Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-16

all danger of Capitalization will pass
away, though we discard the idea of
State sovereignty.
He did not differ much with the gentle
men as 10 what the rights of States were,
but as to their title to them. AS far as
the States rights and tho rights of the
Government were concerned. they were
not to go back OF 1877, when the Con-
Sttution was formed, when the States
came into convention and formed their
government. The difficulty had been in
regard to this theory Of State sovereignty {;
and the assumed right of secession and
Of notification was the result They as
sumed that these States existed as nations
separate and distinct before that time,
and that they only loaned a portion of
their rights for particular purpose.
That is the base of that theory while we
assume that the people were acting TO-.
gether at that time in their aggregate
capacity, raising q system OF government,
giving the United States certain powers
and providing that the States should hold
and enjoy the rest. excepting those that
were reserved to the people.
He was as strong an advocate of local
self'government as anybody, but he de-
MED the doctrine of State sovereignty.
The small States are more interested
than all others in this doctrine. since they
arc equal in the Senate Of the United
States with the larger States. The doe.
trine of nationality in the hearts of the
people is the only safety for the Govern.
msnt rs the country enlarges its borders.
In conclusion Senator Morton held up
to admiration the idea OF great country
and the nobleness of love for it and
pride in it. When The mind of the nation
is saturated with this idea there will be
no danger, though our boundaries should
embrace the continent. We should then
cherish this national idea, that while the
States have their rights sacred and un-
approackabe, which we should guard
with untiring vigilance, never permitting
an encroachment, and remembering that
such encIoachment is as much violation
of the Constitution of the United States
rs to encroach upon the rights of the
Geaeral Government, still bearing in
mine that the States are but subordinate
parts OF one great nation, and that the
nation is over ali even rs God is over the
universe.
Before closing, Senator Morton touch
ed upon tho labor question, stating that
1t was part of the national idea, that
there should be no permanent laborng
class in this country. The laboring man
must not encourage the idea that some
grand scheme is TO remedy all his ills or
make him comfortable, or that an equal
division ofproperty will bring relief, for
HE division must take place every year.
He continued: II am for reform and Ia
bor reform. | sympathize with the labor.
ing class. 1t is the foundation of our pros
perily, OF our glory and our power, and
ii should be our strength and our pride
that in this country, unlike the countries
OF Europe, no permanent laboring class
can exist. but they should pass from one
to another according to their merits and
their industry. The best labor reform is
to give TO the laboring man 4 safe and
certain currency that will not deteriorate
and perish in their hands. That the
wages OF labor may not pass away, give
to the laboring class time for improve.
ment, contribute to their physical culture
and health, and do all that can be done
consistent with the genius of u free gov.
ernment for their welfare After de-
claring that perfect equality of rights for
every person before the law was n part
of the national idea, Senator Morton, af.
Ter speaking just one hour, closed as fol
lows:
''if the Government Of the United
States has not the power TO protect the
citizens of the United States in the en-.
joyment OF life, liberty and property in
cases where the States fail, or refuse or
are unable to grant protection then that
Government should be amended, or
should give place to better. Great
Britain sent forth q costly and powerful
expedition to Abyssinia, to rescue tour
British subjects who had been captured
and imprisoned by the Government of
that country. She has recently threaten
ed Greece with war, il she did not use
all her power to bring to justice two
brigands who had lately murdered two
British subjects. These things are great.
ly to the honor of Great Britain. And
our Government threatened Austria with
war if she did not release Martin Costa,
who had declared his intention to become
citizen Of the United States, and was
therefore protected by the Government OF
the United States. More recently we
have made war upon Corea, province
in Asia, and slaughtered her people and
battered down her forts, because Ameri.
cans shipwrecked upon her coast were
murdered, and the Government had refus.
ed to give satisfaction for it. And if a
mob in London should murder half dozen
American citizens, wo would call upon
that Government to use all its power 10
bring the murderers to punishment, and
if Great Britain did not do 80, it would
be regarded as cause of war. And
yet some people entertain that idea that