The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-12-03
Innoyations a2d Usurpations.


How true it is that one usurpation
leads tc. another Missouri, which has
given Grant a majority of several thou
sands. has Just voted down negro suf-.
fraee by nearly $4,000, with from 90
600 to 60,000s citizens DISTINGUISHED
who would have been with this ma ority
To 1865 negro suffrage was voted down
in Kansas, Colorado, Winconsln. and
later in Connecticut, Ohio, and Michi-
gan. All these States have voted for
Grant, aud in some of them, the Iaa-
iorities are immense. But, IN spite OF
the popular sentiment for Grant and
against negro suffrase, attempts will be
made to force upon Congress he latter
measure Indeed, the Government of
the sword which we have had for the
last three or four years, has been a
Government not of the People, nor OF
majorities, nor in accordance with the
Constitution, nor in harmony with what
is wise and rational, but the govern
ment ola minority, backed by the sword.
By excluding whole States from the
Ballot, in violation of the fundamental
law,-by excluding just enough mem
bers of Congress from the Senate and
House of Representatives to give the
Radicals two thirds,-what we call a
Republican Government is downright
usurpation of power. This is terribly
true of ths past. AID the same thing
will be attempted in the future. We
all know how the votes and voices of
white men have been smothered In all
the so-called reconstructed States, as
well as in those not reconstructed. We
We also know, now that the electoral
tables are made up. that even so popu-
IA, lar man and officer as Gen. Grant does
uoi represent majority of the male
citizens over FL years ofage, even if all
negroes preferring him in the Southern
States are counted in his favor. And
yet, withethe popular majority against
him, he is the President elect, with a
Senate and House to back him, which
Senate and House are ready, unless ar
rested by the Indignation Of the people,
to enter upon the new usurpation Of
controlling State suffrage. 1t is pain
fully true of political usurpations as it
is of all wrongs, public and private,
that
'We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
If we are still ready to permit Rump
Congress to rob States and citizens Of
their liberties, then indeed we are not
worthy of them. If, also, we allow our
selves to be .familiarized with these
usurpations, we then forge the chains
which fetter us. The cries of Liberty
are often but another name for license
and disorder. The individual and cor
porate vices of our country never APP,
proxi;lated what they are to-day, aud
one chief reason is, the indulgence 10
what is called personal liberty. Even
mis- called philanthropists apologize for
certain crimes upon the ground that
they are but sort of exuberance of
fancy, and that natural freedom Of
thought and conduct which all men
have right to indulge Intelligent
and good women in their way do not
like to see mother punished for in
fanticide, because she has had great
temptations! The old land marks and
the old laws are trodden under foot in
private life, WhiIe, politicians dospise
that autonomy of States and Municip-
alities, which not only secures their own
freedom from encroachment, but the
true independence of the Republican.
We submit that little more reverence
for Constitutional law, and little more
respect for what is called the dead past,
will improve both the politics aud NOR
ais of the Government aud the People
Ne,o YORK. Express.