The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-12-28


4 running through all IS the same tifi-
I derly ing pnrpose+4 the DESTRUCTION of
Estate goEerpments and the centralizar
Atipn Of all power in the federal gov.
sernment Under the former the citf-
zen may be depffved bf ms Fight to
the exercise of the elective franchise,
and the election of State officers pre-
vented, while underithe latter the in-i
nocent citizen may be deprived of a,
/ right and of liberty itself, and the,
i government of the state rendered
! powerless to afford him protection
Step by step has this contamination
been reached. One precedent created
another they soon assimilate and con-
stitute law. What yesterday was fact
to-day is doctrine. Examples are sup
posed TO justify the most dangerous
measures, and when they do not suit
exactly the defect is supplied by ener-
gy. Such o condition of affairs could
never have been apprehended by the
fathers of the redublic. Having be-
fore them the experience nf past gen.
erations and past nationalities, and
actuated by the most profound regard
for.the liberty of the citizen, as well
as the efficiency of government, with
wisdom amounting to- prescience,
theyformed our government for per-,
pethity, and they omitted no principle.
necessary to its preservation, and in
pcluded none, which. if properly adj
ministered, could work its destruction
! The absorption of the powers and
functions of the states by the federal
government was, as foreign to their
design as the notification OF. repudia-
ton of federal authority by the indi-'
Yidual action of the states, for the tel
umph of either involved the destruc-
stion of the Union. And yet. between
these fatal extremes-secession upon
one hand and centrlization on tee
other--we have been oscillating since
the foundation of the government
We have passed the terrible ordeal of
attempted secession, but the recoil
has carried us to the other, extreme,
and the dangers which menaced the
nation in 1861 arc finding a parallel
I'M 1871. $50 20 4a7s sa3 sss sHai sFl
Power is ever graspfng after powet,a
its insatiate maw is nbyer eloyedf; Al il >
climbs by fraud and holds by corrnp-
ton its solicitude tor perpetuatioil
exceeds that of the public veal; and
party is fattened at the expense of
principle. When venality triumphs
approaches of tyranny are unheeded
blythe masses when at local elections,
federal soldiers, by order of federal
officials, with loaded muskets and
fixed bayonets, surround the polls, or
federal battle ships, with shotted cam
non, beleaguer city to overawe its
citizens in the free exercise of the
elective franchise; when imbecile and
corrupt local governments are forced
upon people, and they are punished
for the inefficiency and rottenness of
those very governments, by the arbi-,
trarY deprivation, of all civil govern
ments, llrights and, all liberty, ar
rested by thousands, without war.
rant of law-and driven to prison
like cattle tofhe, shambles, it is time
that the alarm bell was sounded and
thepeople awakened to sense OF, the !.
darkness impending. They alone can
apply the correction. They alone
have the means of redress in, their
own hands. Let them insist that the.
doctrine of indestructibility of the
Union, as the fathers framed it, shall
be recognized, and that the original,
and inherent sovereignty of the states
and the strict administration lof the
powers delegated by them to the
Union shall again be acknowledged. {.
Let them demand the inviolability of
the hdbedn corpus, the subordiaation
of the military to the civil. authority,
the maintenance of the public faith,
state and national, untarnished homes
ty and economy in the administration
of public affairs the equalization and
reduction of tariffs and taxing of the1T
lowest degree consistent with the
maintenance of the public credit free !
education for all a fostering care, en-
and elevation Of labor,
and under fully, financially and per-
accomplished universal am g
nesty and impartial suffrage. 1t is in
no partisan spirit that / utter these. :,
words of warning to you. l should
be derelict iIrthe execution of the high :
trust imposed on me did / not make
known to you the perils which sur
round us and indicate the course which
in my Judgment, it is wise to pursue.
[ would that could present q less a
ulate you upon the complete restora-,
pristine purity and strong hold on the
affections of the people, and its Just
execution of their sovereign will but -
as affection is not begotten of force, q
lor honesty of corruption, SO liberty
g not nurtured by tyranny, nor peace
by violence. Not until the people rise
n their majesty and reassert their lib
srties, now trampled upon not until
shall supercede hate and pat );
.iotism rise superior to partisan sell
may we look for an inaugura-
ion of an era of good feeling. Let
Is hope that patriots and statesmen, "a
rood men and Christians everywhere 81
the land regardless of past
or affiliations, will unite
n an honest and earnest effort to re-
leem the nation from this unnatural
md dangerous condition of affairs to 5s
he end that peace and fraternity may
'e again restored among the people;
o that the nation, united, purified
nd harmouized, may march onward !o
0 the grand consummation of the
Mighty destination which awaits it.
TuE iowa Sfata W0man'a SuffraOa