The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-13

We have heard them justified on the ground that
the oblecis 10 o. attained were good, regasd.
les OF the tact that the employment OF
unconstitutional or arniirarv "a u
system % correct evils mas nc wore ~ ~ conse-
OEcrturuw ~ tree Installations almost always begins
by The assumption oi arultrary anthoslW on the
grOaud th8t eNisttng evils caii Tor a. We hase
law Ia ioree 10 dag walch. hal Il been on the
statute bn0x bclurc the War, ma nj, ~ liberal
our days nsve pat every anii--iascry or@anizauon
- an nalawiu conspiracy, o. TO- mercy OF u
aro-sassrs so,erhineaL We sse on.ss, Wy y,
TIE Avs defining then authority. a. ~ power were
a law ania itsei. ahd We see them Do g Win l.n-
pnniis. Ia soqf own mtist 700 have seen private
rshts seandaioasS inierier~'s witn " pubic
9 20. a., as, rs ,1es REQUIRED 40 sni i,
the President a. the Tuned states bimselI IN Ms
anAinus deste 70 anass - Domingo. which
Navy 10 commit acts q War sbou,d the rulcr OF
that coanir, DC mleriercd with either a fofeirn
Power % ~ MS own SUBJECTS snd tnis evca alter
the treaty a. xaiIon had bsen 30 emmy -.
lccied by the senate. has cieary a-arpnS the war
making power wa.en The constitution vests "a Cou-
grcsS We have thus seen an act committed
winch, " raised to TIE divinity 90 a precedent %
serve an authoritative fule OF constiiuiioaa con-
struouln. VII virtually place the waT-usklng
power ia lhe hands ~ 90" President anu maze tHe
prace M coaalr, a mere pasthing Tor tue aa1i.
lion OF arbiuarr pleasure u one man And VIC
sec 'hese thihgs. oe.ote wbich me a,cs.
would have stool asnaet not Out, due
Win iinpunry, hut JUSTIFIED ana NhiicwAsnei "a the
halis y .oIg'cs. snl y scrsile res; ana noe
wa committed 80 glsring "A aet % u~grpaiion w
clterousls demanded ~ eager paltl.aas, wno taus
strive - stamp that subyersiun ~ % he most
essential principles ol our constitutional govern
ment, a. a valid prcceaent Tot al time. With
the sanction oI popular approval what q the
doctrine thus Practically taugAtf fhat tne
central power may 10 a. u pica-es, ana tnai the
consultation snd laws are 10 re constructs IA ae-
corianec Win its acts; nay, worse than thai, We
are told that tue people 10 NO, care about sueh
Things. aud that those VINO raise tEeir profess
against them must bc set aJwn capil0us lauit-
finders AMI DISAPPOINTED sorehe d. Wen, u u -
true tnat large nunncrs ~ people do not about
the observance OF tho laws, and he maintenance ~
those CONSTITUTIONAL princiblcs which lorna tue bu-
warA OF their nlhs and liberties; n " n
true that the great republican party - controlled ~
influences wnlcn are ready 40 sacrifice tue -anctty
OF tue laws aad tue constitution 10 party at
vantage, men, say u ~ the niQHCs ure that
those who do care should iise up with natnouc
determination 10 defend rus laws and TIE eoasiltu-
uon, not only against arbitrary assuinpitoa but
also against equally dangerous iy0lnercnce.
lt the highest time tuat they should
not coDfle themselves 10 empty protests 10 TOE tS-
lowed nv pusillanimous scquiesc aud suainis-
sion TO party dictation, but act VITA ali the
peat, action Is needed that this republic hap
ply need rom slavery be heed itoni every species
OF arbitrary rule; that the CONSTITUTION, not onW
with all the grants Of power IL makes Tut also
with all the restraints OF power n Imposes. sAai
again resume It's supreme authority; That the self
government OF the people shaI. he respectcu In
It's legitimate sphere; that tae law oi the lana
shall be again tue law not only for those VINO
are governed, nut also Tor tnoss who govern. aud
that the whole people OF THIS repuDlic nc again In
and value of constitutional rule, anu "a lus seDse
| or their rights aud obligations. The lime mas
come when THIS effort must he made, ann
confidently trust there are still men enough IN the
republican ranks whom saylsh terror al the party
| wnlp viii not deter from doing what tney conceive
| to be great duty. 10 l. time, l say Tor another
| term OF such arrogant assumption OF power, and
| sucn wanton acqulesceace may furnish the
| nunkies OF powe with such u store ~ recedents
| Tor argument ~ TO bewdcr the common under.
standing nntil people cease to look for ordinary
means OF relief SIN another problem - imposed
upon MS by this period OF our history A tnls re-
pubic grows IN population, anu the multitude and
grandeur Of lis pubic interests ~ tue machinery
OF tnc government grows IN extent and IN influence
upon our POLITICAL life. In the same measure the
necessity Increases OF iniusng into the machinery
q higher spirit OF morality 70 prevent mat
innueace from becoming despoiic aud cor
raptng. But we are surrounded by ex.
as all great disturbances IN history has stimulated
and iostered spirit OF speculation and robbery,
wnich has maze our pubic concerns tho suulect Of
rapacity aud puhaer TO an unusual degree.
It has made our public morals easy and
loose. Corruption and population invade
political lie with alarming bo,dness. II became
the supreme dnty Of those IN power To check
ton. To accomplish this great eud three tbinas
viii be necessary: that those IN high places, wnose
conduct Is visio.e 10 all the world. should SET
ample OF scrupuous purity and ioity unset nsnness;
4 that the ruling party should IN Ms criticism and Ia
the shortcomings and iIespasaes oi IT, mem
ber5 than against those OF IT'S Opponents and lastly,
4 thar our present system OF cvli SERVICE which
/ has become the nothOuse Of alarnu.
abuses, should be so reformed a 10 MAKE honesty,
capacity and hdenty to the puDiic Interest the cr.
terOn OF qualification Instead OF partisan service
] and thus to destroy the corrupun2 and yrannlcsl
/ influence oil the government patronage Has tnts
been dOneY Has the example OF those In hgh
| and conspicuous places been such a. 10 lie a
visible reDuke to the spirit OF so.ast greed winch
/ Is demorazlng our polt.ca iiiey Has tnat hgh
/ standard been set OF single devotion the pub.
! lie interest and noble dislnteresiednessY ] wil
not go INTO an odlouS criticism OF details.
lie who runs may read the history OF our DAYS.
But surely u ncpotsm far more reckless tnan any
thing OF the Kind the Annals Of this republic tell OF
was calculated 10 impress pnbnc servants
and the people with the idea mat devotion to The
public good should DC the supreme motive OF those
entrusted with authority than tnat ne VINO IL put
INTO office aud power may with perfect proprety
htst use MS opportunities u benefit himself and
ms kin. The teachings of such example
cannot fail to be widely demorazing, when
they proceed from the highest place OF honor and
authority. You remember iha outcry which was
raised III the times OF James Buchanan. wnen ne
| employed the patronage OF the government TO sus-
tam himself and promote MS own political interests
against those OF his parry VINO advocated different
| opinions. II James Buchanan lived to-day ne
would have 10 admit tnat IN that ilue OF business
| he but pusllanlmous bungler. Never has
the and Of the national administration been thrust
into the local politics OF States with greater audac
ity. Never has the patronage controlling the pub
| lie service been more rockleSsly used 10 promote
the interest OF factions or TO further personal aspl-
rations. As IN France under Louis Hapoeoa's RUE,
we heard OF Official cahdldatures dictated aud sup
ported by the government, so we hear In this re-
| public, all over the land, o. Grant candl.
| dates for State onlccs and for Congress
now. whose recommendation Is the Official
| stamp, VINO are W be supported by all
| who desire the favor of the government ana whose
! personal services are expected AZ a condition OF
luaJ suppoTt. IL was pEluc rs lcpubhCiHs ohce
to say that IN no party there ever had existed sucn
| freedom OF criticism and individual opinion. 30
1 1t was when Abraham Lincoln was PRESIDENT. Every
republican spoke his mind freely. ana found in him
! President VINO, instead OF resentng, Invited
| candid criticism and who respected every
honest conviction even II that conviction
run counter to his personal desires But
| things have changed. II now you ever conceive an
opinion contrary to the interests ana controlling de-
sires OF the powers that be be careful not 70 give II
utterance. The good times of Abraham Lincoln are
| no more. loyal republican today Will tnink ana
speak only py royal permission, or he VIII III MS
most legitimate aspirations find most resentlul
government 1nfuen Q IN MS way; ne VIII ma
| himself denounced traitor 10 the republi-
can cause If he thinks that entitled TO lgncr
| consideration than the personal interests OF me
| party Chiefs and he will hear pack VI hounds at
his neeis whose bark would be terrible could they
| conceal the collars they wear around Their necks.
| Never was holder, more uDrepuoncan attempt
made TO terrorze and suhjugate 10 one VIII the free
| dom OF opinion In party, ana TO press Its whole
machinery into the service Ql selfish interest. 1