Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-11-01
THE OLD LEAVEN AT WORK.

! The discussion of the present attitude " Of
I the Democratic party would BE- incomplete
without referring 10 lis position on the elemental
! question of the nature and powers of our
Government ard the duties owed to il by the
citizen. For many years prior 20 the rebellion
there marked growth in it Of the prnei-
pie Of State rights. BE- IL C2lhounism entirely
supplanted the Unionism of Jackson. A.
marking this process Of decay their platforms Of
lS52, 1886. and 1850 s0iemnly adopted, Is con-
stitutinS one of the main foundations of thei-
political ereed," the Kentucky and Virginia
resolutions Of f19S, which contain the Yery
essence of the principle of secession asserted
upon the election Of Mr. Lincoln. In not one
OF these platforms was the assertion, or even
the implication. Of the national idea and in
the platform OF 1876 even the word = National" "
has been excluded. Thus that grand old
word Of Washington and Adams and Jefferson
has passed oGs Of the Democratic dictionary,
lest some reflection might seem 20 be casI upon
the letter Of Mr.. 1iiGeu to William Kent in
1850, in which the country i spoken of
- COnfedsracy.' Ia his letter OF acceptance he
speaks with Csteata.iOus frequency of our
= Fcsleral' Union and the = Federal Govern
ment. BO.der rnl.i of the parry are more pro-
nOuneed. Mr.. Beck, of Kentucky, now Seu2-
tor-elect, yeheme1tly expressed in the last Con-
gress his horror Of the word " nation" as Gp-
pied TO our system, and Senator Eaton, of
Connecticut, prcncUnces this Government in 10
sense nation, but Z Government OF sovereign
States.''
The existence of this tendency IS further
shown in the changes isads BY the Democracy
in the constitutions Of The reconstrucjed States.
IN Alabama the clause Inserted in the constitJ-
ton OF lsG1, tina: tine State has no right 20
sever rs relations 10 the Federal Union, or 20
Pass any law in derOgatiOn Of the paramount
allegiance Of the citizens OF this stats 10 the
Government IF the United States" has been
stricken ont, a5I in the new constitution o.
1875 il i only asserted that .-th. ueUple
oi this State acce95 as Inal The established
E.et that from the Federal Union there
can be ~ secession O. any State thus simply
a. ,cpting the ''lacs,' but nos abandoning the
" theory" Of secession and this ht.ie was
yieifie'i under the protest OF an indignant mi
nO-iiy- In Arkansas, the provision thIt '-para-
mount allegiance Of every citizen IS due to the
Federal Government in the exercise OF ali its
constitutional powers, Is defined 0y the Supreme
COi'-t Of the United Stascs.' has been dropped
from the n-w constitution OF 1915. Ia Missouri
the - paramount ali. glance = clause OF TIE Old
constitution las disappeared from the new. In
Texas the new constitution contains, with an
Oi Its - freedom and irdcpen-
dcnee,' subject only to the Constitution Of
the United States, the same threat as the con-
stiJutiOn of Missouri, that tie perpetuty of the
l Mon depends on what Il STYLES the right of
" local seli-soTcrnInenr, UIiil paired, 20 all the
49, tilc cause ti tLC cil GUusLfLAlIIA
" ih repi;ui@Ees the - hgresios Of nu.liicatiO1
and secession. which brought the co,ntrv %
Srlei, Is dropped from the new. IN Virginia I
movement Was begun but was nippei in the !
bud, TO propose IN amendment 70 their cOnsti-
tuition oi 1888 to strike from Il the two clauses
declaring Virginia unaltersbig "a part Of the /
american natiOl-" and asserting tne para
mount allegiance and obedience due from e-erv
citizen 20 tae Constitution of the United States 1
aud TIE laws OF Congress passed in purs suaace I
thereof. am sh.l- in the constitution, or,ii-
nances, g. laws Of any State 70 the CONTRARY
Those who know the ele- |
lnents which make up the modern Democrat,
specially the Modern Virginia Democrat, know
-hat they VIII never rcs5 at peace with !
themselves or the world till that declaYa-
ion has been abrogatCd and the substitution |
made OF counter declaration, which, though |
possibly sucar-coLtcd, contains the elements /
,Gt Of which may some G1y be hatched 4 new ,
reason These facts are sufficient 20 prove the I
that the tendency Of thought In the !
Democratic party on this important: point !s re-
roggsde; that il seeks TO drag the country
lacS TO the very source Of aii our wees: thas T.
eiuses 20 accept the Inspiring thought of
nationality, p-eicrTirg the provincial: .hat Il
eek5 20 elevate the Tag OF the State. and the /
-lles1anee due the State, above the nag Of the
ia!ion and the allegiance due to il, thereby IN
1ting irreccncilable forces 20 new and Vurten-
Gus struggles. In other words, the Democrats
arts nSeIf dEaried 50 cs 10 be incS gIbls Of q ,
,redt conception or an exalted duty. seeks to
oHpreSs into its naTrOw circle OF Iein. The
Mighty aspirations and advancing powers or
'rcas nation, which uobly aspires to lead in the
atGway OF peopLes, and TO conduct the vast |
motherhood of man to the secure enjoyment Of
ioerty, prosperity, ard peace i victory for
uch pGFsy, IN very truth, would be victory !
or the forces OF darkness.-L0sa. ki-ard lLc-
'hsss0a.