v
delivered an address to the people Of n,
bana, Ohio, which is remarkable not onlv
for the philosophic views advanced. bnt
for the el0quence with which they wers
uttered. Taking up sneeriDg New Enc.
land reference to the Farmer Republic
as thing to be superseded BY the prnnd
march of Radical equality and Fraternity
he spoke Of the dignity Of agricultural H.
Dor and its freedom from the debasinr in.
duences which unfortunately attend a.
many other pursuits. He then traced M
the history Of the old Farmer Republie srs
the great men who were it's founders, nd
expressed Q belief that the example sst Nv
the honest, intelligent and wise men 4
1857, by whom 1.-THE republic of repubIiess
was consolidated, was far more worthy ~
being followed than that set by thoieonoo1
clasts Of to-day. The contrast between tSs
past aud present Of this country is graphi.
cally drawn: So
The old political system passed AWAY in
1861, and another was adopted. Its litte
finger is heavier than the whole BODY Of
that which it superseded. No longer do
we ask, have We . governmental 1k Ar
gus eyes seek everywhere the accumula.
ti0ns Of labor and capital, and its Briarean
arms are ever grasping all those eyes can
see. Its vast military and naval establish.
ments have risen with portentous mien.
and overshadow the civil administrator
in nearly one-half the country. Beneath
the blows of their iron sway popular nov.
eminent, resting on the consent Of the
people, has there completely fallen. tn
vital energy is apparent whenever we see
strife and contention, and violent passions
and antagonisms Of race, and section and
States. Its genius and humanity are con.
spicu0us wherever healing wounds ara
made to cape afresh, and to receive ner
infusion Of gall and bitterness. There d
no doubt that we have q governmental
strong one strong in the number ofmen
whom it can conscript strong in the treas.
ure it con raise by taxation--strong in tn
power to evade the rights Of the States
and the liberties Of the citizens stronr IN
its capacity to override the Constitution
strong as Rome was strong, both east and
west, under the Emperors- strong % France
was strong under the Reign Of Terror and
the GuillOtine-but weak as they were
weak when the Cloths and vandals ayeng.
ed on the seven-hilled city the wrongs Of
Germans, or when the blood Of the mur.
dered DantOn choked the despairing 70.
bespierro.
| No government can be really strong
which does not appeal both to the interest
and affections Of the people, which does
not attach by the beneficence Of its acts a.
well as by it's dependence on their win.
That fair distribution Of powers and
reverence for the Constitution which mark.
ed tho era Of the Farmer Republic have
wholly disappeared under the extraordiha-
| ~ legislation which characterize these lat
ter days. Proceeding with his CONTRACTS
Mr.. Pendleton shows what We had and
what we haze: 4g
We had plain and simple and econon-
ical Government. We have magnificent
complex, obtrusive, extravagant Govern
ment. We had an army Of Is, 900 men; No
have an army Of 100000. We had light
taxes; We have enormous burdens, We
had gold aud silver as legal tender; we
have . deprecated Government paper cur.
rency. We had trial by jury and personal
liberty; we have military commissions
made valid by law, and arbitrary arrests
justified. We had . Government whose
exactions of money or duty were 60 light
that we scarcely felt it, existence. va
have . Government whose strength gilt
ters in the light Of the FURNISHED bayonet,
and is reflected in the respleudant luatre
of the sword. We had harmony and fra
ternal concord, and due respect for States
and people and opinions and habits. We
have bitter sectional strife, subiugatod
people, overthrown States, and an animos.
ity Of party warfare never before known.
We had freedom Of thought We have On
intolerance which strikes down indepen-
dence Of opinion, and proscribes political
difference as q crime, and establishes I
searching scrutiny into the hearts and con-
sciences Of the community. We heard In
our bitterest struggles the voice Of reasoni
now that voice is drowned in the changer
Of the trumpet which marshals prejudice,
and rage, and hate, to intensity the party
strife. We had o peaceful confederation.
Now, while National unity is inculcated q
the highest duty, the perpetuation Of geo
/ graphical divisions and National hatred ID
rewarded with the highest praise. lit
But though fully recognising the uufar-
tunate position of our public affairs, tho
speaker felt mono Of that despopdency
which counsels inaction. He saw before
the conservative masses Of the country .
long and exhaustive struggle, but be did
not wholly despair Of the Repablic. Some
of the old farmer elements Of honesty md
genuine patriotism win yet assert them
selves for our salvation. The wilder tho
extremes in which our people rush the
sooner will the reaction como. Il viii
come to rs as it came to other nations, and
n let rs all pray that when it does come IS
may be clothed in the white robes Of peace
mot in the garments dyed with blood.
/ Mr.. Pendleton's address closed as fol-
lows: ~
i Our people desire to be wise and viftu.
ous. Our country Is young and ricn ana
strong. Experience will not teach IL
painful lessons in vain. The splendid r.
collections Of the past have not entirely
passed away. Its vestiges are not a!l bu-
ried in the ruin Of the present. The hopes
Of the future are bright in the reelection o.
its expiring glories They will accelerate
J the counter.revolution Let NJ diligently
]. prepare the wsy. It's wisdom to accept
, accomplished facts. Il is folly to abandon
correct principles In the moment Of their
adversely. Principles are eternal instita.
! tions Of government are but instrumental
. Iities-facts vary as the days succeed each
, other, and seem to change at the bidding
: of the tickle moon. Let us hold fast 70
t lprinciples, let rs modify institutions, lei
: US recognize the changing phases Of faets
It il the Office Of wise men to adopt lust
) principles Of government By the sid q q
institutions to every condition Of Attain
Liberty Is the great good. Confederation
; is to be sought only because it has sidsd
: to maintain il. Capitalization is 70 %
avoided only because it has always e.
troyed it. But at last. liberty is the liie,
the soul, and government 10 the form, ~
body through which II is developed.
Let US. then, gentlemen, look at u