Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-10
Perils of the Future.
IFron the Chicago Tribune ]

There are those even among Repab.
licans who overlook the important
consequences that may, and surely
several branches of the government
by the Democratic party. Excluding
from view altogether all thought OIL
suspicion of a renewal of the struggle
to dissolve the Union, and assuming
that the people of the South are now
as devoted to the Union as any others
of their countrymen, there are other
perlls equally as alarming and more
easily made certainties, and which are
all involved in the restoration OF the
Democratic party opower. We have
already pointed out the revival of the
old fundamental issue, whether the
United States constitutes a nation, en-
dowed with all the attributes of ma
tional sovereignty, or whether it IS q
mere confederation of sovereign states
the general government acting as the
mere agent and creature of its princi-
pals, the several states. On that ques-
ton the Democratic party is now as
undivided as 1t was before the war,
and insists with as great tenacity as
ever upon its old theories of estates
rights" That doctrine cannot be
abandoned by the Democratic party,
without disbandment of the party
itself.
Now, let us ask, what is the Demo-
cratic party to do, when it obtains con
troll of the execut We, legislative and
judicial branches of the government?
1t will enter office upon the fundament-
al principle that this is a confederacy;
that the general government is the
agent of the sovereign states" and
that this doctrine, though ignored in
the administration of the government
by the Republicans, is now and has
always been the true doctrine: aud to
make any change in the administra-
ton of affairs, this principle must be
applied to all questions presented to
them for action. AT the very begin
ming of their administration they will
he met with a series of matters de-
manding legislative action, which have
been rejected by the Republicans. -
Among these are: The refunding OF
the war-tax imposed on cotton, which,
with interest, new amounts TO $780,
o00, 900. The payment to ali persons
living within the Confederate States
of all losses and damages sustained by
them during the War. This includes
compensation for horses, mules, cattle,
grain of all kinds, and fences; tor fire
wood, cotton destroyed and carried
off; for buildings occupied and build
ings destroyed or injured; from dam
ayes resulting from all these and other
acts whereby these people have suffer
ed in person or property. 1t Is not
possible to estimate the amount OF
these claims. The war was actively
prosecuted in Virginia during four
years, and from that State alone there
will be claims enough to amount with
interest to two hundred millions OF
dollars. In the Cotton States the
losses were greater, and Louisiana,
Alabama, Georgia, ana Mississippi
can furnish authenticated claims tor
FIVE or ten hundred millions OF dollars.
Then come the claims of all the rail-
road and other transportation compa-
MES, and the owners of steamboats,,
seeking compensation for their DANA
ges. These people, all being citizens
of their respective States. and owing,
according to the Democratic doctrine,
their first allegiance" to their "sov-
ereign States" cannot be held respon
sible for any acts committed by au
thority of their States; any invasion
or occupation of their premises, or any
capture or use of their property by the
General Government, was wanton