The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-06-16
A DANGEROUS POLITICAL HER
Esq


deavoring to instill into the minds of
their followers the dangerous and anti>
republican doctrine that 1.-The States
are one as a nation" Their labors APP
pear not to have been altogether i'm vain.
The Pennsylvania Republicans injected
the idea Though in a diluted FORM III
to their platform; but their brethren of
Ohio, more bold-and perhaps more
thoroughly indoctrinated than those of
the keystone State-have spread it in
all its naked responsiveness before the
people as a cardinal doctrine of the Re-
publican party.
There are two political poisons that
are deadly to republicanism, and those
are, Capitalization and Secession. Our
form of government is not so much that
Of a republic, pure and simple, as it is
that of a confederation or banding to-
gether of many republics, for purposes
ofmutuaI protection, assistance and adj
vancement; the compact, or bond of
confederation, betwixt them consisting
of written constitution, and the gov
erning machinery of which is controlled
by checks and balances, which restrain
one department from usurping the func-
tons of another department. This con-
stitution is made up exclusively of del
egated or surrendered powers, to be ex-
ercised alone and solely for the mutual
benefit Of the entire confederation of
States.
We have designated the two political
poisons which are deadly to a govern
ment so peculiarly constituted as ours,
as Secession and Capitalization. The
one means dismemberment and anar-
chy. The other means absorption of
power and despotism. And both mean
death to republicanism.
Fortunately for the country, Secs
sion has persisted by the sword to which
it appealed. There is no danger of its
ever attempting the disruption of the
confederation again. Its twin-brother,
Capitalization, is now lifting its head
and whetting its fangs to strike and at
tempt the accomplishment of that at
which Secession was foiled. 1t must
be slaughtered as effectually as the 9TH
er. 1t is heresy which, should it uni
versally obtain among the people, will
obliterate State lines, destroy State
governments, and eventually strike
down free thought, free speech, and the
free ballot, and set up in their stead a
government that some CESAR would
speedily transform into a monarchy
1t is a doctrine, too, as fallacious as it
is dangerous. There is no truth in it.
The States are not one as a nation
Such was not the idea of the founders
of the government. 1t is not the teach
ing of the constitution. 1t cannot be
adopted by the people without destruc-
ton to both the constitution and the
present form of government.
The present government is nothing
more nor less than a perpetual partner
ship between the States, each member
surrendering to the common or super
visory government certain powers of a
general nature which it would be
impracticable for the States separately
to exercise. The functions of Congress
are clearly defined in the fundamental
law, andit may not usurp the functions
of the State legislatures. Nor can the
President usurp the functions of the
Governors of the States. Each branch
of the general government exercises
only such powers and prerogatives as
are expressly delegated to it. This is
the true theory Of the government. 1t
is the only theory that can be success
fully practiced and the republic pre-
served. The dogma that 1.-The States
are one as a nation must not be per-
mitted to obtain a foothold i'm our poll
tics. 1t can be easily crushed while
yet in its reptile infancy. If left TN
molested and permitted to grow and
gain strength it may, in the end, like
its dead brother heresy, require rivers
of the best blood of the land to drown
it. 1t bears in its hands the seeds Ct
another fraternal war which it must
not be permitted to SOW broadcast.