The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-01
The Remedy,

The National Ialtealigeacer publish
es o long letter from Hon. Alexander
I'll. Stephens in which he discusses the
causes and probable consequences of
the late war between the North and
South. Heargues to prove that we
are fast drifting to consolidation and
imperialism. We copy so much ofthe
letter as points out the remedy for the
dangers which threaten the total sub
version ef'our free institutions = k1
The Federal machinery for the last
ten years has been abnormal in its sae-
tions. Itmust be brought back to the
Jeffersonian doctrines, and made to
conform in its workings with the or
ganic, principles of its structure, be-
| fore there can possibly be a return of
the days of peace, harmony, prosperi-
ty and happiness, which formerly
| marked our course. There is no 9TH
er hope for constitutional liberty on
! this continent. Judge Nicholas may
:: dream dreams" about another coll
stitutional amendment providing a
new mode of electing the President,
| but the remedy lies in no such device
as that. 1t lies simply in bringing
! back the Government i'll its admins
tration to original first principles
/ This is to be done not by secession,
however rightfull and efficient d rem
edy that might be. That is abandoned
Nor is it to be done by force or vio-
lence of any kind, except the force of
reason and the power of truth. 1t is
to be done. if at all, at the ballot-boX.
Free institutions are more genera lily
lost than established, or strengthened
by resort to physical force. They
are eminently the achievement of vir-
tue, patriotism and. reason. That of
institutions, and even nominal form of
government, is now in great danger,
I the prudent, sagacious and wise every
where virtually admit. An able ed
itorial in your own paper not long
since, put the. pertinent and grave
question, (" Whittier are we drifting p
| To this question l take the occasion
for one to give you a direct and posi-
tive answer. We are drifting to con-
solidation and empire, and will land
there at no distant period as certainly
as the sun will set this day, unless the
| people of the several States awake to
the proper appreciation of the danger,
and save themselves from the impend-
ing catastrophe by arresting the pres
ent tendency'of public affairs. This
they can properly do only at the ibal-
lot-box. Ali friends Unconstitutional
liberty, in every section and State,
must unite in this grand effort. They
must seriously consider and even re-
consider many questions, to which
they have given slight attention here
tofore. They must acquaint them
. selves with the principles of their
Government, and provide security for
the future by studying and correcting
the errors OF. the past. @ II.
This is the only hope, as have sta
ted, for the continuance of. even. our
present nominal form Of Government
Depend upon it, there is no difference
| between consolidation and empire
No difference between centralism and
! imperiahsmt The end of either, as
well of all of them, is the, overthrow
of liberty and the establishment of
despotism. 1 give you the words OF
truth in great earnestness-words
which, however received or needed
now, will be rendered eternally true
by the developments of the future. r,
Yours, most respectfully,
I 7t'f+-r' ALEXANDER III. STEPHENS.