National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-28

There Is one alarming and dangerous symp-
tom Of the ccntralizing tendency OF the times,
which our contemporaries Of the opposition
have failed to notice. 1t will be remembered
that a few days ago the announcement was
made that arrangements had been etfec ted to
establish uniform time all over the country
that Of the National Observatory In this city
being taken Us the standard. New York and
the Observatory have been already united by
telegraph, and this connection Il, We are told,
only the preliminary step toward the connec-
ton Of all the principal cities In the East,
the West, the South aud the distant Pacific
coast The idea Is that the chronometer time
at the Observatory shall be telegraphed
during the day to these different points,
whence 1t will be again distributed among the
lesser cities. Railroads, hanks and all the
varied Industries and enterprises are ex-
pected to be governed by this uniform stand
ard In the conduct and management OF their
business.
As we said, the opposition orators and Jour
nalists have failed to notice and properly
comment upon this fresh aggression upon the
Constitution and the rights OF the States.
The idea was, Of course, conceived by Presi-
dent Grant, and Is intended by him as another
step toward perpetual dictatorship. Why
should the Federal capital and the minions OF
power here dare prescribe to the commercial
classes of the great city and State OF New
York the hour Of opening and closing their
establishments; when the doors of banks
shall be barred and uubarred; when the rail-
road trains shall be started and when they
shall arrive when the mails shall close and
when they shall be delivered. The whole
thing, according to the Jetfersonlan doctrine
according to oil the teachings OF the fathers
Of the republic, Is gross usurpation OF
power, and the party that has inaugurated so
daring an attack upon the principles and ira
ditlons Of the Government should be severely
rebuked. What right, for instance, have the
astronomers of the National Observatory sit
ting in Washington to say when
free and independent liquor-dealer In the
vicinity of the Five Points shall close the
fountains Of bad rum and wretehed lager
beer, and turn into the streets the thirsty
and untrammeled voters OF the Empire City !
Clearly the whole thing Is an outrage. What
article In the Constitution gives President
Grant and his plant officials the right to say
when the polls shall be closed and the ballot
box stufling come to an end In the strong
holds OF the Democracy This Federal chro-
nometer beating time here In Washington
has been bought and erected by the taxes
wrung from IN oppressed people. By what
authority is Il now used to enslaye them
Evidently the whole scheme has been con-
cocted by the Administration for some SIMS
ter purpose. Gen. Grant, doubtless, means
TO bring the entire Union to time upon tho
third-term question.
We have been anxlously watching our ex-
changes and tho proceedings of the Demo-
cratic and liberal Republican conventions to
have some questions such rs these we have
mentioned asked and answered. But not a
word has thus far been said, not single
Democratic orator has opened his lips to
protest against this Federal chronometer
making away the seconds and the minutes
TO the death OF the republic and the foundation
of the monarchy. All this indifference and
neglect on tho part Of tho opposition only
shows how dull and bluntcd the public con-
science has become; the utter dcgcncracy OF
the times in which we live and the apathy
that has come upon the whole country. The
stern patriots OF Boston threw British tea Into
the harbor Of Boston rather than suffer the
imposition Of foreign tax. The degenerate sons
of these patriotic sires now acquiescc In the
imposition Of a uniform standard of time upon
them without q murmur OF remonstrance or
protest. II they had particle Of the early
faith and the carly devotion 10 liberty they