Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-07-24
Federal Assumption.

The pending contests of the Ad-
ministration, through its agents and
friends, with the freedom of the press
is but one more step in the march of
aggression against the hitherto undis-
puted liberties of the people. The
press is the last power assailed, but it
is only one Of the many others which
the Federal Government has ceased to
respect. Tie increased audacity of its
action is matched by nothing but the
general apathy which silently suffers
it. The nation once revolted at the
arbitrary nature of the Alien and Sedi-
ton laws, but here is something in
calculably worse in its spirits and
vastly more pernicious in its results.
That a journalist can be dragged from
New York to the District of Columbia
before Police Justice, on charge
of libelling in New York resident of
the District, would have been con.
sidered impossible but Il short time
ago. The progress Of these assump
lions, however, has been so steady
that one advance follows another al
most without exciting protest. The
party leaders are either interested to
remain silent, or else dream the popu-
lar effect Of any resistance; while the
contemptuous disregard Of the public
sentiment by the Administration
seems to disarm its expression when
it should be aroused and more ener
getic. Under the shadow of exclusive
professions of patriotism the true de-
votion to the interests Of the country
entirely disappears. Newspapers are
prosecuted and silenced; jury trials
are to be granted as special privil-
eye; the Judiciary is to be the mere
creature of the Government Federal
Courts are to assume local functions;
State Governments are to be subor
dinated to the Executive will State
quarrels are to be adjusted in Wash
lngton nepotism prevails, and Fed.
eral bayonets are to be crossed over
every ballot-box.
1t is the habit of the Presidents
partisans to jeer at such staten ents
and ridicule the alarm they excite.
But what is possible let Senator Car
penter's accusation against Judge
Durell proclaim, and Senator Summers
careful review of the Hayti outrage
answer. Let the silence of Republi-
can leaders who dare not open their
lips explain, and the warnings of an
enlightened free press and the lameta-
ton of asChrstian pulpit openly attest
1t is appalling to one who still believes
in limited government to review the
achievements of such Il cool and cal
culating usurpation for the last four
years. Federal troops holding Chi
cago; the Supreme Court packed to
reverse a recent important decision !;
States like Louisiana converted into
satrapies for tyranny and exaction !;
back pay taken from the Treasury as
Congressional bride for doubling
the Executive salary; Cabinet officers
sent to dragoon States into the sur
render of their independence Federal
agents commanding the elections of
the people; Senators dictated to Leg
islatures from Washington the Civil
Service nursery for party and per-
sonal employment and its reform
Knocked. at and prevented an Execu-
tive passing but little time at the
Capital, leaving the public business to
the care of clerks and subordinates
and a Government becoming purely
personal the longer its Capitalization
is unchallenged This is the direction
public affairs are taking under the
present selfish and absorbing rule,
while even those who decline to unite
in checking the fatal course admit and
deprecate it. The people need leaders
to arouse them to a sense of the actual
danger, instead of being quoted by
Representatives of the wonderful materi-
al growth of the nation.