Year: 1869

from the Phlladelpnla News an artl-
Gle that says, There never has been
"a time since our country existed
s'as an Independent nation when
there was so little political exei,e-
ament as at present" and an argi-
ment follows that it is because the
nation is plundered and the people
are holding their breath to see what
may be the next terrible outrage
committed on their rights. Much of
the letbargy Of the people is charged
upon the Free School system, which
the writer says has, by cheapening
the means of education, rendered it
undesirable and unsought for by the
better classes, and consequently lg-
norance is responsible for the quiet
that reigns in the political world.
Intelligence has deserted the halls Of
legislation under the system OF cheap
education and common schools,
when if high schools and expensive
colleges had been the only sources
for obtaining an education common
people would never have learned the
pernicious habit OF reading, and con-
sequently would not have aspired to
the places they wrongiuily occupy, to
the disadvantage of gentlemen and
the sons Of gentlemen.


Altogether the article is the most
dispeptic and foolish Of anything
that has appeared even in the Demo-
cratic prints, although the News is
a leading paper and a manufacturer
of public opinion. How much ca
sier, more natural aud sensible il
would have been 10 ascribe the po-
litical quiet of which it speaks to its
proper source, the election of Gen'l
Grant to the Presidency and conf
dence in his ability and devotion to
country, assisted by a patriotic Con-
gress, the ont growth of free scho OILS
and liberal education, Why seek
ior unreasonable, impractical, un-
natural and false premises when the
real and the true are at hand We
have heard, in fact, Of those who
would lie for nothing rather than tell
the truth for pay, and this is as plain
an illustration of such conduct as
possible. The country has faith in
the party that has delivered it from
the laws Of Democratic death ; the
people feel secure in their rights and
know that 4 President, Cabinet, Sen
ate and House OF Representatives,
chosen by the people, OF the people
and for the people, can but have the
interests of the people at heart. =
They know too the shallowness and
false-beartedness 0t those who would
oersnade them we live in an age of
retrogrcssion, that wisdom and hon
esty have fed and gone into the
graves Of former generations. They
know on the contrary that this is an
age of advancement in light and
knowledge, in freedom OF thought
and of action. tempered with moral
honesty that 10 previous age has APP
proacled. and that the tendencies
are al! towards still better life and
wiser administration OF pubic and
private affiirs.


They see the United States 10 lay
| greater, grander, freer and stronger
than at anv former period OF fer ex-
jstence. and feel secure in h'r
strength and the reflected lght that
illumines every m IN that draws his
political faith from the fonntain OF
Democratic equal ty and Republican
| liberty. These are the reasons why
there is no more political stir among
the people. They feel that it is all
right and have confidence in the pI-
lot at the wheel, and not because
they are wailing with hated breath