New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-03

ure And should they not have the need
praise for this peneicent act? That tn
will be the decision of every honest thinkin
man have not the least shadow of doubt
HABEAs CORPUS.
Another reason given why the South shoul
: support the Cincinnati candidates is that tn
: friends OF the Cincinnati movement togethe
with The Democrats in Congress defeatc
7 what is known as the Enforcement act. Thi
/ statement like the other is wholly untrue
At the assembling of the last Congress, TIN
promiety Of extending the power of tn
President to suspend the writ of haJeas COZ
pas, was seriously discussed. Some felt tina
it had worked like a charm in quelling tn
disorders Of the South, and that it should b.
continued. Others felt that il was a danger
Gus lease OF power, only to be given in grea
emergencies, and feeling that tie emersenc,
requiring it had passed, they were opposed
to its extension. The bill, however, passed
the Senate, but when it came to the House
IL met with strong opposition. An attemp
to suspend the rules for the purpose of taking
up the bill, developed the fact that there
was considerable number of Republican.
opposed to it, and so the bill was abandoned
when it is remembered, that not more thar
three OF the Republican members of the
present House of Representatives have pro
hounced Tor Mr.. Greeley, you will see al
once how ridiculous is the ASSUMPTION thai
the friends of Mr.. Greeley and the Democrats
defeated the enforcement bill. 1t was simpl,
abandoned by the friends Of the Administer.
ton out OF conscientious scruples in regard
to The suspension of this great writ.
LOCAL sELr-GovERNMENT.
Still another reason given why the South
should support the Cincinnati movement is
that 1t guarantees local self-goyernment. and
freedom from all national interference
Partly from vital interest in her peculiar
institutions, and partly through the ambition
OF her local leaders, the South has been led
to believe that unlimited local sclf.goyein.
meht carries with it every other good, and is
the panacca for every evil There never
was graver error. For under the cover OF
unlimited local self-government turks the
demon anarchy. The early States of Greece
were perfect specimens of local self-govern-
| nent. Yet after years Of internal strife and
war, these States found it necessary to form
the amphictyoDic Council to relieve them
selves OF the curse of too much local self.
| government.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the
states OF Europe founded their government
upon the idea Of unlimited self-government.
The fruits OF this idea were soon seen in in
ternal discords, frightful dissensions, and in
ternecine wars. State was arrayed against
State, community against community, city
| against city, street against street, and man
against man, until Europe became one seeth-
| ing cauldron, and the people were compelled
to rush into the worst form of despotism to
| save themselves from the anarchy of self
government.
SUPREMACY NOT CENTRALISM,
But many of our best citizens are seriously
| alarmed at what they imagine to be central
izing tendencies of our Government When
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments were
adopted, they thought that the Government
had taken long stride toward centralsm
When the act to enforce the fifteenth amend
ment was passed, they thought we were
nearing centralism. When the act securing
the purity of the ballot in national elections
was passed, they said we were still drifting
toward centralism. And when the Ku-Klux
law was passed they declaredwe had entered
the very confines of centralsm. This all
grows out Of a confusion of ideas. These
acts do not centralze any new power, but
simply assert the supremacy of the Govern
ment. Take the Ku-Klux law, which is con-
sidered the most dangerous Of all these enact
ments, and what is its object? Simply the
protection of the citizen. May the Govern
ment not protect its citizens without incur
ring the charge of centralism? The Cincin-
natl platform, it is true, declares local self
government with impartial suffrage will best
protect the rights of all the citizens. But
suppose these local governments either from
imbecility or negligence fail to protect the
rights of the humble citizen? Shall he be
left to the mercy of his prosecutors? Or
shall the General Government mterpose its
protecting arm in his behalf? This is the
great question, and upon this question hinges
the whole debate as to the powers of the
General Government over the States. We
compel Spain to release DR.. Howard whose
citizenship is very doubtful. Shall the Gov
eminent protect its citizens abroad and at
home leave them to the caprice Of the law
| less: This proposition is too ridiculous to
argue. No, my friends, to protect the rights
of the citizen at home and abroad is the duty
| OF the General Government, and if our Gov
eminent fail, or even hesitate to do it, then
in the language of Horace Greeley, 81 say
| that our Government is no Government at
all, but a sham"
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
| The one object above all others that this
new movement sets out to accomplish was
civil service reform. Its leaders protested
| to have discovered great abuses, and corrup-
ton in the civil service, and they made it
their special mission to correct them. What
is the earnest of reform these gentleman now
give the country? Simply the fact that Mr..
Greeley's promise not to run for second
term, and not to use the patronage to secure
his reelection. But it is possible for Presi-
dent to be ..extravagant and reckless in his
appointments without any intention of seek
ing reelection.
Moreover, il should not be forgotten that
Presidents have used patronage to secure the
success of their party even when they were
not candidates. What hope have we then
that the civil service will be purer under Mr..
Greeley than under preceding Adminstra.
tons. Is it to be found in that shameless
bargain and sale whereby Messrs. Greeley
and Brown thwarted the designs of the honest
men in that convention, and forced them
selves as candidates upon an unwilling con.
stituency: Is it to be found in the fact that
the ring leaders of Tammany surround and
support Mr.. Greeley? Is it to be found in
| the fact that Wamoth, the prince of dis.
honest carpet-baggers and political cormo-
rants, ranks among the chiefs of the new
movement? Is it to be found in the fact that
the Blairs. those perpetual pensioners upon
the; public bounty, have the special care OF
this new movement? In view of Mr.. Gree
ley's surroundings, l do not hesitate to say
that if the people shall be insane enough to
! kon1 This GOvarpmapf nyae To that roO,hipo