The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-08-10
TUESDAY. AUGUST 10, 1875.
Are We n NatIonT

- - O.
I" Mr.. Beck, OF Kentucky, declares
that nation is q very contemplate
word, the word that no good Demo-
crat uses when he can find any other.
and when forced to Use IL, utterS IL
always with disgust He then added,
most smphatically, and rs a true rep
resentativP of the Southern DpmOC-
racy, This Is no nation we mean
ing the Confederate and reartiUnary
States, ike Kentucky and Missouri,
are free and independent States.'"
There is a kind of hazy darkness
hanging over the political affairs of
the South frnm which evil is prophe-
sled, and the political u~tterances Of
the Democracy, especially OF those
who served in the Confederate army,
and who symplthized with the re-
bellion, seems to point to an APP
preaching condition of southern soci-
ETY. which utterly contradIcts the idea
Of determination, or the possibility of
bridging the bloody chasm. One
nfter another Of their prominent men
rise up and scatter to the winds all
hopes of agreeing upon the issues set
tied by the war. What was consId-
cred settled yesterday is denied to-
day. So that the sentiments of the
South, instead of confirming the
words recently spoken by those who
would have US believe that a change
from a rebellious spirit TO n spirit of
loyalty prevails, are still disloyal-
still display opposition to what the
North considers rs vital principles,
the recognition OF which is absolutely
necessary to the peace and stability
Of the country. As n of tho issues
Of the war, the doctrine of State
Rights, involving The claim Of State
sovereignty. was proved TO be incon-
sistent and dangerous; and IL was
abandoned when the doctrine of Fed
eral supremacy was accepted. Hence,
the nation became supreme, in order,
TO demonstrate hat no State was ever
sovereign, nor could be.
The Republican party having bro
ken down the wall of partition be-
tween the North and SOUTH by the
abolition of slavery, drew the people
together; and all being free, the
rights of all are built upon a common
foundation. There Is. therefore, no
reason to justify n claim to sovereign
ty on the part of n State, when the
union Of all the States is a union of
freemen. And were the claim to be
admitted, it would amount to an alb
surdiiy, inasmuch as a part would be
deemed equivalent to the whole, or
the less be equal 10 the greater. When
slavery was destroyed, freedom
reigDed and the people of the Union
became one, because the disturbing
element which had prevented it was
removed. The talk that we wee
only a confederacy of States had
almost ceased. AT all events, it had
ceased so long that popular aspiration
was described AS national the awak-
ening of n national conscience was
seen and felt; and the prevalence of
n national hope was made manifest
in the direction OF affairs. Mr.. Beck
has taken upon himself to resuscitate
the old idea at a most inopportune
period, and which we think will lead
him into trouble.
Mr.. Beck is not satisfied with say
ing This is no nation; - but he an
nOunceS that he says so as a represent
alive of the Southern Democracy.
His representative character here
rather weakens his influence; for the
disposition and doings of the South
ern Democracy are too well known.
Moreover, MI. Beck denies what all
right thinking men affirm; but he
manages to put his denial of our be-
ing a nation in the most offensive
shape. Now, Mr.. Beck to us is no
stranger. He is a man of strong pre-
JUDGES, and evidently does not care
TO conceal his opinions. They doubt
less accord with the class on whose
behalf he assumes to speak. Opin-
ions, however, mark the value of a
public man. And when those opin-
ions are entertained by the best citi-
zens, they increase in Importance and
spread among Others. But if Mr..
Beck expects to build up a reputation
and to reach public position, by pro-
pounding as his, those extreme views
which the safety and welfare of the
country require shall be rejected, he
will prove himself both unwise and
useless, by confronting convictions