National Republican., 1877-02-12
Ylli...llli....:....ll b. ls,7
The arst number Of the SUNDAY Ma.
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN will DO issued next
Sunday morning.
WARNING FROM HISTORY.

Chronicle eoirecurring eVents In the cycles oil
time; and the truth Of the adage, as shown
by the experiences Of the world and crys-
talised In conviction, has further illustra.
tion In our present complications. Novel
TO US, they are not new to the generations.
There is an exact parallel for our own con-
dition In the misfortunes which befell the
most conspicuous and powerful of all the
republics which have preceded US; and we
have reason to abscribe praises to the
Throne which dispenses fate, that Il Is still
poesible for us to avoid the catastrophe they
precipitated upon Its people. We find our
selves, thus early In our career, arrived q,
the first stage In the process of decadeuce,
which was reached by the Roman republic
not until after II had enjoyed hundreds Of
years OF earthly supremacy. And seeing
that when 1t had progressed to the point at
which we now stand, a single mistake Das
Jolloued BY anarchy, the precursor of
tyranny" we cannot be too careful lest
fatal misstep shall terminate our destiny as
free people, also. In an abyss Of desolahon
and ruin which shall swallow up the hopes
and happiness Of posterty. Unless we
apply ourselves to wisdom, aud speedily
arrest the destroying hand OF faction now
lifted against the life of the nation, OBJ
hvious Of all human well-being. and
mindful only Of the petty projects of
party, conceived in selfshness and aimed
at tho attainment Of unwarranted power,
we too may drop into history q warning
to future governments Of the people.
Shortly before the Roman people passed
under the yoke Of Cesar, there was
consular election, at which Scipio, Hyp.
saus and Milo were candidates. Having,
as Plutarch informs US, resorted to "bribery,
corruption, violence, murder and civil
war" to procure votes, the result was q
contested election; and 1t was pro.
posed In the Senate to make Pompey,
who was regarded as the most pop.
ular man In Rome, protector Of
election" or husl returning officer, to. can.
vass and declare the result. At this Cato
the younger, an upright man, objected,
saying that "the laws should not derive
their security from Pompey, but that Pom.
pey should owe his to the laws" This
defeated the measure, and nothing further
being done, the office of Consul was sus
pended. because of the non election of q
successor. Immediately, In the absence
Of its authority. the forum began to be
beseiged by the armies of three aspi.
rants to absolute power; and when Cato
saw this he seconded the appointment Of
Pompey by the Senate, as sole Consul, re-
marking that any government was prefer.
able to anarchy, and that Pompey promised
fair for constitutional administration.
Very soon after this Cesar usurped the
government, and the rest Is familiar knowl.
edge.
Now the parallel. Our campaign was
by the same measures to
ensure success in q number of the States
Of the Union. The result was the same
q disputed election, which the proper State
officers could not decide to the satisfaction
Of parties. The effort to establish a
"protector of the election" or means to
determine 1t through the intervention of
persons and officers Of the highest character
In the country, was opposed for the same
reasons advanced by Cato; but in our case
they were overruled-unwisely we thought
then, and still think-and q Commission
was created to decide the issue. The Com-
mission proving by partial action that 1t
would turn out a protector Of tho slsetion,
In truth and In fact those who were most
clsmorous for II, we are now told, propose
10 delay further action. II possible, until after
the appointed day for the inauguration, and
thus defeat a choice of President and bring
on the condition Of the Romans when
their m istake was made, that OF q country
without an executive chosen by the people.
What will then follow, II this plan shall
succeed, no man can tell. Farther than
that we cannot look; but we have only to
turn to the result In the parallel case,
where there was greater display of can
dor and fairness than our people have
'hown, to gather an In king of e::danger
which threatens US. And 1t does seem as
II those who are attempting to force the
which promise this result,
DO 30 with the intent to administer the
Government or destroy 1t. Some Of them |
have declared that II their candidate Ia |
ultimately rejected there will never be
another Presidential election in the United |
States; and the declaration indicates the |
purpose to make 1t good. If within the |
he power Of evil to accomplish.
Can there be anything more appalling to
he good among men, than to see such .
Government as ours so mensced by the
hatred Of faction And what Ia more pitt. |
lble than to see great party first stultify |
To life record by voting to annul the action
II the States In matter of which they
nave exclusive control. by Federal power,
md then, when defeated In its wishes by
he patriotism Of the tribunal II sought to
lse for that purpose, cover itself with In
amy by violating Its faith in respect Of the
lecisionf This aspect OF our situation
presents case without q parallel, and q
pectacle Of shame without relief, and un.
pprosched In the annals of free govern.
nent.
One redseming circumstance will, how
yer, 20 10 our credit In history. The
'arty which most opposed the measure,
n grounds substantially the same as those
rged by Cato. after 1t was adopted,
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