Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-03-27
THE TRUTH A-E LAST.

Z a <
Though not much given to the feel
ing, We confess that the following
article from the Boston -IdrertjsCr
did cause us much surprise.
The admissions contained IN it are
such that we had not supposed the
Northern mind would be prepared to
make for at least n quarter OF CEN
fury.
When it is formally admitted that
the issue upon which the war between
the North and the South WAS fought
was that of the Capitalization and con-
solidation Of the Federal Government
AMI when it is further admitted that
the present condition Of affairs is the
natural Development Of the view
taken of that question by the Northern
States the justification of the South is
complete.
The utterances of the AdreTfiscr, the
leading Radical paper i'll Massachus-
we trust, that will become less and
less strange every day until having
become familiar as household words
they shall bring forth fruits meet for
repentance. It says
The pivot on which the history of
this country has hinged is the tenden-
CIV toward Capitalization. 1t was on
that issue that Jefferson and Hamilton
parted it was on that issue that the
war of the rebellion was fought, and
that issue is before us now. The
North has always followed the tradi-
tons of the old federal party OF Wash
| ington, of which the Republican party
is the legitimate descendant its prin-
ciples are those which were expoUnded
! by Marshall and by jay, and to those
principles it will adhere. The South
| advocated the other view. The slavery
question mbiitered the dispute and pre-
! cipitated the country into civil wal.
As its close tie federal or centralizing
principle had utterly trodden out and
destroyed it's opponent. The history
of the United States for the last ten
years has been the natural sequence of
the unchecked development of q single
| chain of ideas. Capitalization has ad-
vaDced With such strides as to have
outgrown the widest dreams of the
founders of this government and to
| threaten the very existence Of that
system which it was designed to sup
port. It is impossible to preserve the
| independence of States, in the sense OF
Mr.. Madison, if the national govern
| oil 10 lot
affairs. Now, these are the facts as
ernment to the governments of the
States at this day: By corrupt use OF
federal patronage political adventurous
are enabled to gain control Of States
to hold them as though they were pri-
vato property. The adventurera
! crowd into the senate and there com.
| bine with the direct design of control
ling the national executive. How well
they succeed is matter OF history
| How easy it may become for them to
nominate and elect man OF straw i'll
! their own interest for President is q
truth which may well be left to the in
| most convictions of every citizen. la
n short time from now it may be too
late to resist. It is well, therefore, to
pause and consider.
The next step in the path which the
country is now treading will be to re-
verse the whole theory Of this govern
ment, and to change the United States
into consolidated power in which
| each State will form a province. 1t is
not two years since a man whom no
one supposed to be Ike popular choice
was imposed upon the people o. Louis-
lana by national troops. If this thing
! is possible in Louisiana, why not III
Massachusetts And how long Will it
! be before the authorities at Washing
ton practically appoint local officers ?
| This means consolidation in its most
dangerous and most insidious sense,
! for it comes under old and hOnOred
names and forms The true principles
of the republican party are to be found
in the writings of some of the greatest
statesmen and jurists who have ever
lived, and they are antagonistic to the
tendenciee of to-day. There lies the
struggle. and It cannot be evaded.-
Throughout the whole country a class
of men are striving to wrest the party
from its base, and to use it as a tool
If they effect their purpose, steady
process Of consolidation lies be
fore rs, carried out under as
corrupt influences as can readily
be imagined. The result will be
that Che tlnctions of government will
lie gradually absorbed by the Senate
In that body number OF man will sit
who each control State exactlyas Ger
tain States are controlled now. These
men will reduce the executive to help
less impotence, SO that at length it will
become C passive instrument in their
hands, and thus tie nation viii fall
under the rule of a corrupt aunta of
politicians, who from their position
cannot constitutionally be made respon-
sible Tor their acts. This picture may
seem highly colored, but it is only the
logical deduction of the future from
the past and from the present, and if
RIO check is applied, its realization will
not be distant.
The contest Waged in this State is
not local further than that it happens
to be for the Governorship Of lIassa-
chusetts. It is the best illustration
which has yet been given of principle.
The issue is purely national and goes
to the very roots of the system under
which we live. Are the people of this
Commonwealth and of this nation ready
to mees Il honestly, and to free them
selves from the snare which has been
spread for them SO artfuLy?
The Virginia Legislature has passed
an usury bill, making siE per cent. the
lawful interest for the loan OF money,
ap6 forfa;tipor Tho whole ,,,o.o-l - =