The Russellville Democrat., 1877-01-04
SUBMISSION.


 To submit, or not to submit? That's the question; for there is no longer any doubt as to the intention of the leaders of the present administration party to usurp the government if the peo- pie will submit. Receut develop ments-the utterances of the hexd and front of the administration party (President Grant, the tone of his nearest accomplices and warmest newspaper organs, the disclosures made by the con gressional investigating commit tees,-every act and word of that party all point to the one inexo- rable and desperate purpose of that patty to usurp the govern mcnt and rob the people of these United States of their right of self-government. This determin- ation was foretold by some of our wisest statesmen months ago, and was foreshadowed by many acts of the dominant party; and in the light of the disclosures up to this time all that has been fore told is surely coming to pass. The degree of success with which the nefarious designs of these conspirators against a free peo- ple's rights shall be crowned, de pends altogether upon the extent to which the people submit to the encroachments upon their rights;-encroachments which are being systematically pursued and continuously followed up, one by another, each successive one being savored more deeply with villainy and desperation. If by bragadocio, buster, and a dis play of military manGuvers the dominant party can awe the dem- crats and conservatives of the United States into a tame sub- mission; or flour leaders to whom we must look for counsel, take counsel of their own fears, and carry their con servativeness to such an extent as to amount to submission; or if the masses listen to the delusive and destru ctive theories of men who are so timid as to hold that anything and everything had bet ter be submitted to rather than to assert the right of the people to selfgovernment. and back it up by force, if necessary, then the conspirators may succeed, and the people may be robbed of their liberties. But if the masses who have elected Mir. Tilden by a popular majority of over quar- ter of a million will stand firm in defense of their rights and de- nounce every encroachment there on, demanding at all times every right granted them by the laws and constitution, there will be no danger of the bluff game which the Hayesites have essayed sue ceeding.
 The country will derive no ben eft from conservativism which would delude the people into ap- proval, by acquiescence, in the exercise of unconstitutional usur- pations and tyranical encroach ments upon the peoples rights. Not that the need of the hour is fire eating" rashness, nor any thing of that kind; but calmness, prudence and Q firm determina- tion to stand by the right even to the last extremity. Submission is what the conspirators want. If they can secure submission this time, they will have no trou- ble hereafter. Like the fox in the fable, who, by frequent con tact with the king Of beasts, be- came disarmed of all the horror and fear with which he had been inspired upon first meeting such 8 savage monster, the people, by each submission become blunted Tn their hatred of oppression un- til It is an easy task for the tyrant to impose any burden he may choose upon their backs. The only remedy for the present crisis lies in the people. The country is to be congratulated that the people ia several of the northern states, notably in Indiana, are looking at the matter in this light. Let the example of Indiana be fol lowed by every other state. Let the South, which has wisely re- trained from taking the initiative, be prompt and cheerful to follow, and second every movement like that inaugurated by the Indiana Democrats. Let no cry of "Solid South" "Rebel South," "Another Rebellion" deter the Southern people from standing squarely up to the rack and joining in with the Northern Democrats in bold demand for rightful settlement of the present muddle. The right of the people to assemble and pe- tition for their rights, and to ac- company their petition by Q most emphatic demand cannot be ques. toned. This is what Indiana proposes. Let the democracy of other States follow suit, and let it be understood that right must trlumnh oven if the DeOple have