The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-10
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CESARISM.

Imperial Rome has given a name
to absolute personal government of
comprehensive significance. That
the exercise of its powers is not con-
fined to monarchial governments has
been painfully demonstrated by the
history of this Republic in the last
fourteen years. An absorbing ques-
ton in the minds of many men on
this, continent to-day is whether it is
to succeed in consolidating it's pow
ers sufficiently to convert the Ameri-
can government into an autocracy.-
1t is conceded that at no period in its
history has it been in greater danger
of this accomplishment than now.
Has General Grant the will and the
power to perfect scheme which
there is little reason to doubt has
been conceived by his parasites and
followers?
That the intention exists-the de-
sire in his own mind-he has left no
room for doubt. The insolent au-
dacity of his Arkansas message was
the perfection Of the plan, of which
the Louisiana outrage was the tenta-
tive experiment. But happily his
power is not commensurate with his
will.
Despotic power cannot be long ex-
ercised over an unwilling people. A
great crisis may invite it's establish
ment. Fear, interest, and sordid
passions may prolong its existence
but unless the people whom it affects
are permanently debased, its termi
nation is not long delayed.
The American people are not ready
to accept it yet. 1t is true we have
made rapid strides towards consoli
dation, and we fear it is equally true
that these steps cannot be all re
traced, but the recent vote in the
House on the Arkansas case is proc
that the most subservient of Grant
followers are not ready for the fina
plunge. No future Congress can as
senble in our day that will contain
so many plant tools of Executive
usurpation as that just now expired
No future President in our day car
be placed in such favorable conju nc
ture Of circumstances, of antecedents
and surroundings, as he who now
would fain lead this nation to the
realization of Casarism. The time
and the occasion were propitious.-
A nation, grateful that it's life hat
been saved, flung itself down in ado
ration before the victor who had &C
complished it's deliverance. Slavisl
adulation of his virtues, and besottet
blindness to his vices, characterized
all classes. All evil that he had done
was forgotten. All evil that he coule
do was ignored. 1t was long before
the idol could be stripped of it's mer
etricious adornment, but the wor
shippers who at first bowed thei
heads in unqestioning acknowledg
ment of its sanctity begin to upturr
their faces with a critical gaze thai
implies more than incipient skep
ticism.
The political events of the last two
years afford proof of this. So tho
rough was the conviction among
General Grants opponents of his in
vincibility to their unaided attack
that they selected as his antagonist
in his second Presidential campaign
one Of his former adherents, who was
at the same time one of their most
detested former adversaries. The
result was a defeat as complete as il
was humiliating. At the same time
a Congress was elected capable of any
atrocity, and eager for any sacrifice
Last year a remarkable revulsion in
popular sentiment reversed the posi-.
ton of parties in the lower House
and with the exception of Hamlin
not one Of the Senators who had iden.
titled himself with the Pres.
ident's policy was returned. A Sen,
ATE, composed even as the last, re-
buked the attempt to install Williams
as the successor of Chase and fancy
and Marshall, and a House that was
filed with the Presidents parasites
has condemned his completely in the
Clayton-Dorsey conspiracy against
the liberties of sovereign State
The outlook is however not all en-.
couraging. The mere fact that the
Force Bill received the assent of the
Republican Congressman and the ap
proval of large section of the Re,
publican press, reveals a condition Of
nuhlio sentiment most fayorahlo tr