The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-06-24

), HHE eoMINe pANGRR..
Are we Approaching an Empife?a
.aal'I Fromethe New York Citizen. h

Gashd Fromethe New York Citizen.H 9lG 81
q9s 9sdIAIPEHRING3 IsfRERIALIsM.i hsid 4
We have already commentedo on the
startling fact that in this year of grace
1869, in the Republic of the Omitted
States, aud in the metropolis of that
an organ is now established
which boldly advocates "a change, of
our form of government from Re-
to Imperialism. Such
paper is published, not only without
molestation, but almost without re-.
monstrance. 1t is certain that no. Fe-
monstranee comes from the Journals
which are the peculiar advocates OF
what passes for political .!republican-i
ism now. On the contrary, leading
journals of this character have gladly
seized the offered opportunity, s under
cover of presenting the platform of
the new Imperial organ, to ventillate
their own views as to the assumed ne
cessity of at least some sort of more
centralized aud stronger form of gov
eminent for the nation. Moreover, it
Isl ihpld ldly. asserted by a. respectable
newspaper in New Jersey, that the
ayoWed advocate Of imperialism is
"edited under r.theauspiees and at the
cost of the Secretary OF the. Navy
Mr. Adolph Bofie"--and, still further,
that Grant himself lends countenance
to the scheme, by aiding will, money
and means its circulation among his
friends BlBoa Z-'li3 ,id8ia nGfii ~s@ii
The strength of this statement lies
in the fact that it is NOT denied, and
3further, in the fact that its eager rep
Radical journals through
sout theyconntry Ineetswith no remon-
istrsnee or, rebake. This is the more
startling when we reflect that within
a very brief period--for expressing
opiaions upon what was assumed to
be the .'government," but which was
really nothing more than a party
jusnrping understandable po W rs
tjoarhaise have been ssumfnarily sup
Tpressed, and editors have been i'm
prisOned, and that too without even
the 1pretehce of warrant for such pro-
scription and proceedings. 9 With this
positive history fresh in mind. to put
it in the mildest manner, it is certainly
singular that .Brazen propositions to
not merely change, but; to violently
overthrow our constitutional form of
government, should not only be per-
mitted, hut actually be encouraged by
those who hold high Office at the peo-
pies hands. 80 Ea,..'f, 7 " r,..-.,,' "a.
Y Its aH well to say that these open
expressions of views in favor ofiinl-
pefialism in this. country are mere
ephemsraf exhalations; Of SO much
VaIor. But when a. Journal like the
Roindi Table grayelp declares that we
are drifting into imperialism" and
whenls representative Republican pa
paperllikelthe Cincinnati Commercial
'taKswabon coming cenfralization
which is to absorb and govern the
whole continent, and make this city
@what London is to Great Britain and
Sts Petersburg to an empire only less
extensive than ours" we may well
wake up to what seems near at hand.
81 n 3*1I .*a0iF5*Is 5a* 81 ~ .
To sustain, certainly continue, such
extraordinary usurpation,p the selec-
ton of amilitary leader, as the nomi-
nal head of the government, was not
only natural, but imperative. i From
sucha an assumed despotism, actual
imperialism is an easy steps 1t is idle
to attempt to disguise the danger that
lies at the very door, or to ignore the
impending shack (which may shatter
the very last of s our liberties. Nor
will il do ote.turn up ourinoses in dis
daiA at the presumed weakness and
incompetency of the t'nan on horse
back.8 Up Ito the very hour. of the
coatp Getat. half the world and all of
France thought Louis Napoleon a fool.
In the past eight years; the peopleMf
this country have been zunwittingly,
but steadily, preparing themselves for
imperial lrnle. Prop after prop has
been knocked from under the broad
republican platform on which our
whole rights rest, and when the final
fall comes, the staging has been so
weakened, and the people have so
gradually sunk, that the shock will be
slight. 81 The radical party have ex-
hausted the means which placed it in
power. The tissues which made the
party have passed away To continue
that power some desperate resort is
necessary What will that resort be !?
Themew administration started with
the cry ofs.L Let us have peace, . and
now, after two months; the order goes
forth for an active enlistment for a
standing army. What does this mean !?
Is it necessary to prop peace with
more bayonets?' Military men be-
7lieve that all measures must be con
Quoted by military means. 'sl''.
iai Aud the alarming feature of the en-
tire situation is the utter apathy of
the people as to what may impend, or
what come. II Is to be feared that
the mass of us are like the great mid
die class of France, who do not care
what particular form Of government
obtains SO long as they are permitted
to make money and are let alone. Our
own quiet submission to a gradual
but persistent dsurpation of what we
once considered sacred rights the
growing love for luxury and cxtrava-
ganee so prevalent throughout the
country the forced feeling that re-
pubIicanism, at least as radicalism has
administered it and construed it, is a
failure and that fatal facility we have
for change for the better-thcsc are
the dangers of TODAY. 1t becomes