Middletown transcript., 1875-02-13

and again. And the possession ol
power by the extremists Of either side
is liable al says, in the imperfection Of
human nature, to be abused to the op-
preston Of the party not in power.
And there is no doubt that in the minds
of many otherwise intelligent people the
impression is now strong that the late
war resulted in the prostration of all
powers Of the individual States, and
the enforcement Of the Federal Gov
ernment as the supreme controller of the
internal affairs of the several States.
We have now before US daily journal
Of the highest standing for culture and
sagacity which justifies the invasion Of
the New Orleans Legislature on this
grouud-the duty of the General Gov
ernment to maintain order in the States.
The duty is clear. but in all govern
ments Of Law there are forms to be OBJ
served as essential to peace and justice
as the use Of the sword after those forms
have been observed. But the mischief
is, that in times Of great excitement
men are tempted to overleap the paper
barriers of constitutional law, and in
their haste to do what seems to item a
necessary good, they trample on the
rights Of others and of all. Radicalism
rushes to the extreme, regardless Of its
means; Conservatism let's the wrong
remain rather than rush at all. Thus
the eternal conflict between the two.
The good is done, and rightly done.
only when the two elements are tenn
pered by each other. the impatience Of
the one restrained, and the torpor Of
the other stimulated into healthfal life
The condition of things in Louisiana
has long demanded the wisdom and the
sympathy of the whole country, that
she might be established under right
eous government Congress has been
negligent of its duty, and justly de-
serves the censure of the President for
its failure to provide remedy for ex-
listing evils. And when the country
was electrified by the intelligence that
armed United States troops had decided
the complexion Of the legislature. a
deed without precedent in the history
Of the Republic, though now. in the
99th year of its life, the thrill of emo
ton that went, as on the wires Of the
with the news, from the CEN
tre to the extremities Of the nation, was
Is If another Sumter had been stormed
and the great day Of war had come.
As quick as thought. Mr.. Garrison and
Wendell Phillips communicated their
delight over the armed invasion Of the
State House Of Louisiana. Charles
Francis Adams, William M. Evarts,
Charles O'Conor, and men of their
stamp, expressed their condemnation
of the measure. It is question Of
law: Of the rights Of the
people under their own constitution.
Il is the question on which this union
# ours will stand or fall. Let radical
sm or conservatism say what they will,
t is time for patriotism to speak and to
lct, and to act with such vigor and re-
'olution IS the greatness of the emer- }
yency demands.
There is way Of getting at this
natter. but it is extremely doubtful
whether or not there is sufficient moral
,ower left in the country to find it and
ollow it. It will require spirit Of $
elf-sacri6ce, Of party abnegation, and .
f exalted patriotism, of which there-is
lot too much surviving. The last days '
f Congress are passing, and what is q
loing there? The country is suffering.
be people Of the South. as we'll as the
North, are in want Of such legislation
8 will give stability to their business,
'eacs in their borders. security to their
and protection to their lives. .
N. Y. Observer. q