The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-05
THE ISSUE PRESENTED.

THE ISSUE PRESENTED.
The issue onAwhich the national contest Is !
to be fought in 1880 has been clearly defined
by the long and angry discussions In the ex-
ira session of Congress just closed.
| In nearly all the States we find substan-
TALLY the same drift Of political affairs. Es-
pecially Is this the case In our own State
| The real end and aim Of the Republican
party has long been suspected, but the fierce
and logged fight which 1t made, In the late
session, to maintain the power of the Presi-
dent through the army and United States
marshals to control the elections, with the
open and defiant declarations of It's chief that
this power, heretofore exercised under the
flimsy pretext that it was necessary for the
time being to the protection of the freedmen
In their political rights, Is henceforth to be an
attribute Of the Federal government, no
longer leaves doubt that the purpose Is to
| transform the government into centralized
oligarchy which will be maintained in the in
4 terest Of and upheld by the money power OF,
/ the country. i
The grasp which this scheme has obtained
upon this country isshown in the fact that
even In Louisiana, State which, more than
any other. has suffefed from Federal inter-
ference In it's affairs, many prominent gentle
men who, through oil our Affections, were
identified with the Democratic party, now
broadly and emphaticaly announce and ac-
cept as controlling principles Of our govern
ment the very doctrines on which the Ma
tional Republican party Is attempting to re-
construct the Union.
!, When the settlement OF the debt was under
discussion, for instance, we heard these gen.
tlemen claiming that the Federal courts had
the power to force the State to pay the debt
according to "the contract, and the widest
and most threatening power was claimed for
the Federal judiciary over State officers. Ii
, the history Of civil liberty has shown that
one of the safeguards Of the people is an indie
pendent and incorruptible judiciary that Of
revolutions has shown that the most insidious
, foe of established institutions and Of the lib
, critics of country isa Judiciary under the
influence of government. Blind indeed must
be the man who has not marked the encroach-
ment, during the last ten years, Of the Fede-
! raj judiciary, under the influence of the
Federal government, upon the rights OF
the States, and who does not perceive the ne
cessity, IL it is hoped to maintain the rights
of the States, of resisting it's aggressive and
y usurpatory spirit. It is gratifying to all
Democrats that the Convention was in nc
p measure influenced by any regard or appre.
hension of the Federal courts In settling
: the debt, but that 1t acted solely and ex
y clusively on what WIS regarded as FOR the
/ best interests Of the people. The Conyen
: ton weighed, it is true, as in honor it was
# bound to do, the measure OF justice which
J, !, was due the bondholders. But, while threats
Q on every hand were made that the State would
g be dragged before the Federal courts, tn,
j Convention practically swept out Of existenc
the so-called contract of 1874, and reduced TIN
10 rate Of interest to a just and proper figure
# Another Republican doctrine, equally hostil
. to Democratic principles, has gained promi
il hence In the discussions to which the Conven
~ ton has given rise. This doctrine has me
n with especial favor from the New Orlean
IL Times, q journal partly owned by one Of tn
+ most narrow and bitter Republicans in tn
y South. That doctrine Is, that the kellogg
on usurpation was de fdeto government, an
II that all OF it's acts were absolutely bindin
Il upon the people Of Louisiana. II we acceI
Of this proposition We recognize the right Of th
=. Federal government, by the army and throug
n the orders of its courts, to set up a govern
sd ment in Louisiana regardless of the will (
o. o, the people. This has been the practice and
of Is now the proclaimed theory Of the Repul
81 lican party, and tie Democratic party
Cd Cd Louisiana should repudtate and denounce an
of such assumption Of arbitrary power.
In this country, under our political system
he under the constitution Of the United State
ma which guarantees to every State q republica
form Of government, there is not and cann'
ly be any such thing as q de facto governmel
ly in the sense in which that term Is used.
g countries where government rests upon for
liz such a thing Is possible. There the sword
lis frequently the only title to the thron
,r- But in this Union it Is very differer
ls In these States, government rests upt
ma the consent of the people, and a free eiectit
On by the people Is the very essence OF autho
%. ity or legality In government. Hence,
l,r Louisiana, or In any other State OF th
US Union, the government Is a de jure COVER
ment, elected by a majority OF the people, I
a it Is usurpation set up by revolt
ns ton. or violence, or fraud; it has no autho
ID ity but what it may exert through fort
and violence; It's acts cannot bind the Peep
u any further than they deem it wise an
u proper to recognize them by acquiesent
he subsequently. Hence usurpation ove
lie thrown, its acts may be disowned; tt
al roapIo m - oonu}ocoo IN cf1ah 40 are NOT In