Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-01-04
RErRosPEcTIoN.
LETTER FRoH PILGRIM.

4
and scenes of changes has passed away and
is now numbered with the years before the
food. A new Prince of time-the year 1867,
has grasped the sceptre, and entered upon
his reign. Surely this is suitable season to
reflect upon the past, and to anticipate the
future. A short newspaper article will not
admit of panoramic view of earth's TEEN
ing millions, with their untold variety Of
individual experience. Pilgrim in commu-
! mag with the readers of the INQUIRER, can
only glance at few items, and then take his
staff and plod along in life's pilgrimage. The
year 1866, viii long be signalized in Ameri-
can history as the era of the rise, progress
and decline of prominent political party,
called by by the euphoneous name Conser-
rotire. Although the signs Of the times for
months had been omnious, and a feeling of
anxiety peryaded the nation, the distinct out
cropping of the new organization, to many,
was only visible in the month of February,
when the Executive, who had been gradually
eucroaehing upon the Legislative department
| of the Government, made an inhamatory
speech at the National Metropolis, reaecting
severely upon some of the best patriots in
| the land, and virtually repudiating the princi-
pies of the party by which he had been eleya
ted to power, and by which the ealamitous
war had been conducted to successful ter
mination. The majority Of Congress were
denounced as rerol,tioaists and uslnpers
The honorable men, thus assailed, appealed
to their constituents for yindication Of their
course. The public mind was intensely agi-
tated time serving politicians allured by
the spoils of Office and the glare of patronage
became jealous champions Of the new ''poli-
cy. The cruel s,cord of prescription was
unsheathed, and many noble patriots hurled
from position, in order to give place to others
whose loyalty had neither been pure, or
above suspicion. An homogeneous assem-
blage of non descript politicians from every
point of the compass met in Philadelphia in
the month Of August, to give shape and form
to the new organization, which profered very
| kindly to relieve patriots from the burdens Of
| Legislation, and to reward the gallant arms
of the South for their slight alteration
| from the path of rectitude, by bestowing up
on them the spoils Of office, and the dignity
Of official position The amiable Raymond,
no doubt with pure motive, taxed his inge-
nuity to the utmost, in order to blend the
pure waters of loyalty with the crude unref-
ned petroleum of State Rights and Seces-
sion Learned committees did the work and
saved the Convention from the labor of dis
cussion The false Prophet Train, tele-
graphed to the Executive the tidings that the
new movement was ''success, and the Con
servative party would bear rule in the land
! The speechless convention adjourned. A
company of distinguished characters left the
National Metropolis on an electioneering
| tour, and made 1t convenient to call at the
tomb of Douglas. The eloquence Of the
chief speaker as he ''whirled round the cir
Gle" fell crushingly upon loyal hearts and
| aspirations, like showers of ice upon Spring
/ flowers, or summers ripened fruits I
| Throughout the Keystone StosV, ana espe-
| c;allv in the county of Bedford, Conserya-
IN June Conservative songs, documents
and speakers, for the time being, set aside as
useless the exploded ammunition and worn-out
machinery of the "time honored Democracy.
As expressed by a brilliant poetess in refer
ence to the rainbow, so with the near Conser-
vative party,
| "Twas born in a moment, yet quick its birth,
1t had spread to the uttermost parts ofthe Garth.
AS it regards its numbers and component
parts (many of them had been rebels) a
modern poets reference to the fallen Angels
may not be inappropriate
! "From thrones of glory driven,
By flaming vengeance burn'd,
They throng the air and darken Heaven
And rule this lower world"
! With Autumn's chilling winds and killing
frosts the great Conservative party passed into
the ''sere and yellow leaf The fall cleo
tions gave unmistakable indications that the
patriotic heart of the nation beats true to the
principles of constitutional liberty. Light
CLEANS athwart the heavens; the cheering
hope may be INDUCED in that the day is not
far distant when "a Republican form of gov
ernmeBt shall have been obtained in all the
States of this Union" When the ''erring sis
ters,' politically regenerated, shall have re-
turned to their first lore and reunited
peaceful and happy country under the gra-
cious smiles of heaven, enter upon a new and
glorious career of prosperity, with the fol
lowing watchwords to guard against troubles
II, the future Morality, Intelligence, and
orob,e Union and Liberty one and insep-
the county awhile let all the patriots in
merit. and who can ard, who prize honest
riment to themselves or talli0o' "i'iC"' ue''
for the INQUIRER. 1t is well ed4Sen saOe0iiD9
and deserves success, Wishing its patrols tse, :.
happy Ne1C Year, and many days of pleas
ure in the future, Pilgrim will resume his
journey, and pass on VITA Earths millions
toward the gathering gloom of the rusoor
shore.
PILGRIM.
FRIEND's Cove, Bedford county, Pa, Jan.
uary lst, 1867.
LETTER FROM UNCLE TOBY.
< Lf