The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-07-27

evitably to weakness. A disregard of the
healthful rules prescribed by the founders
of the Republic must end in decay. What
we need to insure to our glorious Union
long life and prosperity is that we should
keep the people strong by limiting the
action of government TO IFS simple, neces-
sary duties The govt rnment, too, VIII
then be strong in its simplicity and in its
secure reliance upon free people.
Under system which seeks by one
central agency to look after everything in
every part Of our extended country, moth
ing will be ell looked after. The public
service must necessarily become more and
more corrupt; for watchfulness over the
countless host of subordinate officers be-
comes an impossible task. One of the
most effective measures to-day toward q
much needed civil service reform would be
to simplify our tax laws, both those which
regulate the tariff and those relating to the
internal revenue, and thereby to reduce the
officers engaged in their enforcement to q
number that can be well watched.
1t is right that the practice of celebrating
the Fourth of July should be kept up by
the Tammany Society, founded, as it was,
for the purpose of resisting efforts made,
soon after its formation, to divert our gov
practice. You will celebrate the day, |
am sure, not as mere partisans, but as
Americans, claiming sympathy with and
from all who have faith ia the constitu-
ton and pride in the past history of our
land, and all who are ready to guard the
American system of government as well
from decay as assault. 1t is essential, es-
pecially at this time, that our people
should be reminded at what cost our Fl, e
government was established, what vigi-
lance on the part of great leaders it has
required to preserve it from time to time,
and that they should be reminded, also,
that we here have, in fac, the guardian
ship of the cause OF popular freedom for
the whole human race No event could
occur that would be more disgracetul in
the hi story of man than that We, with our
eminent advantages and with this great
trust i'll our hand, should suffer free gov
eminent to be lost on this continent, and
should initiate here the bad examples
found in the Old World, making Ole man
and his will supreme over the people and
their rights.
We should not omit, on this occasion, to
recall to our memory the illusfrious ad-
ministrations of Jefferson and Jackson,
who, when called at different periods IN
our history to the Presidency, although
themselves clothed with the 1eAtensIve
powers legitimately belonging To that nigh
office, and having, each of them. an eX-
ira prdlnary degree OF personal influence
resulting from the confidence and attach
ment of the people, abstained from
taking advantage thereof to enlarge
their own powers, but, on the contrary,
devoted themselves to restoring the
proper limits upon both the ex-
ecutive and legislative departments
Of the Federal Government, which
had been, in many respects, overlooked
aud disregarded by their predecessors.
W. shall best do honor to the memory Of
these two great statesmen by ourselves
renewit & the WORK in which they were
so earnest, restraining uuWlee and inn
provident legislation restoring simplicity
aud consequent purity in the administers
ton Of Federal affairs, combating the
disposition of Congress to NEEDLE with
matters outside Of their juris fiction, les
SEEMING the burdens ct taxation. and put
ing tn" government once more on the
safe track pointed out in the chart left to
US by the wise founders Of the Republic
The acceptance or nOn-ecCeptanCe OF
certain amendments which have recently
been made a part OF the Constitution Of
the United States is not practical qUes-
ton. The civil status Of thc colored man
is establ shed, and he is in actual posses
sion of the right of suffrage. The task
before US IS to save the constitution, as
whole. TO save it as it is, requires our
best efforts. The question OF the day is
whether We are 10 live under cOnstitu
ton al all, which shall be construed by an
impartial court, so as 20 limit and restrain,
as it VAS intended TO DO, legislative and
executive power alike, or under hollow
form of constitution, interpreted accord
ing to the expectancy of the hour by Con
gr SIS itself, such expeditncy being En-
| forced by an unrestrained executive The
! danger is imminent that we may lose sight
of the principles upon which this govern
menJ is founded, and which constitute its
vital force-principles which gave TO the
| Republic great prosperity before the war,
and in war saved it from dissolution.
Very truly yours,