The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-12-04
Thc Power Of the Exc Culiye

proposition emanAteS from some
vt the radical sources to resto ore to
the next President Of the United
States the full power with which
the Constitution clothes him. .+
Andrew johnson, for refusing to
become the plant tool Of unscru-
ruious dcmagogues, was shorn Of
his legitimate authority by Con.
gress which stolo the prerosative Of
tho Supreme Court with one hand
while it snatched power from the
Chief Executive with the other.
Now that Grant is elected, the
radicals are forced to ask them
selves the question, whether this
illegitimatc usurpation shall con-
tinuc, or shall yield to the wiser
provisions of the Constitution,
which divides the government into
three coordinate, but independent,
branohcs-the Executive, Judici-
airy and Legislative.
The question would not remain
long in allegiance provided the radi-
calls were quite certain that Gen
Grant would prove a ready and
submissive instrument in their hands.
A growing fear exists amongst them,
however, that Grant may retain
some lingering respect for constitu-
tional government, and that in .
quiet but not unvigorous manner he
win hereafter assert his opinions.
The suspicion is not wholly with
out credit that the new President
may 60 to the other extreme, and
permit personal ambition, born of
military success, to control his
conduct.
We admit the possibility of such
disaster, but entertain q hope
j. that the new responsibilities thrust
upon Grant will bring out new quail
ties, which may have heretofore
lain latent. but certainly have not
been developed. In other words, it
is possible that the Soldier, in the
cxigencies Of the hour may prove
himself q statesman.
But just at this moment, wc are
told by some of the snarling ours Of
the radical press that all this is
none Of our business .'that the
ballot-hox has very plainly ordered
the Democratic party to take back
seats, and to remember that our ad-
vice is not required" Surely, the
welfare Of the country is of some
Importance to the two and a half
million voters who cast their bal
lots for the Democratic candidates
ut the recent election. So far as
the distribution of patronage-the
sharing Of plunder-is concerned,
We have nothing to say. But in
behalf Of that government for which
our fathers fought, and which the
Democracy maintained in vigorous
splendor for sixty years, We shall
not cease to speak nor to labor.
Passing. then, the insolence OF
the smaller try radical newspa-
pers, and recurring to tue question
of Executive power, we think that
the whole democratic party favors
the restoration of constitutional
rights to the President and the Su-
preme Court, rs we'll as to the peo-
pie Of all the States.
If the authority of each is ack-
nowledged, any attempt at further
usurpatian by either may be promptly
checked by the others.
But we are not blind to tho fact
that the radical Congress keeps two
distinct acts Of laws constantly at
hand. With one they bind the man
who sometimes yields party to patri-
otism, whilo with the other they
give undue authority to q merely
partizan cohort. They will contin.
nc this course. doubtless. despite
all counsel, just as long as--in the
language of their late acknowledged
leadcr-''thcy act outside Of the
Constitution. Utica Observer.