The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-12-14

| eHO 0S1u SnOuAu nave DSSu NGI uAuSL'
ent, but the reality is upon US, and
human Judgment cannot tell, when
governed by the evidence already
amassed, where the expressions of the
power which conquered will end.
Reconstruction measures were pre-
sented to the South, which, though &C
cepted, did not satisfy the ever increas'
| ing propensity for power displayed by
the Washington Government, and the
result was, that new conditions we're
added to those first proposed, until no
bounds seemed to mark the demands
of its rapacious appetite for power.
Grant, having had the government
control placed in his hands, conceived
a grand stretch of authority, and has
been,and is now aiming at nothing
more than absolutism. Being a mill,
tary chieftain, he at once turned his
attention towards the creation of an
armed force sufficient to WELD such a
restraint as might become necessary in
furthering his ambitious views, and to,
day is foroibly brought before US the
realization of sad forebodings.
The present condition of affairs
has no parallel in the history of sound
republicanism. Constitutional provi
sions, once looked upon as the safe
guard of cherished system of gov,
eminent, have been ignored, the sacred
guarantees of civil liberty have been
hidden away, and the once proud boast
of free ballot is no longer reality.
Surely we are gliding into that system
of government which has made fail
Mexico field of anarchy, or we are
plunging headlong into monarchy.
1t is not certain that the already CEN
tralized power at Washington has its
manifesto fully made out, but the
leading features of the Grant admin,
istration show well, that everything
has been shaped to meet revolutionary
policy at the proper moment. This
revolutionary plan may reach at a
monarchy, military despOtism or a
permanent presidency, yet in the main
it means abselutism.
Such foreshadowings may slowly
present themselves to the minds OF
Northern people, yet in the Southern
States glaring evidences are constantly
presented. Its indication is to be dis
covered in the present wholesale disre-
gard shown to civil law in the South.
This power of suspending civil and
adopting martial law, is not only apet
project of Grant himself, but of those
Radical governors who are fully in his
confidence and plans, and has been
adopted by them at their pleasure,
without warrant or law. 1t is safe to
presume, from present manifestations,
that In all States where the force of the
baYonet would not meet with a danger
Gus opposition, it will be used to infu-
ence and control the presidential
election. This will be with the purpose
to retain the present administrative
power in place sufficiently long to fully
develop its plans of revolution.
Many of the most perceptive minds
of the country assert, that should Grant
retain his scat by re election, all hope
of a permanent republican government
will be at an end. It would seem more
than probable that, such being the
danger in store for the country, the
party which Grant at present leads
would desert him, but it must be
remembered that this party has at it,
beck and call a host of wealthy and
powerful organizations, welding a wide
spread, controlling influence among the
people of the entire nation, and in this
day of corruption and vice such mon
eyed powers seem to possess an irrisist
ible persuasion toward the consumma
ton of almost any end,
Grant, in his message, advises gen
eral amnesty, and many might b,
lulled into the belief that our position
is unfounded. At that moment, wheI
the serpent is preparing to strike it
deadly fangs into its victim, it become
the most fascinating, and so it is witt
him. What is amnesty when the bool
of self-government is denied? Such
mOrsel is thrown to the public, ant
bitterness cast upon it by both Fedora
and State bayonets. Such a right lose
its power, when it becomes "a decei
, and artifce to lead those it would lul
into labyrinth of wrongs.
The yoke of tyranny has been SUI
| ceSsively tried in some shape or forr
r throughout the entire South, and, sine
it has been submitted to, the matte
5 has been pushed further, and to-da
. we see Grants military arm stretching
itself over these States, threatening I
c annihilate every vestige of our ono
| boosted civil liberty. The Norther
b people areinclined TO look with distrus
; upon such encroachments, but have a
, yet failed to lift their weight into tn
, balance which must soon declare to til
world whether America must cheris
republicanism, or become the seat {
of monarchies. Should Grant becom