Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-07-26
"OUR DANGER

Now York Herald, points out, in tru'
colors, the roal danger which threatens
tho permanoncy Of our political insti
tutions. Tho editor in question seldom
assume Hto lay down true Democracy
us defined by our party, but In this In
stance he has hit the nail right on the
head, and we, therefore, give our read
cls the benefit of his warning. Reat
and ponder what he says h1
oOf tho evils which bad govcrnmen,
has brought upon tho Republic, and
which are u danger TO the pcrmanenc'
Of the Union, corruption is one OF The
chief. If II could be destroyed by The
removal OF unfit men, by tho impeach
mcnt Of Bclknap or by sending a thou
sand thieving officials TO jail, II would
be trlhing danger. But tho task Il
not 30 easily performed. Corruption
Is not the incident OF an administration
which dies with II it Is q disease which
is inherited, and our next Presiden,
cannot hope to escape the consequences
OF Grants weakness any moro than al
innocent child can escape constitution
al prodispositions imposed by consump
tive PARENTS. This implicated evil oI
b gaming, plotting, robbing and do
grading national trusts 10 persona
ends, can only be expelled from the
government by long and continued
effort. We are firm in tho belief tina,
if the corruption of tho government ai
II has been ruled by Grant should b,
permitted to multiply upon itself few
years longer the downfall Of the Re
public would be as certain as the ial
Of the Roman Empire or the ruin o.
the Napoleonic dynasty. But this /,
not the only great danger which th,
government has brought upon th,
Union. Capitalization Of power al
Washington is perhaps a more immedi
ate caaso Of that jealousy, suspicion
and feor which have lessened the Low,
of tbe people than even corruption
The Onion was not established for th,
purpose of ruling the whole country
from the capital Itsobjects and pow
efs were clearly defined in the consti
tuion. But there has been policy o
encroachment and usurpation. W,
would say TO the next President, who
ever he may be, "Take the heavy hant
of the administration of the States.
There is no longer the pretext of th,
war for this interference with the SOW
ereign parties to the national compact
IL has prevented the pacifcation OF tn,
South, aroused the Indignation of th'
North and threatens to be as perniciou
in its influence in the West. Neve
until the unjust interference with State
and the tcndancy to Capitalization i
checked will the old, fond, enthusiast,
passion Of the Union be restored ant
those who would depress that nobl,
sentiment are the enemies Of Liberty
herself
"The leaders Of both parties in thi
political contest would do wisely to re
fleet upon the great changes in the con
dition of the country. They will Sc,
the South with no other reason to dis
like the Union, now that slavery Il
destroyed, than the mere memories o
the war, which are fading, as th,
Stuart rebellions in England vanished
from English politics and appeared il
poetry and romance. They will SC,
the West a giant power, which has n,
motive tor distrust of the Union if th,
government does not interfere with th,
development of its prosperity. They
will see the Pacific slope, younge
giant growing up by the side of il
mighty brethren, rejoiced 10 maintain
the Union for the glory of all, but un
easy under the fear of centralized inter
ference. Thoy will sec the East, where
in the Union had its birth, conscious o
the fact that il is no longer a compac
of the Atlantic seaboard, but a confed
GRAFTON OF the continent. If they com
prehend these charges they will know
that the Union is not TO be ruled will
imperial sway from the capital, anC
that its dangers are, not what they
were In Washington's time, from with
out, but from within. The Cincinnati
Convention gave these subjects no con
siGeration, but Mr.. Hayes has ampl,
timeto express his views in the canvass
But whatever may be discussed in tn,
canvass the vital question is to be de
cided by the next administration. TIL,
fate of the American Union, for hun
dred years, perhaps, depends upor
what is done in the next tour and il
all the work before us nothing Is NOR,
important than the removal Of corrup
tion by the slow, steady process OF re
form, and the destruction Of centraliza
tionby nnimmediate change ofpolicy.