The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-02-13
srArE RIGHTS.

4 The message of Gov. Hall, Of Dela-
ware, recently issued, is most cofn-
mendable document, worthy of very
general circulation, for it deals with
subjects that are destined to engross
large share of the public attention
in the future. One passage of it will
bear publication here:
I desire to emphasize tho importance
and necescity Of the State relying on
its own governmental resources and
/ appliances to maintain tranquility and
| the supremacy Of the law within its
own borders. The habit of calling
upon the Authorities Of the general
government for troops, BY the States,
to suppress disorderly and turbulent
demonstrations therein, would un-
doubtedly beget strong feeling Of
| dependence upon the federal govern
ment. and diminish, in correspond.
ing degree, the spirit Of sslf-rsliancs
| upon the part of the States. With
such relationship subsisting between
the State and federal government, the
| latter would gradually absorb many
of the attributes of Sovereignty ex.
pressly reserved to tho former, ana
thereby impair the efficiency of those
great checks interposed BY tho consti-
tuition against the centralizing tenden-
cies of political power in the hands Of
the general government. We should
beware of power when It approaches
Us in the guise of Of protector, fer
the object of its protection. now may
soon be the victim of It's oppression.
| This embodies in essence the doo-
/ frin ~ tat vs~ e
that has not been popular Of late years
but nevertheless 1t IL . doctrine that
must claim the attention of the public
for some time to come. We apprehend
that it will form not inessential part
of the campaign Of 1880, and for that
reason it must be met, and met square
| ly.
Ever since the war began the riehts
of the States have been subordinated
to the will Of the central power st
| Washington. The States have sur
rendered nothing, but the federal gov.
ernment has assumed much. The par.
ty in power seems to have laborsd to
obliterate all functions that by the con-
stitution belonged to the States, and
to create at Washington streng cen.
trail government against which noti-
ing should prevail. The Congress Of
| the United States has assumed to die
tate to the several States just how far
they should 60, without consulting the
legislatures of those States. The re-
suit has been but natural. Whenever
the people of any State or of any Sec
| tion Of State have been in trouble
if mobs have threatened destructioA
or judicial proceedings have appeared
to be adverse-appeals have besn made
to the United States government for
protection.
Under the constitution of theUnited,
States each State is allowed to main--
tain = militia sufficient to perform all
police duty that might, under ordina-
ry circumstances, be required. To
that militia is committed the duty OF
preserving order. But what havs We
seen Less than two years ago the
cities of Chicago, Pittsburgh, CincIn-
natl and Philadelphia applied to the
general government for troops to sup
press mobs that could have been sup
pressed in fraction of . day by the
regularly and legally authorized po.
lice of those cities. AS consequence
those cities suffered severely-alIo~ed
the mobs to run wild until the arrival
of the federal troops, and as result,
the authority of the States was de-
meaned, and the mob taught that only
the federal authority was potent to
restrain disorder. The fact 10 that If
the people and the anthorIties had not
been taught that the center Of power
lay with the government at Washing
ton, the mobs would have been dis
persed as promptly a. IN drunken
crowd on the streets Of st. Paul.
There is grave Misrepresentation %
to the nature of our government,
which, the sooner dispelled the better.
The central government was formed
only ns an appeal court Of last re-
sort. The States wore gwen all the
powers necessary for their own inter-
nal governm ent-for the regulation Of
all disputed matters and for tho sup
preston of all internal Disturbances.
The central government was formed
only to provide for the common safety
AS matter of convenience In legal
disputes the supreme court of the
United States was formed as court Of
last resort. But the general govern
ment was given no powers except
those conferred upon it by the States.
Its only purpose was to carry out the
will of the people towards foreign
governments-tc declare war against
foreign powers and to levy taxes for
that purpose whenever the States
should so decide. st-B.l
The attempt of the dominant party
in our national affairs to make tho
central government supreme, and the
governments of the States mere null
lities Is subverslve of the principles
upon which the government was =
founded. The fact remains that the
the States that all its powers are de-
rived from, the States. The sooner,
therefore, the people learn to look to
their local government for protection
the sooner we will achieve the pur-
pose of the establishment Of govern
ment of the people, for the people and
by the people.-[St. Paul Globe.
LO, THE POOR IN DIAN. lH*
Lo! the poor Indian When he goes
home to HE cheerless wigwam I'm the
evening he has no dino novel with
which to while away the weary hcurs,
no friend next door to como, in and