The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-12

Becvrco tue SAFETY OF tuObe VINO were disturbed OF
In danger, what would have become Of the liberty
and rights OF all OF uss The method would have
been effective, but it would have been a cruel
stroke OF irony to call the United States any longer
republic.
DANGEROUS GENERALIZATION LAWS.
do not msap to insnua'e that you wanted to
do this know you did not. You did not intend
to employ such means. and You would have re.
coie1 from such result. You triei a middle
course; you respected the seltgovernment OF the
States in point OF form; but while you and the
Executive omitted to use those moral influences
which would have inspired that selEgovernment
with healthy tendencies, you passed laws confer
ring upon the national government dangerous
powers Of very doubtful constitutonality-at least
so thought, and opposed them.
The effect was Lost debloraole In several ways.
Your partisans in the Southern States. and among
them the most greedy and corrupt Of the kind.
began to look upon Congress and the National
Executive IS their natural allies ana sworn pro-
tectors; bound TO sustain them in power by what
ever means. Every vagaoond In the South calling
himself republican thought himself entitled to
aid from you when rushing on 10 Congress with
an outrage story. The coiored people began to
think that you were bound to protect them in
whatever they might do, instead OF depending
upon precedent and an honest use Of their own
political rights to establish their position.
MILITARY oUTRAGEs SOUTH.
The federal office. holders In the South became
more than ever the centres OF partisan intrigue
and trickery. The Caseys and Packards carried
OF State Senators on United States revenue
cutter and shut up republican Governor in the
Custom House, guarded by United States soldiers.
TO keep out another republican faction. Nay.
more than that the same Packard, during the last
election campaign In Louisiana, being at the same
time United States Marshal and Chairman OF the
Campaign Committee OF the Kellogg party. man.
aged not only the political campaign, but also the
movement of the United States troops Ito enforce
the laws" to keep his political opponents from
intimidating his political friends. But more
than tnat:-In one State after another we see
enterprising politicians start rival Legislatures
much In the way OF Mexican pronunciamentoes !;
and rival governments, calculating upon the aid
they may get from the national governments; and
the Attorney Genera, OF the United states called
upon to make or unmake State governments with
the wave of his hand; and the Department OF
Justice at most appearing like o central bureau
Tor the regulation OF State elections; and still
more than that, q federal judge in Louisiana, by
midnight orcer universally recognized as gross
and most unjusthable usurpauon. virtually
making o State Governor and Legislature, the
National Executive, with the army, sustaining
that usurpation, and Congress permitting IL to be
done. And now
THE ELIMINATING GLORY;
federal soldiers, with fixed bayonets, marching
into the legislative hall OF State, dragging out
by force he men universally recognized as claim.
ants Tor membership and having peen seated:
soldiers deciding contested election case aud
organizing legislative body; the Lieutenant
General suggesting t. the President to outlaw by
proclamation q numerous class Of people by
WI Ia mn try nv mil torn
mission, and then the Secretary OF War informing
the Lieutenant General Ly telegraph that the
government has full confidence IN his wisdom.
And beyond this, the whites or the South gradually
driven to look upon the national government as
their implacaDle and interruptions enemy ana
the people OF the whole country .ull OF alarm and
anxiety the safety OF republican institutions
and the rights OF every man In the land. All, SEN
ators, you Old not mean this trust! But there
is not q single one OF these things has happened
without exciting in you an emotion Of anxiety
and the wish that nothing similar should come
again. Iut you have followed step by step re.
MISUNDERSTANDING, perhaps. but you did fol-
low. Now you know not where you may have to
60. unless here you make q stand. You meant
only to protect coored men In their rights, and
this end to keep your friends In power. You did
not mean to do 1t by
THE RUSSIAN METHOD;
but from small beeinnlngs something has grown
up OF near kin to ia lew steps Iurther ana yov
may have the whole. fyou do not want to 60 on,
tEen say to you 1t Is the highest time TO turn
back. 1t Will not do to permit such things as we
now behold to pass without rebuke and resistance,
for to permit them Is to urge them on. have
heard 1t said that he who justices murder IN the
South is the accomplish OF the murderer. Be it so;
but consider also that he who In place like ours
fails to stop or even justihes blow at the lunda.
mental law OF the land, makes himself the accom-.
pce OF those who strike the life OF the repuoli-
can liberty OF the people. Above all things in
duge IN no delusion about The consequences OF
your doings. Be bold enough to look the great
question in the face.
is REPUBLICANIsM A FAILURE
II you really think that the peace and order of
society arc no longer to be Maintained through
the sell-government OF the people under the con.
sttutien and the impartial enforcement OF constt.
tutional laws-that this old machinery OF free
government can no longer be trusted with its
most important functions, and that such trans.
gressions on the part OF those in power as now
pass before us are right and necessary or the puolc
weliare-tnen admit that this government or the
people. Tor the people and by the people is u mis-.
carriage. Let the hundredtn anniversary Of tile
Republic be the confession OF Its f8ilure, and
maze mas up your minds TO change the form as
republic would then be mockery. But DO not de-
luue yourselves and others with the thought that
by following TINS foul road you can still preserve
those institutions where the forms OF constitu-
ti0nal government can be violated with impunIty
The spirit OF constitutional government Will soon
be dead. Who does not know that republics will
be sometimes the theatres of CONFUSION, distri b.
ance and violent transgresslons-more frequently.
perhaps, than moDarcnes governed by strong
dcspotic rule? The institutions or republics have
to pay some price for the great boon or their con-
stllurional liberty.
REMEDIES FOR DISORDERS IN REPUBLIC
But do we not also know that In republics
remedies Tor evils be found In entire
coDs0nance with the spirit and form OF republican
institutions and constitutional government Let
nobody suspect me OF Iavorlng or eXcusing dis
order and violent transe for insist tnat
such remedies can be louno and effectively applied.
But pusiliannous anu dangerous to republican
institutions Is That craftsmanship which, to re-
press tfansgr -s5lOns and to secure the safety OF
some, can devise only such means as by violating
constitutional principles and forms Will en-
danger the liberty OF all. You say that
1t Is OF the first duties OF government to pro-
tect the lives an property and rights OF the clti-
zens ana so 1t Is: Dut also 1t Is the first duty OF
stitutiona government carefully to abstain
rom employing Tor that protection such means
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