The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-16
The Revolutionary Programme Of the Radi
cal OIiQarchy.

The revelations of the plots and designs
of the radical oligarchy at Washington
which we published yesterday should arouse
the people to a sense of the danger that
is threatening them. 1t has been well
said that eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty; for it is in times Of apathy and
fancied security that tyrants usurp power
| people become wearied and worn out with ap-
parently useless efforts to stem the march of
usurpation. The castle that is subject to con-
tinual assaults crumbles piece by piece, and
its defenders become exhausted; then by a
sudden coup de main it falls. 1t is just the
same with the liberties of people. The vol
ume of history is full of examples. They result
from the laws and passions of human nature,
which are the same in all times and everywhere,
and the consequences are as inevitable as the
successive ebb and flow of the tide.
The radical conspiracy at Washington to
overthrow the constitution and government
for the purpose of perpetuating the power Of
the dominant party, may or may not have
formed definite plan or have calculated
exactly the end to be attained. Revoutionists
rarely do this at first. They generally expect
to halt at some point short of that which
is finally reached; but as it has been often
remarked revolutions do not go backward. In
fact, they advance with accumulative force as
the passions become inlamed, and as the party
| controlling them feel their increasing power
| The end is the same-the destruction of con-
stitutional liberty, whether the revolutionists
calculate all the consequences or not, whether
the end be the despotism of one man or of a
faction or oligarchy. 1t seems, however, from
our important Washington correspondence, to
which we have referred, that some of the lead
ing radical conspirators, if not all, have a
pretty well defined programme and object. II
all the faction be not in the secret the leaders
seem to understand perfectly what they are
driving at. They have no doubt that under the
despotism of party control, which has become
absolute in this country, they can carry all the
radical republicans with them, whether they
explain their purpose or not, or however far
they may carry the revolution. They believe,
and we think with good reason, that theil
party will 20 with them even to the establish
ment of perpetual Congress, Directory
after the manner of the French, q Presiden
for ten years. military dictator or monarchy
The great leader of the party, That
Stevens, has publicly declared the constitution
abolished and that Congress Is acting outside
of it. Others believe the same, If they arr
not as frank in avowing It, and the whole
party in Congress are acting upon that pre-
sumption. This, consequently, is the start
i ing point Of the contemplated revolution In tn
government. They do not recognize the con
. stitution and are acting outside of it. Their
= is no difficulty in perceiving what wide doc
u is opened for doing whatever they choose
u There being no recognition Of constitutions
, obligations the radical party in Congress is, q
= Butler declared the Senate TO be in the i'm
s parchment trial, law to themselves, and
n therefore, they will do whatever they like 1
l. revolutionizing the government and mantsinin
, their power. This is the natural and logics
. result of their views and policy.
Of The programme, then, is to remove Presi
dent Johnson, although there is but the films
e est pretext for doing so, and though the Who'll
=, civilized world cry shame upon the outrag,
;, The installation of Ben Wade, one of the mo,
At ultra and violent Jacobins of the party, wi
follow Then the Supreme Court will he Writ,
ally abolished and stripped of all power to al
- upon the doings of Congress. General Gran
lg who is at present military dictatos over