Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-09-30
CHANGING FRONT.

come over the vision of many Journals,
heretofore so extremely, partisan as to
be wilfully blind to any evils which
existed In their party organization.
Rude shocks arc sometimes needed.
aud are very cilicscious in opening
the eyes Of this class of partisans.
The Butler campaign In Massachu-
sets not only reused the sleepy, easy
going decent people and journals OF
that State to a realization Of their sit
uatiou. but oace aroused arrayed them
at once In vigorous contest with and
condemnation Of tile evils which long
years Of supremacy have generated
and fostered In tie dominant party OF
the present day. The result was an
open revolt against the interference OF
the Federal with the State Govern
ment, and an avowed declaration OF
rebellion against all dictstlon or In
fiuence Of whatever nature from the
seat of the National Government In
their local concerns. But this feeling
was not confined to Massachusetts.
The contest In that proud old CON-
monwealth between decency and In
dccency. between independence and
the domlnation Of a power remote
and distinct from her State Govern.
ment, aud the outspoken rebellion OF
the better classes Of her people against
tho system OF corruption attempted to
be exercised, excited widespread In
forest and comment. It will be re-
membered that only a few months
since Htupcr's Weekly-a journal which
has been most strictly partisan and
incorporating. which has insisted
tenaciously aud incessantly that no
reforms were needed, or II so they
were not vital nor cssential-even
went so far as to urge a third term for
Grant, ard say In effect that the per-
petual rule OF n good man was less
dangerous to the people than the evil
of Presidential elections and the pos
sibility Of electing nm unworthy ruler.
The article In question was widely
quoted, and from all independent and
honorable journals. from every sheet
not owned or subsidized by a Federal
olnce-holder. an outburst Of indig-
nation was heard and the Idea con-
demned and repudiated.
A change has come over even Har-
per's Weekly. Its editor has heard
something drop. He has heard from
Massachusetts,. from the West and
from the Pacific slope. He finds that
there Is something In the air oppres-
sive In Its character, and that tho peo-
pie still propose to reserve some Of
their rights under a Republican form
of Government. He finds that they
revolt from caucus domination, from
any sort Of dictation except ssch as
they themselves shall choose. and on
looking around over the country, this
sage editor. who, not six months since
thought n President should be contin-
usd In office during good behavior, has
changed his opinion. He now thinks
there is some danger in Casarism. not
from Gen. Grant, Oh! no! but from
the precedent established aud the pos
sibilltles Of the future. Discussing this
question he says:
IL Is not because the Presidency Of
General Grant peculiarly exposes us
to danger, but, on the contrary. be.
cause the certainty OF four tranquil
years of administration gives the OPP
portunity of careful elaboration. The
peril Of great power Is not felt In the
hands Of q good and patriotic man.
But II a man like General Butler
should ever chance to reach the Presl-
| dency, would IL be wise to tempt him
with splendid facilities OF mischief ?
Did Andrew johnson give us no un-
| comfortable sense Of the power Of an
inscriptions or willful President to
make trouble? The restrictions OF the
Constitution were not necessary for
Washington. They were not made
for him, hut for the average man.
General Grant does not menace us.
But the power Of his office may. And
rs our fathers limited 1t with the light
Of their experience, so must we restrict
It by the light OF ours. There Is no
doubt Of the faithful love Of the Amer
lean people for their political instltu-
tions. They love and trust them be.
cause they believe them to be the
guarantees Of liberty and order. The
question Is, how can they so amend
and improve them as to prevent those
very Institutions from being perverted
to wound what they are meant to pro.
tect? We may, indeed, run for luck.
Undoubtedly. Ostriches bury their
heads In the sand. BIT It 10 neither the
part Of wisdom nor Of common sense.
'rnn Do,fon aHrorf,ser which ham