The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-28
National Supremacy.

National Supremacy.
The republicans are endeavoring to dis
tract attention from the real issue by
sounding the war cry, and 10 their zeal to
cover the iniquities of the republican party,
have shown their real intentions if given
renewed lease of power. Very mildly at
first, the question of states rights was
preached, but democrats made no reply.
Encouraged by the apparent apathy OF
the democracy, the radical press began
limiting at the gravity of the situation, and
pointing out the necessity for strict obedi'
ence TO the national government. This
was all right; no one could be found in
ssue enough to contest established facts.
No true American would oppose the per-
petuity of the United States as the great
est power on earth. The radical leaders
felt grieved at the keen-sightedness of
their political adversaries and they eau
cussed, and then they resolved that
national supremacy" was the paramount
issue etc., and laid great stress on the
dangerous doctrine of states rights. l"
The national government" idea aud
national supremacy" idea however, were
distinct doctrines and when the republican
leaders began to argue for national sup
remacy, the debate took wide range. In
their zeal to divert public attention
from u too close examination OF the
true record Of the party, they went too
far, aud disclosed the real purposes of
the radical adminlstra ton. The organs
o! the party re-echoed the sayings of the
stalwarts aud from mild allusion at first,
went TO arrogant assumption Of the doc
trine Of national supremacy. The
democrats who up to this time had allow
ed the republicans to have Unlimited
range 10 debate, now that the republicans
had shown their hand entered into the spirit
of the fight and arrayed themselves on the
side of the people as against what is mildly
termed national supremacy. If it mean
only what its title indicates, there would
be no cause for opposition-iu fact t
oppose would be suicidal for any party
But it means something more than ap
pears on the surface-it means central
izatton; il means arbitrary power 10 tho
hands of arbitrary men; il means that thu
states have no rights that the state gov
ernments are but supernumaries with nj
vested rights under the law of ndtiond
supremacy There is wide differences
between the old Calhouuistic doctrine O
absolute state sovereignty, and state
rights The one admits the privilege of {
state to secede at pleasure, the o,hel
denies that privilege, but insists tina
state questions or issues of local DaturC
as involving the rights or privileges of tn,
people of state shall be settled by state
law-and that that law shall be supreme
unless reversed by the highest legalt ribuna
on the ground of unconstitutionality
National supremacy is but the frs
step to a dissolution of tho repub
lie and the formation Of a monarchy
The states 10 national matters SHOULD
be forced to yield obedience to natlona
law, otherwise the United States from be
ing the envied of all nations would sink t
third rate power. When the nationa
flag is insulted by foreign nation, ever
American breast should swell with indip
nation, and 50 long as the confederation
compact, America will be recognized as tn
best country of the world. This wOul
not be so however, if the law Of nations
government in national matters were at
rogated. But while it is essential tina
this continue, it is equally important tina
tho same right of government in stat
matters should be left to the states to SET
tie, State sovereignty, involving the abso
lutte right TO settle state questions in suci
manner as the states may determine is
franchise which belongs to the people o
each state, just as much As national gov
ernment in national matters belongs to tn
national government as nation to settle
National supremacy as upheld by republi
can teachings is no less than a preiminar,
step for Capitalization aud monarchy
National government in national affairs
means the right TO control all things ma
tional and to which law the states mus
all pay obedience. State sovereign,
means the right to control all state ques
tions under state law so long as that Law
does not embrace the right of secession
Democracy upholds state sovereignty OF
this principle as representing the people il
their individual rights. The law of 81
called national! supremacy" means deatl
TO the repubEc-the law of state sOVer
eighty means an indissolubo union, bu
reserves the right Ut the people Of eucl
state to govern in local matters Which
shall shall it be-a republic or mon
archy? Let the people decide
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