New-York tribune., 1879-04-24
TINE &" P0LJUC1L DEB!TE.p

THE POLIIICAE DEB4TE.'
Senator Davis, of Illinois, is commended IN
some quarters for the calm and dispassionatc
manner of his speech in the Senate on Tues
dav. He has no apprehension of a revolution,
and no fears for civil liberty. In proof that
there is no real danger, he instances the
sale Of the Government four per cents
as showing a sense of security on the
part of the people. He dcprecates see
tional disputes and the talk about rcyOlu-
ton as producing infinite mischief and de
moralizing the country, with no purpose ex-
cept to win elections And he thinks "lt Is
" the imperative duty of the hour, Unsteady Oi
Cunning the attention of the people back into
"hst0ry with its animOStcS, to direct 1t to the
troubled business interests at the country, and
"the way to relieve them.' The Senator is
very manifcSty of the opinion that the de-
bate upon the political riders to the apprO-
priation bills relates more 10 the elections OF
1850 than to any practical question OF
present public policy; that as such it is Of
very little account, and mere waste of
time; and that the talk about reyOlu
ton is frivolous and mischeyous, and
induced in only for political effect. We
partly agree with the Senator in his
view. 1t is q political debate. 1t does relate
TO future elections more than to present pub
lie policy. But we differ most decidedly and
widely as to the importance Of it. We agree
that there is no such danger Of civil revolu-
ton as need excite immediate alarm,
bat we differ most positively from the
position the Senator seems to assume-that the
absence OF danger is due to ,he fact that no
revolutionary designs are entertained Oar
sense of security comes from confidence III the
people who have once defeated such designs,
and have only to know of their existence to
do it again.
We believe this debate TO be fIaught with
great and important consequences. 1t is the
touch of Ithurels spear TO the party which
squats at the ear of the country pleading to
be placed in full possession Of the Govern
ment. 1t tears off their disguises, discloses
their plans, reveals their real purposes. They
were driven out Of power twenty years ago
for cause. They did threaten revolution then.
They tried it, and they failed. 1t cost this
country dear to settle the question of State
sovereignty which these people raised, and on
which they embarked in their Tebellious
enterprise. But we supposed it wds settled;
settled beyond possibility Of resurrection
for century at least. The people
so understood it they thought the South and
the Democratic party so accepted it. Upon
such an understanding the South and the
Democratic party have been trusted. They
control Congress they are within one step Of
full possession of the Government and are
bending all their energies to cover that. They
have come so far because the people believed
they had accepted the results of the war and
abandoned their State Rights doctrines, and SO
trusted them. At this point there is. and
there can be, no question so important as
This: whether these men still hold the opinions
for which they went to war, and are still
seeking to establish and maintain them. III
they are unchanged the men at the North, who
thought they had settled the question on the
field. ought to know that it is still
pending in the forum. This discussion
has helped enlighten them. Should the
views Of the relative rights and powers
Of the States and the General Government
which have been uttered by several OF the
Democratic leaders in Congress be allowed
to prevail, there Is nothing under Heaven to
preyent another secession of States from the
Federal Union aud the successful estab-
lshment of another Confederacy. The Re
publicans in Congress do not propose
to let this be done except upon a fair under
standing of the question. They mean tins
whole debate for political effect" and that
il the political effect" aimed at-that
Democratic leaders shall be permitted to set
forth their views and be Judged out Of their
own mouths.
As to the danger Of civil revolution which
Senator Davis and others scOut-that depends.
One thing ia certain: the men who fought for
the right Of secession have not changed their
minds. This they frankly tell u.s. They be-
Heve in tho right to-day as much as ever. SO
do Senator Eaton and other Northern Demo-
Gratis who prated about State Rights all
through the war. And il they get posses
sion of all departments Of the Government
there is nothing 10 prevent their carrying
it out. Still there need be no disturb
ance then. We can sit down under it, and
make no fuss or outcryj do nothing TO shake
public confidence or demorallZe material in
terests. We should have saved a great deal.
though, if we had thought of that sOmo
eighteen years ago. 1t was thought worth