The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-10-10
CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT.

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potlsm, and it is sometimes asserted that the
Reelection of Grant will be the last popular
election that this country will witness. Of
course, men who declare such sentiments. do
not think, are shallow and superficial, or man
iicst painful Ignorance Of the character OF
tho people aud the eos Asa.hey have re-
GIVE Appder the liz - influence of our
free institutions. MsFotic government as a
cardinal ideu and chronic condi ion of our
government, is as far removed from America
as Republican Democracy is from Russia.
De Tocqnevile wrote years ago. that the two
great controlling powers Of the world would,
in the march of events, eventually be Russia
and America; but they would represent diff
ferent systems and variant types of govern
l>ment He entertained 20 thought that Amer
lea would become despotic, nor that Russia
would assume Democracy. The rapidly grow
ing power of the two countries under their
distinct systems, was to demonstrate that the
compatibility of each to the habits Of thought
iuculcatcd by each government Guild strength
en- the two systems in their selected spheres,
and absorb the more modified forms which
pertained to adjacent States. This may or
may not become prophecy fulfilled. But Of
one thing, the popular mind may rest assured,
that free thinking America will never be con-
verified into a monarchy or despotism. The
moment such proposition is seriously moot
sd, the fires Of liberty will break forth, the
love Of freedom will assert It's supremacy, and
the instigators of so bold treason to the peo-
pie receive their reward. The necessity of
the case would demand summary action, and
the instincts of the people would put it into
speedy execution.
Men lose sight of the fact, in rejecting on
apparent usurpations of power, that we have
passed through gigantic civil war, the avow.
cd purpose Of the Inauguration Of which was
to break up the Union. They seem to forget
that the party that assumed and maintained
that the Union, from the time of it's formation
was designed to be perpetual, aud who regar-
ded those who were seeking separation as
'traitors'' to that Union, were successful in
the assertion Of that dogma. The earnestness
of the effort at disruption, was attestcd by
four long years of battle and blood aud suffer-
ing, and the coaquering power could not all
at once embrace the idea that those who had
so stoutly I'D brayely contended for the right
of a bsected Union, had really abandoned the
theory altogether. 1t was necessary that the
results Of the war should be put into form,
and the people educated into their realization.
Those who had assaulted the s'lile of the ma.
ton" really had no rights except those grant
ed them. They had forfeited everything and
could make demand for nothing. The gov
ernment, jealous of its power, and sensitive
at any appearance of spirit of insubordina-
ton, conflicting with the intent Of the new
order of things, has doubtless in some instan-
ces gone too far in the exercise OF its power.
But there have been no approaches to pur-
pose to change the character OF our institutions
or es ablish, as the controlling idea of govern
ment, despotism. Stern measures have
been resortcd to for the purpose of check ing
what might have eliminated in anarchy. 1t
was thought better to exercise extraordinary
powers in preserving peace, than to be COM
pcllcd to use force and shed blood in suppress
sing anarchy.
This doubtless is the view taken of the
condition of affairs 10 some of the Southern
States, by the conquering power. They form
their opinions from diferer. surroundings to
those which operate upon US. Vein Virgin
Ia have been true to our amnesty obligations,
and hava not been mistrnsted Hence we
have been permitted to worship under our
Own vine and ig tree" In some Of the States
the spirit Of the laws has been violated. The
consequence promised collision and blood
she'd. Therefore extraordinary power was
used to prevent it.
We do not regard this as disposition to
augment as permanency, centralized powers
OR to change the spirit of the government
We do not believe that any sane man harbors
the thought for moment that our system of
government is undergoing change, or that
any one desires to establish monarchy upon |
the ruins ofthe Republic. This kind of clap
trap and wicked dcmagogueisn will do very
we'll for the designing politician. It will an
swer as an appeal to the fears of the weak
and superficial, but the solid thinking men of
the country entertain no apprehension that
the election of Grant will contribute to des-
potism, any more than the election of Greeley
would inaugurate anarchy. We do not choose,
at this time, to draw conclusions or to argue
The comparative probability of the alternative
results.
We have an utter and supreme contempt
for that class of politicians who are constantly
seeking to mislead the people by exciting their
fears by false and senselcss appeals The peo-
pie are the qua dams of the government, and
hey will see that no divergence from the spi-
rlt OF our institutions is inaugurated, let who
nay be elected President.
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