The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-01-06
. 3 IFrom the Cincinnati Enquirer, /
Gen. Shsrman's Insult to State Rights,

General William Tecumseh Sher-
man, in his speech at the Chicago
SOIdiers' Reunion, embraced the OPP
portunity to sneer at the great doctrine
of state rights, which our fathers re-
garded, and Fightfully, as the very
fabric institutions, He not only |
sneered at it, but he did more. He |
misrepresented it. He congratulated |
the soldiers ''Uhat they did not belong |
to that class OF our people in whose
hearts was planted from youth the |
pernicious doctrine of State power, |
and that the citizens should love a |
party OF the country better than the |
WhOle,'h General Sherman's intent |
is obvious, although he has chosen a |
clumsy form of expression. To hold |
TO Estate power" In his estimation,
is "pernicious doctrine" 1t would |
seem, therefore, that he believes that |
States have no power! They are moth |
ing but mere provinces of the General
Government. In saying this, he eth
er showed his utter ignorance of the
Constitution of our country Ito which |
afterwards he did the impudence to
appeall, or his complete disregard of
its provisions. He insulted the mem
ory of those who made that immortal
instrument. He insulted the political
faith of every Democrat in the coun-
try-inSulted 1t in the most Wanton
and cowardly manner t.1 e--
1t is to be regretted that some one
who does understand the theory of our
institutions did not raise after he had
concluded, and make the criticisms
which would naturally be inspired by
such a silly and Vindictive partisan
speech. Heaven save us if we are to
take our ideas of Government from
the political school in which he was
reared as better one than that which
inculcates the necessity efState power.
His school is the school in which de-
spots are reared It Is the school of
Imperialism. 1t is a school which
every lover of his country should
hate and detest. The pages Of history
are fruitful of cases where its pupils
have dug the grave of free institutions.
This man was not only impudeut
in his remarks, but he was untruth.
full He seeks to convey the impress
| sion that he, in particular and par
excellence manner, loves every pOr-
| tion of his country alike, How did
he evince it? When he arrived in
South Carolina with his conquering
hosts, did he treat her as he had treat
ed other members of the Southern
| Confederacy? He marked her out
for special Vengeance, and every step
of his progress through that part of
our country was characterized by
shocking rapine and devesting era
vity. If he loves all his country alike,
it must be simply the land, for he
has given the best evidence that he
hates the people Of one section of the
Union with malignant and bitter in
tensity. He hates them worse than he
does a foreign nation. ~
The democracy do not want to be
taught their political lessons by such
men as Sherman. They repudiate
from the beginning all this political
philosophy. They follow the great
lights of Washington, Jefferson and
Madison, in preference to the dim and
flickering Orbs of these modern days.
They will not with complacency see
the form of Government made by oul
ancestors derided, to which they are
attached with filial effection. They
Spurn and despise the motives which
prompted Sherman to offer his COW.
ardIy insult to their political faith.
Were we to be governed by his
, counsels, States would not only have
J no power, but the people themselves
would be In the same category. All
power would be vested In some arbi-
, trary and rackless military despote.
Sherman affects to think that State
rights are dead, because, at present
they are trampled upon by hideouc
political fraction, which has usurped
the control of all our public affairs.
He will find, in due time. his mistake.
and that the people will extricate
their liberties from the rufianIy grasp
of the men who haYc inflicted upon
them such injuries. State rights will
live and be maintained long after the
pretentions upstairs who have assault.
ted them are forgotten in the maze ot
| the past.