The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-05-17
The South and Consolidated Des-
pOtiSm.

The trans ton of central authority |
from sectional oligarchy to an impe-
rial despot has been SO yelled by fede- |
raj republican forms of speech and
procedure, and so smootlled by kind
OF unconscious preparation Of the pop
ular mind, that until recently the
change was hardly to be realized with
out careful analysis of the political
situation. But the passage of the Ku-
Klux bill was an unmistakable an
nouncement by the majority in Cou-
sress that the federal republic was no
more, and this announcement is re-
peated in the proclamation by Prcsi-
dent Grant expressly accepting the
imperial powers rendered by the bill,
anu declaring the intention to exercise
them in the fuluess of his discretion
"This law of Congress-" says the pro-
clamation, "applies to all parts of the
United States, and will be enforced
everywhere to the extent of the powers
vested in the Executive" The signili-
canoe of this statement is only height
ened by the special caution addressed
to the people in "certain localities late
~ the theatre of insurrection and mill
tary conflict" For the immediate oc-
casion, it is confessed, did not call for
an explicit reference 10y the President
to the universal applicability of tile
law, and for his covert threat TO visit
the utmost rigors of the arbitrary au-
thority vested in him upon any North
ern community which may hereafter,
in his Judgment, be deserving Of the
! infection.
Such lofty, dictatorial, and menacing
language will doubtless startle not
few adherents of the Presidents own
party; and it may well open the eyes
of the whole people, irrespective of
party or section, to the real nature and
scope of the revolution which has been
going On i'll the government of the
United States. Yet there is no reason
why it should take anybody by sur
prise. 1t perfectly accOrds with the
logic of preceding events. We are not
prepared to say that the President has
Violently usurped a despotic suprema
cy. He has simply assumed an Office
which was laid at his feet by formally
appointed representatives Of the peo-
pie, presumptive champions of their
liberties. 1t is the Office of imperial
conservator of law and order, imperial
protector of civil and political rights.
The people have been practically con-
sentng to this species of imperial in
auguration. They have practically
admitted that self-government in the
United States, regarded distribntively
and locally, has proved a failure
The leaders of the dominant part,
have shrewdly OWNED the popular
WEAKNESS of this burden. But they
have yet to learn how little disposed il
the popular mind to put up perpetual
ly with absolute sectional or party do
minion exercised through centralized
government. Ii there mnst be con
solidated drspotism, they will prefer i
. in the shape which promises to be TIN
greatest equalizer; and this shape, a
all history shows, is that of a single
! despot strong enough to stand 'aloo
from factions OF sections, and trustln,
; to the support of the many, and not o
the few only, prepared to consult tn
general sense of right, and to rule &C
! cordingly.
=. The sounding phrases of Mr.. Snmne
;, about the "centralsm of liberty an
', the imperialism of equal rights" ar
{ the sheerest nonsense. If liberty ca
u not be localized, it can not be central
y lied. If it can not animate the variou
q members of the body, it can not pull
!. safe in the heart. Yet if there is to b
:. no restoration of constitutional libert
- for the South on tho strict federal ba
- sis, we do not hesitate to say that
% would be far better for the SOnther
! people to come in the most diret
:. manner under centralism of the sin,
:. plest character, rather than remain, q
:. they have been, between the hawk an
:, y buzzard of central government wlic
~. 20 means hate and cruelty and loci
~ government which means oppressio
~ and plumber. Should they have an
&c &c choice, and should circumstances plat
~ the practicable question wholly ou1
= side of principle, assuredly it would /
=, - the course of statesmanship for thel
i" to choose the consolidated empir
~ pure aud simple, and not complicate'
~ as now, with these cancerous cxcre
~, =, cences which are known by the mOcl
: ing name OF State governments.
A Radical journal, arguing in fav'
= III CcutIdllLuliOuS iSSSp"J oo'N
A cal Justice means Injustice" Bey0r
a dispute, such local justice as we ha'
of in Louisiana, or rs our fellow countr.
at men have in South Carolina, means il
til instice so rank, so sodden, SO WORT.
or ing, so consuming, that, in compal
n son, the substituted rigors Of an abs
Il lutte empire, founded in the compile
1g denial of local self-government, al
Cd ruling from a remote centre over sea
or tered communities held in. equal ST.
IS lection, might we'll be hailed as en-
to nently benignant and salutaEy. Pc
ic. haps the best way for ultimately !
rst gaining our liberties is to surrend
vi a them without further struggle, and
) let the principle of despotism work
be selfout to the logical extremity. VIII
ed the tidal wave shall reach its height
ser must begin to recede.-[New Orlea
of Bulletin.
,ch
w. r The Golden Age" recently
} a livered itself of the following morcea
Mt "Repnblicans as we are-yea, radi
cal among Iadicals-we believe that
Ir. greatest blessing that could befall
1t nation in 1872, would be to see
Aa T>.,,,.,,.;, ,>ortx, rot;fv tho arbit