The Republican journal., 1871-04-06

when at the head of nation and support
ed by party reckless of constitutional
restraint. / DO not disparage the military
capacity and the military executive abili-
~ OF the present Chief Magistrate Of this
nation No man could have achieved the
results which are recorded in his history
without military talents Of high order.
concentration of purpose force and
tehaclty OF will, steady, and even vim
dlcltlve courage, together with Il wood
mans lntultlve knowledge of the face Of
country for military operations, have
combined to give him a permanent place
among the great commanders of the
world.
In his civil knowledge, however, his
capacity for civil affairs, have no faith.
And a combination of military power and
evil inleriority has in all ages produced
the most dangerous enemies that ever
menaced the liberties of the people. Such
a man relies upon the qualities of which
he is conscious He estecms the faculties
with which he is endowed and despises
those of which nature has berelt him. He
can command troops; and therefore lie
wants to command them. He loves pow
er; and the control Of an army at the bal
lot-boX is Il certain means of obtaining
ana retaining power. He is conscious
OF no other means of securing popular
| support. He is unlearned in the laws of
his country, knows nothing of the reasons
which dictated its institution in the minds
Of its founders, has never read its Const
tuition, and openly sneers at men who
have the gifts OF knowledge and OF speech
with which to explain and enforce the
great doctrines of free governments. Is
such character Il stranger to the minds
| OF members Do you not recognize and
dread him?
Again, behold the fallen emperor of
France-fallen now, like Lucier the
bright son Of the morning, to hope no
more. What manner of man was he
twenty years ago and how did he attain
those giddy heights from which right
eous retribution, the avenging hand of
God, has hurled him 20 the ground With
out military capacity, he was supposed to
possess it and able generals surrounded
him and clung to his fortunes. History
pictures him to my mind i'll striking sem
blance to the present American Chief Mag
lStrate. His exterior was chilling and re
pellant. He had unscrupulouS favorite4
who would stop at nothing in his behalf
and on whom he lavished unmrrited hon
ors and wealth He was regardless Of
human life and human misery. His de
signs We're hidden. His purposes We're
mysterious anu unknown. He climbed
to power by breaking all the pledges by
which he got his first foothold in the
French assembly. And, when the hour
came, it was by virtue of Just such prep
arations as are made in this bill that he
found the way plain, the obstacles all re-
moved, the ladder set up on which to
ascend to the topmost round, till he reach
ed the throne over the PROSTATE liberties
of France and the bleeding and manged
forms of his countrymcn. Shall this dark
and startling page Of history be all lost
upon us?
Sir, when Cromwell designed the over
throw Of his country, what did he do?
will let Hume the historian speak. Hear
him:
Cromwell began to hope that, by his admin
lstratlon attended with so much luster and SUE
cess abroad. much order and tranquility ut
home, he had now acquired such authority Us
would enable hlm to meet the representatives
of the nation, and would assure him of their du-
tiful compliance with his Government. He
summoned a Parliament; but not tru>t sting alto
gether to the good will of the people, he used
every art which his new model of representa-
ton allowed him to employ in order to ntu-
ence the elections and fill the house with his
own creatures. Ireland, being entirely in the
hands of the army, chose only such officers ~
were most acceptable to him. Scotland showed
like compliance and the nobility and gem
try of that kingdom regarded their attendance
on English Parliament us an ignOminiou> badge
OF slavery, it was on that account more easy
Tor the officers to prevail i'll the elections. Not
withstanding all these precautions, the protect
or still found that the majority would not be
favorable to him. He sets guards, therefore,
ON hn lln :, I,,t
such Is produced warrant from the council;
and the council rejected about a hundred, who
either refused Il recognition of the protectors
Government, or were on other accoSntS obnOX-
iouS to him. These protested against so eyre
gious violence, subyer,ive of all liberty; but
every application for redress was neglected
both by the council and the Parliament
"fhc majority of the Parliament, by means
of these arts and volenres, was now at least
either friendly to the protector, or resolved by
their compliance, to adjust, If po>sibl" This mil
ltary government to their laws and liberties
And we, too, have our Ireland, There
She lies, across and beyond the Potomac;
and the work is done on herls it was done
in the days OF Cromwell. The ireland of
America is entirely in the hands of the
Army, as was the Ireland OF Europe
more than two hundred and fifty wears
ago. She sends up mostly obedient Rep
resentatlyes now as she did then In
IootI',iu 'Iie potent eili'l5 Oh trlnrs dIS-
I'"ln t'''l'10I y ~ ioi" power un"el the Mound
,,c''u "o'erhiheht' ana there was lett to
the protector the easy task Of bringing
in such Scottish members of Parliament
as he desired. But when he came, sir,
10 EnSi'hu' "hlch WIN al nnr nate, i
s Sl.ll our great hiotner' th' mother OF our
language, ol our literature ana ol our
1'wS: :,i ana ol tnal 'anntles' hloo,l when
ms hiieo all tie iou1 quarters" OF the earth
WIN u, ns Pio"eS' ana glory WNeh ne came
10 EhSlalio' he lalIed' ana the people,
tiue To themselves, returned members
lha' were true to liberty Defeated at
tnG Po!is' ne Placed guards Il, the doors
oi H. rarlltlheht'
lhey required from parties who sought
10 10, enter passes Sl%ned by the eoHncil.
Why Snnulu not thal be the next step
mere II electl"hs cannot DC controlled
should tall short OF its purpose why not