The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-03-19
The Duty Of the People at Die Present
Crisis in Public Affairs.

~
of differences Between States Of the de-
partments ofthc Government, there can
BIO little or no doubt but that matters
could be compromised and Quoted on
the easiest and most satisfactory terms
! But with thcsesamc difference confidcil
to the charge Of few scores on hun.
dreds Of ambitious polititians, who mus
have auimosities aud issues all the time
at the boiling point. Ia order to provoke
theiriimmediate ependeDts to fight for
Office, no one can tell now whether or
when we are TO have peaccfullf timcs
again, it seeming TO be the case that
the republic thcncoforward must be
kept IN continual agitation and changc,
10 afford materials for seiziug upon or
holding the spoils". llil
! And this appears the moro plain, be-
cause after QUE OF the most gigantic
wars known to history, SO little appears
to have been settled by it. 1.-THE war
over slavery has ended, The eouaie, over
the status Of the slrcedman" is little
less angry and general than that which
exists just previously to the appeal to
arms. And If there is less danger Of
actual hostilitics now, under the same
condition Of fierce antipathies, IL is only
bceousc of the bitter experiences had
recently, and further conviction added
thereto, that however hitter another
war might prove IL would really settle
very little.
But whibtall this is true, there is
little reason to suppose the people arc
pleased at the continuation cf needless
ieuds. Tired they are, no doubt, as VIC
have already intimated, Of what Is 90.
ing on at Washington; and IL they are
not more demonstrative in condeana.
ton Of the distarbers OF the public peace.
IL is--in addition to the reasons for il
already adyanccd;--beeause they regard
it as merely game or struggle for
pomer--something which subsidiog
with the election for President, will.
after that, coucede peace 10 wearicd
and stricken people. c.
Meanwhile, We try to convince our.
selves Of tho truth Of the old common.
placo--about this being the "best aud
purest Government on earth I've cling
iondly 70 the illusion that this extraor.
binary activity in political circles beto.
kens moro the liyeliness Of cxhubcro Ut
health than the ieYeriAhncss and rest.
lessness Of disease. We have heard so
much from carly childhood Of the intel.
igenee, dignity aud power Of an Amor.
lean citizen, that va oevcr dream Of
liberty being endangered, Of coustitu.
lions really contemned aud dcspiseI.--
II we are told plainly that where the
Constitution does not warrant wrong
doing, that IL must be ieekieasly st
aside as an antique instrument which
has had its day, We arc made 10 forget
that the present hour furnishes 10 par.
allels IN either patriotism or Statesman.
like ability TO the makers Of thai sacred
barrier 10 usurpation and wrong, that
world renowned conscrvator Of all ttat
belongs to aud constitutes popular
liberty.
Perhaps il is well however, that the
American people arc not mere easily
alarmed at the dangers which threaten
their rights; it is possibly true that, with
certain objects gained, certain positions
secured, the incipient Fsyolutionista may
shrink from the roputed contamination
OF their ambitions schemes. IL is pos
siblc, after all, that these fierce threats
against the President are merely meant
to paunlyxc aud discourage their oppo.
nents, SO as 10 insure TO them, When the
time comes for IL, M easier victory. ~
But even were this the case, could Il be
true that Impeachment" upon such
baseless aud frivolous charges could not
be expected by its lis projectors to ear.
~, have not these men thereby odaoa.
ted the nation 10 some belief 10 il as
political expedient, aud 10 that extent,
too, that, Mexican fashion, any Prcsi.
dent may be considered as easily to be
disposed Of, whenever bis political views,
however sound, come in coulict with
the ambitious projects of those around
him y
Come what may Of the movements Of
the politicians at Washington, the PEG.
pie SHOULD not for single instant relax
their vigilance. Whilst IL is true that
in most countries, under most govern.
ments, the private citizen is considered
as having quite enough to do if he at.
tends thoroughly to his own business
matters, here, unfortunately, he must
for the present burden himself with
the anxictics Of ruler, unless be would
have the heritage he desires TO leave to
bis children cngulpbed in the vortex Of
civil war Unable to face such a pos.
sible contingency, he must DO awake 10
every change, DO prepared at all times
to defesd the right; and If jus, now his
anxietics are greater than usual, let him
be assured that il u easier and cheaper
to fight with the ballot than the bullet;
easier to keepout usurpation and wrong,
than TO Dust them from seats once es-
tabllshed on the ruins of constitutions
l n