New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-13

means were full Of danger. The people became
accustomed TO look only at the ends to be accomplished
and think little about the dangerous means employed
The abuses of the nsensbly nsnuated themselves
the practices peace Now look around look at
the young men who were from 10 to II years old
when the began, and who are now from
81 TO %, constituting one full third part OF
cur voting population Consider what school those
young men have through They have scarcely ever
power. What they have heard and only bold
assumption and strong exercise OF governmental au
submit IT, to justify IL, ~ aid It, Why gentlemen
the Constitution OF the United States became hardly
and experience under which they have grown up,
and they taking active part in the control OF
Government Is not the mere statement or this I'M
deniable fact sufficient TO fill with apprehension the
heart of every friend Of constitutional government and
@ w S 'resuits of the war We're rmv secured
by constitutional guarantees would appreci ate its tire
nprehend s great ditv inst because the habt OF arbi-
trary assumption ~ power on one side and Of easy a.
quiescence the other had up In times OF great
public danger to stem that perniclous enuencS
with the most conscientious care; that, instead
continuing the practice of constituting powers into tne
Constitution beyond its clear meaning, IL wonld sl.enu
restrictions; that instead OF permitting any arDrry
assumption or exercise Of antnprg !rS compance
with the laws Of the land in every branch oil the GOVERN
Has this duty been fulfled' We have witnessed
things of the most alarming nature We have seen eg
enaetments passed gatngy 3us' and liberty of
me We have heard them justified on the ground
Thar the objects 10 be attained were good.
regardless OF the fact that the employ,
ment of unconstitutional and arbitrary means as a
system 10 correct evils may be worse III lts
consequences than the evils themselves. and that te
overthrow of free institutions almost always Degs ny
the assumption Of arbitrary authority on the '
existing evils call for IT, We have law in force to-day
which, had it been the statute book before the war
might by a liberal construction such We have so ne
uuenty days have put every antisaveiy or
ginZatlOn, an unlawful conspiracy, ~ inc merry VI
pro laVery government.
ABUSES POWER.
We see officers Of the Government using their power
with disregard Of the laws defining their authorityas II
power were law unto itself and them do il with
mpunty In your midst you have seen private
rights scandalouGly interfered with by public
officials. as if they recognized no author
itv but their own pleasure. We have seen
the President of the United States himself in his
anxious desire Santo Domingo, which scarcely
anybody wanted but he give orders to the Nav 20
ntereTed with either by foreign Power OF by us own
subjects and this even after the treaty OF aaT
usurpng the war making power whlch the Cohsl!tut!o
Congress We have thus seen an act collIV"u
which, raised the dignity OF precedent 10 serve as
an authoritative rule Of constitutional cons' WIZ
virtually place the war making power III me nlils od
the President and make the peace OF the country mere
paythlng Tor the ambition or arbitrary pt'sc VI guy
man And we see the R BEST s of t2s RP%b
lie would have stood aghast, not only 4, uV Vl
balls Of Congress and by servie press ana more IMAM
~l,- wa ne a. Executive
mited so glaring act Of usuTpauon yocierousy de-
mandcd by eager paTtsans who thus strive 70 stamp
t !. o t nm, Government as valid precedent
for all time, with the sanction or popular approval.
bat Is the ,loctinc nus $3.50 'onG fbat the C"nsti-
ti"n ana laws are to be construed N accordance with
worse than that we are told that the people do not
care about such things. and that those VINO raise helr
protest against them must be set down - Gat1Qus ami
,Tot Irga numbers Of peOpe do not care about the
Cbserylnee of the laws, and the maintenance OF
those constitutional principles which form the
bul,vork 0f their rights and liberties; IL 1t is
tTn fhst the fcaf Republican party is controlled by
i,enees which are ready to sacrifice the sanctlty OF
the laws and the Constitution party advantage then,
say, IL is high time that those VINO DO care
ebnuid rise nm with patrotc determination defend
the laws and the Constitution, not only against
ans indiherence II 10 high time that they should
NOT coIne themselves 10 empty protests be followed
{ipatin bnI ACT vim ain the means which free ins-
ticS my at fbefr disnosa rrpeat action is needed
500 Tro ry s,,eces OF arbitrary rule that the Con
sttntinn moi only with ali the grants of power II makes
b also win M The restraints of power II imposes shall
again resume us supreme authority thar the segov-
ernmen Of Inc people snail respected in it, legitimate
moi onv Tor those who are governed Tor those
who govern and thar the whole people of thls Republic
he arln insured with clear appreciation OF the mean
ing and value of Constitutional rule, and just sense Of
their right and obligations
THE TINE FOR REFORM
The rin,e has come when this effort must be made and
-, - thoro GRO sti III mon enouyb in the Re-
OO4H'eN'-' 49, 49, = - -. -.
publican ranks whom saVlsh terror OF INC party "4ip
viii not deter from doing what they conceive to be
. ,i,4,. II l. time saw for another term of such
E4O"' ''''' ~ ' ~ 40 -.
arrogant assumption OF power, and such wanton acqn
escence NAV furnis al the hunes OfrEpOwer with such
- -. e + ~ 80 ho, ,,11or tho co,p
store OI Preceuen's IV4 d { u4'' '' d " Wv
mon understanding until people cease 70 Iook lOr
ordinary means OF relief still another is imposed
VI O--"'' 1.,,, - - -, A +bis po,1,1l,c
upon Us ~ TINS perou OF our hsioLy' as ms @
grows in popuaton anu the multuue anu ~ tiCuI va
lts puDHc h,eIes's, - ~ ~ H. w. no, I,r
M n ,S IN, rrasre The necessary increases of