The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30
WILLIAM R. ROBERTS.

WILLIAM R. ROBERTS.
~-~>~~-o(.~~~.>~~>>~~>~~-~>1
'Colonel, have been sent by the HERALD to OBJ
tain your opinions the state Of affairs in washing
tonT
at is an extensive subject. You are aware I was
only In Washington a short timer went
there as democrat, believing the differ
ences between the two parties to-day were simply
questions OF policy, such as the tariff and finance"
'Were you disappointed thens''
81 was; found before was there many weeks
that there was perfect grlf between their prlnc
ples.n
"In what way2'
Democracy has faith III the masses and believes
that from the people springs all the attributes OF
power. Republicanism as represented to-day by
that party puts all It's trust IN . centralized
autocracy."
"From what DO you gather this opinions''
ssThey profess to legisate In the interests OF the
people, but they have no faith in them. Look at
their encroachments the rights OF the States as
independent commonwealths within the constttu-
tion.n
placing the bayoncts side by side with the ballot
boxes"
"Was not that done In the interest OF orders"
"Ostenslbly to protect bur reality To overawe
tue people,"
..wnat do you thinE OF the bills recently passed."
.srheir Ku Klux bill, is fearful IN its assumption
OF prerogatiye, In the
ABSOLUTE AND DEspOrfc POWER
it places In the hands OF one man; ana yet, as IL
stands to-day, 1t Is nothing to what the extreme
party leaders in the House ana the republican Sen
ate sought TO accomplish"
zone OF the Senators said we wanted another
war;
an amendment In the Senate To make the entire pro.
pery OF the county liable Tor the destruction caused
by an incendiary"
.Ihat looks dangerous"
cit IS So Imagine the temptation held out TO the
through alliance with radical ONCE holders, and by
that get four times the value for 1t from the
county, and at the same time help To impoveris the
people whom they hatc.'
.iou alluded TO enacments concerning the
81 did. They attempted TO give the President
power to call out the militia. thereby enabling him
to sanction, with the authority Of the United states
the acts OF vengeance perpetrated ~ the negro
militia OF the South"
what do you INFER from thiss''
at tends TO show most positively the lengths TO
winch the radical leaders were prepared to 60 to re-
tain power
"And In that opposition lies the only safeguard or
the country. The democratic minority III the House,
strong IN numbers and already standing so clearly
on the side OF the constitution ana the rights OF the
people, fought them step by step, and so alarmed
lew conservative men IN the republican ranks that
they refused TO go the absolute length with the
Others"
..Iiow did they get out ofitso
"They declared that they had taken an oath on
becoming members OF the House co support the
constitution OF the United States, and they did not
propose TO violate that oath by voting for
that were clearly In opposition 10 the constitution
''What was the resultr'
s.They had to abandon some OF the most Infamous
and obnoxious OF their propositions; hut It Is only
Tor atime."
"As soon as they ind The people are Indifferent to
their encroachments upon their rights these men
will go still iurtner though II difficult see how
much further they can go than BY giving the Pres-
dent authority to suspend the habeas corpus and de-
clare martial law IN a time oil profound and abso-
s'Then you think the
LIBERTY or THE PEOPLE Is IN DANGERr'
Why SIR, tue liberties OF the Amercan people
the late rebellion
''In what wayfr
''Then 1t was a question Of arms--now 1t Il
question whether we are to continue as q federal
republic or 10 change by slow but sure degrees TO
an empire. All the props and safeguards so care
fully placed around our system OF government are
one by one being taken away, and the peoples
power, which our fathers intended should be The
servant OF the people, but which we arc endowing
with the sway OF master"
'.What Is the feeling among the democratic mem
hers IN the nousc",
II have talked with every one Of them: many
were officers IN the late conlederacy. | nave care
fully marked their movements IN the House and III
caucus, and believe them To be IA law.ahiding aud
the country
do they accept the amendments 10 the consttu-
tion?'
"Ycs, sir I say emphaticaIly yes They recog-
nize them to-day rs portions of the law Of the land
and though they may believe, as millions OF the
people OF the country do believe that tney were en-
grated upon the constitution by fraud still they
have been declared adopted rs portions OF il, and
they accept them and are Wiling 10 shape their
policy accordingly and abide by the RESULT
Colonel, dld you notice IN the speech Of senator
Morton IN Washington that he SAID the democratic
party would accomplish two things by getting into
power One was 10 deprive the negro OF MS priv.
lcges under the amendments; The other to repudiate
the national 0blIgaious.
~ was present ana heard portion OF that
What did You think OF NJ,
II never felt so INUNDATED IN my lie as 10 see
man occupying the position OF United states senator.
encouraged and endorsed ne was ny the Prcs-
deni, who sat beside HIM. hur The iOulest inveclivcs
NJ the democratic party Of the nation anu indulge
III what nc ana every Intelligent man VINO listened
10 hn must nave known were absolute ana grounu-
less ca unnIes.N
'wnat do you think OF Morton personality
''lf AL hear he irne. his present physical coni
ton Is but the index oi his moral ana political ma
lure; and It Is significant fact that Lhis leader oi
tue republican party IN the Senate ~ man OF most
House is man whose ianaticlsm II partly the result
OF q semldethIOned Intellect
do YOU mean Butlerfp
~ lth regard To- the two points, coloneiy'
"Ihesc two points were iuy discussed ~ 'he
democratic caucus, am tile results. embodied IN an
address, issued 10 the nation
Were you member OF the caucus y
"Yes, was present at the entire discussion, AMI
became so Interested IN tue unaniinis OF ieehhs
the broad AMI
NATIONAL GRousps TAKES ny DEMOCRATS
from all parts OF the country, thai became stincN
WIN tue advanced ana liberal views OF the chttre
party. and used my hest cndcavots 10 nave tne at
dress Issued previous to the adjournment oil Con
gressn
'Why, the very idea was scoticd AZ. u was con-
sidered unworthyof serious dtscussion."