The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-09-17
The Empire---LO! 1t Is Here !
From the Detroit { Michigan Union

FROM the DctrOlt Mlchlgan Union.
Said friend Of the Radical persua-
sion, sitting near our editorial elbow
but q, few days ago, reading the Impe-
ridlist, and all at once throwing it down
on the table with heavy hand "The
Office in which that paper is published
ought to be mobbed." Startled for a
moment by his furious demonstrations
and bitter language, for be it known he
is one of the most aniable of men, as
men go nowadays, we vcntured to ask.
after short interval had elapsed, why
he was moved to use such violent Ian
guage. Because" said he, "it is dis
grace to the country. and besides, its
statements are false and revolutionary.
and the people will never consent to do
away with Republican form of gov
ernment and build an Empire upon its
ruins" ..
My friend, we answered, this journal
which you denounce in such bitter terms
is bnt an outgrowth of that policy in
by the party which you so
heartily support, and a legitimate out
grtS.th at that, be it disgrace to the
country and journalism or not. What
it says relative to our present form of
government-and when we say "prcs-
cnt form of government" we mean no
more nor less than the Radical policy,
which is the government now-is true,
and not false: and although it is true,
rs you state, that the doctrines which ii
teaches are revolutionary, remember
sir it is only attempting to carry out to
a successful conclusion, those revolu-
tionary dogmas inaugurated by your
party in 1861, and which have increased
in number and strength every day and
year during the reign of a Radical ad-
ministration. You say the people will
never consent to build an Empire upon
the ruins Of the Republic. You are
mistaken: they have oiready consented.
and the Empire you SO much detest is
here this very moment, and all that is
necessary to complete the whole fabric
is to name the Emperor, and christcn
this. your S0-cnlled Republic, an En-
pire, and it is done.
Startling as it may appear to YOU.
reader, and incredible, these are facts.
and we might better come manfullv
forth and admit it, and not attempt to
blind our eyes further to the great dan
gers staring us in the face. We repeat
it, the Empire Is here, and has grown
upon us go gradually, day by day and
year by year, that it has been almost
imperceptiblc. 1t is true that the Dem
ocratic party saw the dangers, and in.
terposed their voice against the revolu.
tionary proceedings of the dominant
party, and uttered solemn protest OF
warning, but they were scofled and
sneered at, denounced as traitors to
their country. and thrown into bastics
and left to pine and die because they
dared to be true to the government OF
their fathers because they would not
be recreant to their oaths, their con-
science, and their God.
1t is said that it is not possible to es-
tablish an Empire in this country. What
more is necessary, pray tell us, to estab-
lish it than we now have, except an En-.
peror publicly recognized as such, and
we must remember that this is the sim.
plest and most insignificant part OF il
all. What have we, as a people, remain.
ing of what was once q Federal Gov,
ernment under the constitution? Whert
is that glorious union of States of which
we were so proud? Shattered and tori
asunder And this! This is but s
skeleton Of the past, and political cor
morants are quarreling over the bones
Where is that sovereignty of State!
which we were wont to look upon will
pride, and boasted that it was the yer,
citadel of American liberty? Wher,
is that constitution which we looked up
on with such sacred love and reverence
Spit upon and scofled at by those wht
registered their oaths in heaven to pro
tect and defend it. We have scarcely
vestige Of our original form of govern
ment remaining! The coordinate de
partments Of the government have al
been absorbed, and to-day despotc anc
corrupt Congress is the tyrant rulin.
over us, and destroying our liberties
nay, has destroyed them already, anc
has given us the substance Of an En-
pire without the name, and the peopl
have blindly and almost tamely submit
ted to the decree. We repeat it again
the substance of an Empire has alread,
been built upon the ruins of the Repub
lie, and the name Federm Government
is henceforth an empty title-simply al
abuse Of names.