The New York herald., 1874-11-16
TIE ALIEN AND SEDITIOH LAWS
a Sweeping Defeat of Adams
Administration.
TIL E PANIC In 1857
Some "reminiscences in Polit-
icai History.
"A MONITOR FOR THE FUTURE

pcfftrSon's Views as to Life-PfeSidency,
with Succession to Heirs.
Notsince the surrender OF Lee and Johnston, now
close on decade, has an event occurred In the
history OF the nation OF more moment than the
sweeptng political revolution accomplished last
Tuesday. The force Of the whirlwtnd was not
confined to any particular section OF the Union.
Its effects were felt north, south, east and west,
and constitutes new era, q new starting point,
which, 1t Is to be sincerely hoped, Will be har-
Dinger of the peace, harmony and unity that long
since should have been established. In what is to
be stated further on it Will be observed that ad-
ministrations and Congresses who-some time
An the enjoyment Of power-had forgotten that
6hey were the agents and not the masters OF the
people, used their authority to oppress and foster
ideas OF ambition; but in no case, It may be
safely said. has more disregard been manifested
- to the rights OF States ana citizens than
by the chosen and acknowledged leaders Of the
ruling administration party. There may be some
comparison between the overwhelming defeat of
the liberal party in Great Britain In the early part
Of this year, when Mr.. Gladstone suddenly author
lied dissolution OF Parliament, and the downfall
Of this country for nearly fourteen years. But
Gladstone's Ministry and majority IN the House Of
Commons never assumed the arrogance the un-
scrupulous coercive measures, the military RAID
ing, the disregard OF law and precedent the fos-
terinR OF war OF races, the patronage and pro-
section Of imbecilty and corruption in high and
low ofnctal places and the od1um Of the salary
grabs that have marked American politics during
the past five or six years. Gladstone's large ma
jOrity was changed into an opposition majority
equally as strong, but he did not attempt nor
would be allowed by the people 70 make on effort
at terrorism and corruption.
THE POPULAR Discomfort
with the present administration has been growing
stronger day after day after six years. experience
OF General Grants Presidency. 1t would be idle to
conceal the fact that his pretensions to be elected
for third term have received the stern and un-
1inching opposition OF all intelligent and patriotic
citizens North and South. This alone was fully suf-
0cent to swamp any party before the people sup
porting General Grant, and hos been heavily aug
mented by the burdens Of nepotlsm, Inconsistent
isregard OF intelligent popular WILL Credit Mobiter
drauds, Sanborn contracts, gag law enacrments
In reference to the press, Ben Butlerism, Custom
House frauds, the civil service farce the scandals
OF Shepherd and the District OF Columbia, the
Casey reOt1ae In louisiana, which results in the
.
New Orleans on the pretext OF projecting the per-
sons and property OF Its citizens "a glartng
offence which places, as far as Disraeh can
do 1t, the United States on tho basis OF
she feeblest ana least respected OF independent
Powers, the cruel treatment OF the Southern
States the placing OF the military above the civil
power, absenteeism from Washington, MI. Aetor.
ney General Williams decisions and lastly (for the
list has to be closed at some point, the financial
question are matters the people deeply resent. It
mas been said that the great cause OF trouble Is
the financial question, and that the revulslon
against Grant is only natural consequence Of
THE PANIC LAST YEAR.
Il is further stated that similar sweeping politi-
cal changes have occurred heretofore when the
money interests OF the country have peen violently
and suddenly shaken. The democratic party can
not be held responsible II mills and factories are
stopped or running on half time, and that thou
Bands OF laboring men and mechanics have been
thrown out Unemployment The democratic party
has been out OF power well on to fourteen
years, and during all this time the repub-
licans have had triumphant majority in
both houses Of Congress The republicans, as
Senator Thurman says. have had absolute control
over the currency, and they have claimed to be
the wisest and best nnanciers the world ever saw,
and, therefore, the evils and sunerings OF the In.
radical party While everything was going on in
apparent prosperity, white the wheels Of industry
were all in motion and every man was getting
good wages, and everything looked bright and
cheerful, and although there was q volcano liable
TO eruption at any momen., and although an
earthquake was liable to open under their feet
still the people did not see II, They thought all
was going well and they gave to the administra-
tlon the credit for the prosperity OF the country,
and in doing tnat they overlooked the violations
or the constitution and Of liberty, the violation
the habits, feelings and instincts OF the people,
and the assumption OF power ana misconduct OF
the radical rulers. They did not hike 20 see mar
tial law proclaimed over eleven States OF the
Union. But
THEY SHUT THEIR EYES
and said. 'Ttme will redress this.n The country
A prosperous. We Will say nothing about these
things and correct them In the future. But when
the country ceased to be prosperous when the
reality OF suffering and Indebtedness was brought
home to every mans door, then these men, who
had closed their eyes to the violation OF the Con-
srtution and Of every right OF the American
peope-then these men, who had closed their eyes
to the persecution Of one-third OF the United
States, opened their eyes and gave vent to their
feelings, and the result has been what Is so often
called
TIDAL WAVE.
Tne nrst great political revolution in the history
OF tne country took place soon after the passage
OF the Alien and Sedition laws, by which the lib
crty OF the individual the press and OF free speech
were invaded. The body OF the people regarded
these laws as intended to encroacn on their con-
stitutional rights, and when the proper time ar
rived administered a lesson to the President and
Congress ~ severe as tnat which took place last
week. They viewed the abuse OF power with indig-
nation ana unhesitattngy condemned It. 1t was
never recovered. other episodes are given here
with bearing directly on the result OF the recenr
elections which possess interest at this moment
THE ALIEN AND sEDITION LAWS
These laws, which became ord OF fear and
fepr0ach to the popular ear In the United States
were passed In 1898 during the administration or
John Adams. Their enactment, 1t has been CON.
Ceded, was the greatest and most fatal error OF