Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1881-07-06
One Lesson.

has so aroused the country. This is un-
charitable to say the least. They are no
more culpabe for such a deed than thou-
sands of others. But one Of the lessons
which it is hoped the shooting of the
President NAV inculcate in the minds Of
the American people is that we are get
ting to indulge too great license (not lio-
erty) in discussing public meo and rulers.
The moment one of our leaders of either
party does some act that is not in accord
with the popular sentiment or the views
of those who aided in elevating them,
they are inveighed against in the most
yindictive manner, the sad result Of
which has before been witnessed. 1t is
high time that the nation as we'll as lndl-
viduals began to exhibit a little of that
charity inculcated by the teachings OF
Him who "taught as one having anthor-
ity."
The Tribune discussing this subject
well says:
'sThe political fanaticism has been
little short of madness. The country has
seen the widest rawlings Of abuse about
the President, and has paid little atten-
tion-but not because it thought the men
who ut, cred tn EN- insane. 1t has listen
ed to malignant scandals which it has
seemed impossible that sane citizens
would utter regarding the Chief Magis-
trate of their country, but has listened
with contempt, fancying that the fanati-
cism Of faction would go no farther. But
curses and threats are followed at last by
murderouS shots, and the country starts
with horror. Never again will any sane
man cry, sI am a Stalwart of the Stall
wartsr' Never again will a blind and
furious fanaticiSm Of faction seem to sane
men thing to boast of. AS Booth end
ed the rebellion by showing what it's real
spirit was, so this horrid flash Of light,
which shows how narrow is the dividing
line between factions frenzy and Mexi-
can assassination, will bring an end, let
US hope, to a most shameful phase of
partisanship in this country.
''Truly, the ways Of Providence are in
scrutable. That this grand President, SO
great and good, SO kindly and so true,
whose life seemed so full of promise for
the land should be stricken down, seems
beyond human understanding. And yet,
the Infinite Father has been too good to
this people for us to doubt that His care
is over us still. Perhaps this Nation
needed to be taught some things which
only a great affliction and shame could
teach. Perhaps it needed to be taught
that the worship of men had gone too
far. Perhaps it was necessary in order
to save this country from gradual Nexi-
canization, to force home the conviction
that the spirit of faction is at war with
the very existance of free institutions.
Must we not realize, in the light of the
dreadful calamity at Washington, that
those who breed ard nurse this malig-
nant, selfish, grasping and desperate
spirit are aiming blow at the life of the
Republic?"
Under our system of government bad
rulers can do little harm, and political
traitors are soon cast aside by that silent
but potent, irresistible power, the ballot.
It is much more in accord with the spirit
and genius of our free government to suf-
fer patiently for little time, wrongs,
real or imaginary, trusting to the good
sense of the people to right them, than to
foment discord and discomfort by fac
tious opposition,