The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-06-21


hands the administration Of justice,
and tho redress Of wrongs, the ne
cessity no longer exists for laws and
judicial tribunals The lyuehings
which disgrace many parts Of our
country, no difference how outrageous
tho crimes they punish, they are In
consistent with the pria,iplc Of civil.
zstion and good government That
every one should obey the laws enacted
by the properly co instituted authorities,
is a proposition SO evident for the good
Of all, that 1t Is only to be stated, to be
believed. The greatest evil perhaps u
any with which wS-asa Nation had to
contend, aud which came very near
dissolVipg tho Union, has passed into
history. The Story ofthe African slave,
which required two hundred years Of
toll and four years Of blood.letting to
break his chains, will DO read by unborn
millions, With mixed feelings Of pain and
pleasure. For US who witnessed the
scene and took part 10 the struggle
it is but Just that We should read it 10
sadness, and remember il ia sorrow.
The greatest danger now TO the per-
peIuity Of snr government and to it,
peace, is tho danger resulting from fire.
qusnt elections aud the manner 10
which they are conducted by the party
manipulators. A government which
requires Eve hundred millions Of dol.
lars toTpay lis annual expenses, aud
more than one hundred thousand Off.
GERS to perfosm its diversified duties,
must necessarily produce in the public
mind much interest aud great excite.
ment, at the outgoing Of The old, and
in coming Of the new administra-
ton. The desire Of the politician
for power, and love for the emol-
uments Of Office, arc greatly to DO
dreaded. In the early days Of the
Republic tho truest patriots and wisest
statesmen, stood back and waited for
the people to call them into the eoun-
try's service. But It is not SO to-day.
The candidates call the people and tell
them that unless they elect them to
Office the country, or rather the party
will DO ruined. Ambitious men and
unscrupulous party leaders, backed up
by large sums Of money, may be en-
abled under some false protext to mad
den the masses, and arouse them to the
highest pitch Of fansticism. The past
affords many examples Of the astonish-
ing effects Of fanaticism, upon human
conduct. Perhaps the most remarsa-
bic is TO DO found in the history Of the
crusades.
When Peter the hermit first COM
menced preaching a crusade against the
intidels, he was regarded as q mailman.
But the fanatic FIRE which burned in
his bosom was soon impaired to others,
until at last 1t spread faml through.
out Europe, from tho sunny plains Of
Italy, TO the iceberghs Of the north
from the court Of CASTLE, to Byzanti.
um. All ages and sexes were enlisted
and mingled in the contest. And it is
with wonder amounting almost to In
credulity, that at period ofnear eight
hundred years. we look back upon
those stupendous expeditions. Then
might be seen q world arrayed in arms,
TO decide by oceans Of blood, aud mill.
ions Of treasure, tho unimportant and
frivilous question, who should have
possession Of an empty scpulchrei Blu
frivolous and vain as it might appear,
upwards Of a million we're clad in arms
to contest it, Famine could not arres
them, nor pestileuce deter them
AT last, the banner Of the eros
was planted by the battlemonts d
tho Hely City, and the sands Of Pales.
tine were drenched in blood. Such 1
fanaticisnl Age, reason, bow anc
falter to its rcsistless power. The "a
naticism Of The dsmagcguc, may ever
surpass all this. Oliver Cromwell,
bold and fearless adyenturer, under Ii,
guiss Of the friend otlibcrty-strucl
down the British Throue-iisperset
the British Parliamcnt-placod th,
British people under tribute to bis sol.
diery-trampled in the dust British
Magma Charta-proclaimed the Com
monwealth-madc himself dictator, ant
ruled with imperial sway, to the houl
Of bis death. The violence Of party
the various and discordant interests o
our wide extended countryside chang,
Of our manners from ihe republican
simplicity Of our fathers, aud their as
similation to the aristocraiic habits o
the old world the spirit Of man wer
ship 50 frequently exhibitcd-tho NOR.
bid desire for popularity and pandSrint
to the capriceS Of tho people-thc fire.
quent disregard Of the purity ofelec
tons and violations Of law, tend /,
exercise most deleterious influence
upon our institutions, and undermine
the foundations Of government
would mot be understood TO mean tha,
the signs Of the times nortend tbt
downfall Of this government. | d.
not believe It, and thc object Of my id.
dress has not been to provo shy such
proposition. Though l have only
looked .at.the dark side oftho question
yet il BY no means follows, there is moi
also 4 bright one. One Of our most
accomplished statesman has oloquently
said that che golden dream Of a Seneca
has been realiled-that The Uuliimu
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