The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-10-21

Assc Al. IN ftOAAieA. oiBhAiNs'
a flaming, indignant protest against the
interference Of the Federal Admins
tratjon with the domestic concerns OF
the States. 1t is high time for such a
protest. During the war, when the
very life of the nation was in danger, we
tolerated a concentration Of power in
the Federal Government which, in ear
lier times, would have been resented
and resisted. After the war, when the
reconstruction and restoration of the
Southern States rendered necessary ex-
traordinary remedies for an extraordi-
nary difficulty, we recognized the fact
that those States were in an anomalous
condition, which justified measures
quite inexcusable if applied to the af-
fairs Of well organized and Loyalty gov
erned commonwealth.
But the habit Of resorting to such ex-
IRENE measures, in dealing with States
disorganized and destitute Of well estab-
lished selfgovernment, has grown upon
the federal authority until the just limit
of national interference has been almost
obliterated. President Grant soldier
by education, wholly inexperienced in
political affairs, and incapable, as SOL
dier, of comprehending the relation Of
the States to the nation in our complex
system Of government has more than
once betrayed an inclination to regard
State government and State authority
with contempt, and his dealings with
Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi have
been Of very questionable propriety.
Yet they were excused because of the
unsettled condition of these States; and
the habit Of interference, thus unresist-
ed, has gained such mastery with him
that he now boldly undertakes to use
his executive power to control the cleo
ton in a State as orderly, peaceful and
thoroughly organized as any State in
the Union
If this tendency is not checked we
shall soon have Capitalization OF
power as absolute as that which existed
under Napoleon in France. Elections
will become mere farce. When the
people vote they will merely register the
edicts of their masters at Washington.
The name of local selfgovernment only
will be left; the reality will be lost and
State lines and State governments might
as well, for all practical purposes, be
wholly obliterated.
President Grant attempts to dictate
to the people of Missouri, and they
protest, and Indignantly spurn the dicta-
ton. That is the meaning Of this
speech, and of the overwhelming ma
jOrity which will endorse it. The peo-
pie will say to General Grant "You are
our servant, not our master They
will tell him that the federal govern
ment has no business to control elections
in State.
No matter how wise the President
may be, no matter how complete may
have been his success in administering
the National affairs committed to his
charge, we still demand for ourselves
the privilege of electing our own State
officers, and directingat our own pleas
ure the local affairs of the State in
which we live When the votes are
polled, it will appear that the people of
Missouri have at least this much Of at
tachment for Estate sovereignty" that
they mean to manage their local affairs
without any dictation from Washing
ton. When the Presidents letter was
written, we thought it blunder he
would soon discover. Now that he
follows it up by removing officials, he
turns the inevitable defeat and over
throw of the proscriptive policy IN Mis-
souri, into rebuke of himself.
The President seeks to control this !
State by Federal patronage. 1t is very
appropriate that he should take this
method of combating party which |
is the first fn the country to declare
"that the safety Of republican institu-
tons demands thorough reform OF the
civil service of the government, by |
which ability and moral worth shall be
established as the essential qualifica-
tons for office, and the corruption and
demoralizing influence Of what is eu-
phoniously called government patron
age shall be removedfrom our political
life"
This idea does not suit the President |
By the use OF that same government
patronage he has rewarded relatives
and personal friends; and now he
endeavors to crush party which labors
honestly to fulfill pledges which he
seems to have forgotten. We regret
that he regards it direct blow at him
self to propose the abolition Of govern
ment patronage, with its corruption and
demoralizing influence. 1t was not so
intended. But he is doing his best to
teach the freemen of Missouri that this |
reform is necessary to secure their free
dom of choice in local elections.