The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-03
The Issua in 1916.

The Issue in 1875. la
- From the N. Y. Tribune.
Mr.. Conkling is quite right. 1t is the
presidential campaign of 1875 that the
Louisiana debate 10 the senate opens. So
let US understand it distinctly. The ad- l.
ministration has presented the issue very
clearly in IL action with reference to Louisi-
ana affairs; the leaders Of the party sus-
tain the President; the newspaper organs
have very generally taken the cue, and the
The position of the party Of the admins
tratlon may be stated in general terms to
be this: Under the constitutional amend
ments and the reconstruction acts the
general government is absolute over the |,
states. It may manage elections, direct
the canvass of votes, supervise returns,
controls tho organization OF legislatures,
decides upon the qualifications of electors,
settle contested elections, recognize or re-
fuse to recognize state governments, and
with the army enforce its decisions and |
carry out its DEGREES. Endorsement of the |
administration in its action in Louisiana |
means simply, when put in the form Of
political principle, the abolition of the last
vestige of state sovereignty and the investi-
ture in the Federal government of all the
powers and privileges hitherto held to re-
side in the several states. 1t disposes Of
local self. government at once and finally.
The beautiful adjustment of relations be-
tween the Federal and state governments
under the constitution as originally adopt
ed, the delicate discrimination of powers
and duties and the wise separation between
the functions of the Federal organization
and those of the states composing it, have
been regarded since the foundation of the
government as the embodiment of the wis
dom and craftsmanship of the fathers.
Our people have for them traditional re-
spect which rises almost to generation.
The extreme view of state rights which led
to secession doubtless caused something
like revulsion in the popular mind, so
that the term of state rights became a re-
proach, and there arose very naturally a
centralizing tendency and desire for a
strong government. It is the obvious pur
pose OF the present managers of the admin
istration party to test the extent of this
feeling, in the hope that upon its prevail
ence they may perpetuate their own power.
And we do not deny that it is fair ques
ton if it only be fairly stated and discussed
upon its merits. Any citizen is at liberty
to distrust the wisdom of the fathers; to
believe our present form of government a
failure, and to advocate such changes in it
as he pleases. 1t is not impossible that
some sincere patriots believe that strong
central government would be much better
for all concerned than a union of states un
der Federal organization with powers
strictly limited and defined. 1t is theil
privilege to give such opinions the legiti
mate and proper expression which is con
veyed in the support of the present policy
OF the administration.
The objectionable thing about it is thai
the administration managers seem dis
posed to appeal to prejudice rather than t.
reason, and to infame the passions of mer
by false and exaggerated reports, instead
OF presenting the facts and the argument
from them. The argument for a stronl
central government in which should legally
reside all the powers which have been as
sumed, as we think, illegally by Presiden
Grant, rests upon the claim that some Of
the states of the Union, if left to them
selves, would take hostile attitude to the
Federal government, aud that in some Of
them an intelligent minority would, by in
timidatiOn or otherwise, so coutrol the ig
norant majority as virtually to defeat the
cardinal purpose of a democracy. The
manner in which this is attempted to be
shown is, We think, open to the objection oil
being undigni6ed and dishonest. The at
tempt to revive the animosities of the war
by the circulation of such false reports as
those Of which MIR. Charles Hays was the
author; the brutal ISLANDERS upon whole
communities such as Gen. Sheridan uttered
in his "banditti' dispatch the persistent
efforts of such mischief makers as Major
Merrill to stir up discord and strife; the
malicious misrepresentation of the motives
aud conduct of men whose only offense is
desire tor honest governmental these
things are very disgraceful to the men en-
gagged in them.
Nor is the turgid rhetoric Of senators
who talk about dancing on the tomb at
Mount Vernon and pulling down the ODE.
isk on Bunker Hill, because some one has
yentured to criticise the civil adminstra.
ton Of an officer who gained laurels in the
war, any more to the purpose or any less
unworthy place in the argument. If the
people of Louisiana are unfit for self-gov-
ernment; it for any reason they cannot be
trusted to manage their own affairs with
out the interference of Federal troops, lei
us have the reason and the facts, and there.
ON the conclusion reached. Give us truths
and not lies abont intimidation and
outrages and assassinations and all the rest
and when the indictment is complete, lei
Mr.. Conkling for the ADMINISTRATION and
Its party announce boldly and explicitly
that Tor the reasons set forth, Louisiana is
not entitled to selfgovernment, but mus
De taken care OF by strong central gov.
eminent; That is precisely what the sup.
port of the administration in this matte,
involves. That and no less. And, as Mr.
Conkling says, the presidential campaign
ct 1876 opens with that issue fairly at The
'front.' 1t is an effort to hold on to mower
Dy appeals to the old animosities and ba.
treds OF the war; to grind under the heal
a people already conquered. And with
TINS, 700, II must not be forgotten, it is on
attempt 70 cnange the spirit and form Of
our government.
The venerable Thurlow Weed has writ
ton n long latfar in raoord q. Al =.