The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-08
A Strong Government.

A strong Government.
No wise man wants n stronger Govern
mcnt for this country than that which is
afforded by the Constitution Of the United
States, when 1t is honestly and faithiullyad-
ministered. The most serious objection that
could be urged against the Constitution at
the time of its adoption was that the Gov
eminent which II proposed to establish
would have too much instead Of too little
strength. The novel suggestion Of an ire
vocable cession by the States OF large
mass of sovereign powers. to be held and
exercised by central Government, with
legislative, executive. and judicial au-
thority operating directly within the
States and upon their Inhabitants was re-
ccVcd Mt first with good deal OF dread.
Many of the wiscst and most patriotic Of
the men who had carried the country
through the Revolution, shared the jealousy
that was felt by the people against tho pow
erful Government that was embodied In the
Constitution. Its friends and immediate
trainers secured its safety, and at the same
time promoted its real strength by consent
| ing to amend IT so as to protect the personal
rights of individuals and the political rights
OF the States against n too latltudinarian
Interpretation OF its powers. The first ten
amendments, proposed in 1889 and adopted
in 1871, accomplished these important ends
The objections of that period, that the
Constitution made too strong n Govern
mcnt, came from men who were passlonatcly
devoted to liberty, and who regarded the
Constitution as made in the interests Of
property and of commerce. The objections
a.. -
the Constitution Is not strong enough,
come from the men who have inherited
or have acquired wealth, and who are
short-sighted in respect to their immediate
! interests In the present instance they are
exceedingly short-sighted because. in wish
| ing for stronger Government, they over
! look the fact that the Constitution OF the
United States affords to thcma Government
which rcconcilcs the interests OF property
and popular rights more successfully than
they are reconced in any other country in
the world. rich man in America can make
no greater mistake than to indulge ham
kcring after what he vaguely considers n
stronger Government than that under which
we now live. 1t would he we'll for him TO be
sure that he really understands and apprc-
cates our excellent Constitution, and to
/ make sure that, even as regards his own
selfish interests, he Is not committing u
great blunder when he lends his influence
or uses his money To promote the ambitions
Of men who will either administer the Con-
stitution in stronger manner than that
in which it always has been administered,
or Will prepare the way for its overthrow.
The protection which our present Consti-
tptinn In "a ff.rIpI Ia thp int prnsfc of
merce by making the commerce of the whole
Union unit, tho security which it has
given to property by establishing the in
volatility OF contracts against the power OF
State legislation, and the uniform operation
of the taxing powers Of the Federal Govern
ment. constitute safeguards for the ac-
QUESTION, Investment, and transmission OF
wealth that are quite unparalleled in other
countries. But these advantages must be
enjoyed by the rich, or by those who are
seeking to be rich, on the condition that pop
uar rights and freedom Of individual action
shall he preserved. The moment these gront
interests are severed, the moment IL is per-
coivcd that the Government Of the United
States is TO become stronger in the IN
forests of property than 1t Is in the
maintenance OF the great principles OF
liborty-that moment the interests o
property will be put in great jeopardy
For whatever else happens In this country
whatever changes may he wrought in the
forms or spirit Of our institutions, one thing
is surc-popular rights and the rights Of
States will live and not die.
What Is called communism, or agrarian
ism, can make no head in a country like
this, unless property shall sever itself from
tho cause OF liberty. In that case thor,
can he no step backward. If property
and liberty come into collision, property
will be the sufferer and there can bt
nothing more idle than for the rich Il
suppose that they can establish or promote
a Government strong enough to make theil
interests the paramount object of It's con
Germ, or 20 allow II TO be supposed that they
seek to take advantage of the commun
istic or agrarian Tendencies OF the times
Ia order 10 establish Government NOR,
devoted to the interests Of property thar
that under which we now live. No matter
whether Gen. GRANT, or any other man, /,
the chosen exponent or leader of such 1
policy, as soon as the struggle begins, which
Is designed to end In what Is called
stronger Government, thousands upon thou
sands Of those who have always hitherto
been conservatives In their political and so
clal feelings, because though possessed Of
little property they enjoy the free eompeti.