Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-13
M WHEAT ARE WE DRIFTING y

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The admonitions of this journal have too
clearly in dictated the tendency OF the times,
far ,nv one not ignorantly blind to mistake
the meaning of our prophecy; or if not true,
the inevitable decree that our Nation, like
those preceding it, is fast drifting into the
maelstrom of destruction. The war, terrible
in its consequences, disastrous in its results,
has now been ended for four years and more,
and what do we witness? That portion of
the country that gave life to the nation and
the only vital principles to the Constitution,
upon which Republic can exist, is still
fettered, bound hand and foot-ruled with
rod of iron and lashed with the tongues of
scorpions. Can this be so, and how long is it
to continue Concession, humiliation or COM
promise is but regarded as weakness or base
subserviency, and the measure of aggression
upon vested rights is melted out accordingly.
But it is not simply of State, individual or
personal rights violated, that we now desire
to speak, but the tendency of the whole leg
islation of the Government is to anarchy,
ruin and destruction to the Nation. elf this
be treason, make the most of il" but what
will YOU respond to the following admonitory
comments from the Baltimore Gazette OF Sa-
turday:
1.-THE LmpcridliSt, new journal which
Yesterday made its appearance in New York
insists that Democracy is failure, and ad-
vocates the establishment Of monarchlal
Government We are glad to know that be-
fore this great change takes place Congress
nroposes to immortalize the republic by get
ting up gigantic lottery scheme. bill has
been introduced in TIE Senate, and has passed
to third reading, which gives to certain in
dividuals "the right, privilege and franchise
of devising such ways and means as they may
desire for the distribution of money or prop
ertv for the term of twenty years from the
date Of the passage Of this act" OF course
the object of this lottery is strictly moral loyal
and patriotic, as is every other measure OF the
present Congress.
The parties to whom this valuable franchise
is given are greatly concerned that the monu-
ments in course of erection at the National
Capital to the memory of Washington and
Lincoln have never been completed. They
are grieved at this latest example of the pro-
verbal iugruttude of Republics. They pro
pose, therefore, to pay one hunured thousahu
dollars per annum tor twenty years, the first
two hundred thousand dollars to be credited
to the Lincoln Monument Association, and
the balance to the Washington Monument
Association As Mr.. Lincoln is held in tresher
and more fervid remembrance hy loyal people.
aud his name will be more likely to awaken
popular enthusiasm than that of Washington,
his monument is. properly enough, to be
credited with the first instruments. All that
the devisers Of this loyal scheme ask is the
privilege of carrying on the lottery business
in this country for twenty years to come, aud
it seems as though they are about to obtain it.
The monuments to Washington and Lincoln
may never he built but Tor long years after
the coming Emperor has been enthroned, we
shall have in the periodical drawings of the
grand national lottery refreshing, and perhaps
remunerative. reminders, Of the latter days OF
the model Republic"