The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-13

the oircums tances in which it arose. But the
Senate would not give way. IL was determined
enabled it TO keep down these elements in the
State likely to thwart its Will
All sense Of the rights Of others, all modera-
ton n council, all patriotic purposes were gone.
Faction, short-sigbted, insolent. mean, ruled the
State, and freedom had already perished. No
tyranny was ever more oppressive than this of the
Legislature transcending its power From this
tyranny to that Of Marius was q short step, and
IL even seemed to The people like an allevation
of misery. Again, to Syl,a and TO Pompey was
only change of factions, and 1t seemed only
another change of the same character when
Caesar established the empire on the ruins of
Roman freedom. Thus, when the first step is
taken, all the rest are easy.
We see the same sequence OF events IN the
great rebellion in England, when the grand
struggle OF q people for freedom, perverted by
faction, resulted only in the establishment OF
new tyranny. There also the necessities of the
people compelled them TO set aside the COnsti-
tuition. BY the execution of Charles the Const-
tuition was dissolved, and the Parliament became
a supreme power. II did not hold its power Tor
the public good, ready TO relinquish it when the
public good should require. 1t did not ondeayOr
to settle the peace of the country on perma-
nent constitutional basis. Itseemed determined
to perpetuate its virtual sovereignty. Guided
by faction only, it ignored the great truth that
every day that IL kept the country in that unset
tied state was day OF danger.
1t ruled more oppressiyey than the King had
done. Then Cromwell seized the supreme
power, and the great struggle for freedom failed
in the very hour Of its success. It was the same
in France. The Constitution was throw own away
by tho revolution and the Convention by ITS
Gonmittse of Safety, ruled with the most horri-
BILE afiiuence of despotic barbsrity. Torn by the
various factions, the country lay PROSTATE, ready
to become the prey OF any one bold enough to
seize the sovereign power Such was the posi-
tion when the Directory, the last of the govern
ing factions was displaced by Napoleon, and
the struggle that France had made for liberty
served only to crown an adventurer.
Our own situation is the same as that shown
in these instances Our constitution, limited in
its operation by the necessities of war, is
practically set aside by the party that rules in
Congress. Congress has before 1t but the one
obvious duty Of re-establshlng the operation
of the law tor state of peace. II ignores OF
denies this duty. 1t insists upon holding on tC
this dangerous power, insists that the Consttu
| tion is suspended, even superseded, and pro
| poses new plans. We have therefore reign o
| faction, and not of law, and in this CONDITION
| any event is possible. The only hope OF the
| nation lies in the character of the people They
| are more Intelligent than the people of other
nations, and their influence on the Government
| is more direct They only can prevent us from
sliding into the despotism of faction, to be fol
lowed by the despotisn OF some indlvldua
| party leader. They, through the elections
! must signally rebuke the despotc spirit u
which Congress now plays the dictator, or tn
| inevitable consequences Of this Congressiona
| suspension OF the Constitution will be tn
| destruction OF our freedom.