Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-31


Ii was and is the old democratic idea of
government that cities should regulate city
matters, the states state, and the general gov
eminent federal affairs-in other words, the di-
vision of labor. The new idea is that state
legislatures are to exercise despotic sway over
cities and congress suck up all the powers of the
states, which is TO make some great central au-
tbority jack-of-all-trades, dabbling in many
and good at none.-Nelg York World.
1t is significant fact that none of the demo-
cratic organs, north or south, can be induced to
state explicitly and discuss honestly the issue
they attempt to make against the republican
party by such loose and evasive talk as this.
few of them speak openly for the old secession
doctrine of Estate soveregnty;" and they all
mean to assert for the states right to nullify
certain constitutional amendments. The World
may remember the time when twas democrat
ic idea of government" that the whole power of
the nation could be rightfully used TO enforce
the infamous fugitive slave act of 1850, in every
community of the free states Our history fur
nishes nothing else to match this attempt at
"cenTalism;" but, like the slave power itself, it
was democratic and embodied democratic
idea of government" The power which en-
acted and enforced that law, has been destroyed;
but the preiudices and passions it bred still
linger among its old followers, and the "demo-
cratic idea Of government makes it Central
ISM to interfere with them.
The truth is, all this democratic talk about
"centralsm" is directed against the consttu-
tional authority and duty of the national gov
eminent to protect the rights OF citizenship.
The original trainers of the federal constitution
gave these rights national protection, by pro-
yiding in the supreme law of the land that "the
citizens of each state shall be entitled to all
privileges and immunties of citizens in the sew
eral states" 1t necessarily belonged TO the
national government to enforce this provision of
the constitution; but the slave power, with its
reasonable doctrine of Estate sovereignty"
made it ga democratic idea" that this part of
the constitution should be nulliied. And
it was nullfed; at any rate, it was not
enforced, although the outrages of the local
despotisms, which its enforcement would have
suppressed, were numerous and atrocious. The
democratic idea of government" allowed these
outrages and upheld the local despotisms; and
1t would do this now, if it could; but the repub-
lican administration OF the government has
revived that nulifed section of the constitution.
and added other provisions to make it effective
The constitution and the laws make full proyi-
sion for protecting the rights of citizenship;
and this is what is meant by "centralism."
Meanwhile, those who talk and work for
restoration of the multiplying local despotism
which was so vigorous before the rebellion,
shrink from saying precisely what they mean,
and do not venture to meet the issue fairly
They talk in generalites, and never state their
meaning clearly, because they know it cannot
endure discussion What they seek 10 do would
destroy freedom and justice, nulliiy the
constitution, and obstruct good govern
ment. The kuklux spirit, the recent out
RACES in Georgia, the minority report
of the committee on kuklux atrocities,
and the innumerable indications of inveterate
hostility to equal rights without regard to race
or color show what would be done, if those who
raise this false and seditious cutlery about "cen-
tralism," could overthrow the republican party
aud assume control of the government These
people can not accuse the nationul government
of "despotism" without consciousness of alb.
surd falsehood, used to conceal or keep from
discussion their own purpose to restore the old
methods of local oppression.