, 1874-11-28

| committed to TINT policy which tho united
Southern wing demands.
But tic Democratic party, If restored 10
power ut NIL. must DO SO upon Its ancient,
! recognized principle that this is not nation,
but a confedornoy OF "soverogn Statos,"
with an nccredited agent at Washington eallod
tho Government, and noting under limited
rowolH* The people of tho several States,
undor this Democratic theory, owe their firHt
allegiance to their States, aNd to tho nntion
only through tho States. Tho Courier-t1o1r-
nal is careful not to deny this dogma. Gen.
nobort Z. Leo resigned his commission in the
United Stntos nr,ny because Virginia liad
sccoded. Flo mover recognized any allegiance
snvo to or through the State Of Virginia.
The Detroit Free Press, n Democratic organ,
denying our promises; 1t donies that tho
Democratic doctrine is or Inns ever boon that
the General Government Is but tho agent Of
the sovereign States." 1t Is but day or two
sinco wo copied from tho st. Louis Times,
tile Democratic organ Of the great Democrat
10 Stato OF Missouri, the distinct affirmation
that TINT was the Demooratic doctrine. Tho
Michigan editor lives in loyal Republican
State, and has no constituents who wore
in the state-sovoroignty Rebellion and have
claims for damages. That doctrine is not
popular in Republican Michigan; but down
III Democratic Missouri tho sovereignty Of
the State Is tho fundamental theory of tho
Democratic catechisIn, and the Democratic
pnrty there rule tho State bocauso tho mnjor-
ity Of tho people approve that doctrine.
When tho Democratic party Is in possession
Of the Government, Missouri will 1lavc full
Democratic delegation in both Houses Of
Congress, and Michigan will bo Republican.
If there be any Democrats from Michigan in
Congress, and they refuse to recognize "state
sovereignty, they wifi be as rightly excluded
from the party rs wero tho Nilmot Proviao
and Anti-Nohraska Democrats Of former days.
There is no escaping the fnct that the funda-
mental Issue between tho two parties is, TINT
the Republican party holds the United Statos
to 10 nation possessing every power neces-
sary to n complete nationality; TINT it holds
these powers, not rs q gift from tho
States, nor as an agent Of other sovereign
ties, but rs n nation in no wiso dependent
upon the Statcs. Tho Democratic party
holds, on the contrary, that this In not d mr.
tion, hut a confederacy Of sovereign States,
which havo delegated certain limited powers
to certain Federal agency; that tho Gea-
ord Government is d creation by original
soveroignties whose inherent sovereignty is
intact.
We havo searchcd the witty and sparkling
editorial columns Of the Louisville Courier
Journal in vain to find this fundamental
Democratic doctrine combated or trayerscd.
just now it would be journalistic folly verg-
ing on insanity for it to acow tho Stato-sov-
ereignty doctrine, and mako practical ap-
plication Of the same in behalf Of Southern
Civil-War claims. First, secure power, and
then secura the compensation which the
ne1nocrntio dogma embraces and includes.
Tho Inv Of nations is, TINT all persons resi-
don't in time Of war in an onen,y's territory
are to he held and treated az enemies. Con.
scquently, they have no claim for any loss or
damage they may sustain in the war, But II
the Democratic theory be right, then these
people, under their allegiance to their States,
wore mover in rebellion, and tho destruction
or taking Of their property Yves wanton ont
for which they are entitled to full compen-
sation under tue Constitution. Already tho
note OF preparation for this demand il heard
AL over tho South the evidence Of loss md
damages is made out, and it only waits for
Democratic Congress and President to bo in
stallcl when tho issue Of bonds to ruy for
Southern losses will become tho policy Of
that pnrty, aud, through it, Of the Govern
anaut.