The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1869-09-04
Imperialism.

Tor IFS mnttotS. lie Empire Is Peace
Let us have Peace When all Europe
is gradually becoming more and more
republican. is it not !, little remarkable
that in the United States. Il paper advo-
eating the establishment of an imperial
government, should tind announcement
and support We are informed that the
President is one of its orig ginal s,lhscrib-
ers, and that it is backed by at least
three mcmhrrs OF the Cabinet. The
warm welcome which this journal has
met with is quite sufficient evidence that
its publication does but supply an al
ready existing demand,' says its editor.
Who are the advocates OF imperialism
iii this country \ change from the
kinGiy government of tIeorgr to i dem
orrary was so great. that many of the
-lfaders OF the revolution We're doubtful
of il, sue cess In rea,iinr the history
of that period, We find many were adj
vocates OF Il strong government. an her
editary Executive and Senators chosen
for life. but the good sense OF the ia
theirs of the constitution overcame all
opposition and succeeded in adopting
our present form of government. To-
wards the close Of Washingtors term
of office two parties were formed one
contendiny for IL liberal or atitu,lina-
J rlan construction, and the other for q.
strict one Of the constitution. The first
WAS IN favor Of increasing the powers of
the General Government: the second for
limiting its powers and increasing the
powers OF the state Governments. The
first was known ;lS the Federal and the
Scr"nd as the Democratic party. The
F~,lrralistS first succeeded Ivy electing
John Adams, but the measures OF that
Administrator, particularly the alien
and >etlition laws, became 80 odious that
jefferson, the head of the Democratic
party. was elected President after the
first term of Adams. Under his admin
iStrition, of light years. the principles
OF his party We're firmly established. and
the doctrine OF State rights became the
corner stone OF the Democratic party.
and So continued until the election of
Lincoln. During tie temporary success
ot the Federal party. under different
names. such as National Republicans
and Wings, an enlarged power was con
tcrred upon the General Government by
the establishment of the United States
Banks. by the passage of protective tar
IFS, and by the adoption OF IL system OF
internal improvements. The advocates
OF all these measures had still in them
. the leavtn OF federalism, and. by Il lib
eral construction of the grants Of power
iii the constitution, they hoped to make
this Government stronger and more cen
trallztd. The election OF a sectional
President. which was the Immediate
cause OF the war, was brought about by
the leaders OF the old Federal party.
with their ideas of stronger govern
ment, under the name of the Republican
party. The crusade against slavery
gave strength to this party. and it came
into power with the support OF Congress
aud OF the several State Governments
North. The arbitrary and unconstitu-
tional acts of Congress and the Execu-
tive during the progress of the war were
justified under the plea of necessity
But they all were OF character to
strengthen the general and take away
the rights OF the State Governments. No
one act could bring about consolidation
and corruption to so great an extent as
the passage OF the act establishing Ma
! tlonal banks. There are about seven
teen hundred of them, and they are To-
Gated in every Congressional district.
Their capital is credit, based upon the
public securities. With the enormous
capital, with its numerous officers, share
holders and dependants for facilities and
discounts, these banks have become the
controlling power in the Union, and so
great is the corruption Of members of
Congress that any measure which may
1,g~ n ....1
is readily passed. The very large pub
lie debt, caused by the war, has brought
into power another class of men, who
now, according to Senator Sprague, are
the shareholders of all the country, and
whose influence is quite equal to that of
the national banks-they are the bond
holders. These two powers-the mon
eyed powers of the country--are deeply
interested in protecting themselves, and,
as they fear the people and are uneasy
about reputation, are in favor of con-
solidatel government. The vast num-
ber of pensioners and the officers of the
army and navy have the same inclina-
ton towards centralism, and outside Of
all these will he found certain class of
citizens who never did and never will
believe in democracy. We do not say
! that every one OF these classes favor i'm
perialism but we do believe that o ma
jority would. The Radical party de-
rives it's strength from the power it
wields through the General Government,
and its support from the influences
pointed out. The conclusion is that all
those who have advocated and support
ed these measures-the banks, internal
improvements. protective tariffs and re-
construction acts-are in favor of .
strong central government, and will, at
the proper time, if it ever comes, aid in
| forming ii modified form of imperialism.
! 1t is from these sources that the editor
of the Imperialist says he has met with
quite sufficient evidence that its publi-
cation does but supply an already exist
ing demand. Among ether indications
leaning towards Imperialism is the Soci-
ETY. of the officers of the Army of the
| Dnk~xrao fha roncp, M ov, n a finn of tha