New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-29
4 MILTON. NOT 4 CONFEDERACY.

4 NATION, NOT 4 CONFEDEhAC1.
Every thoughtful observer of current poll
tics must have remarked the unanimity with
which Republican conventions this year have
brought to the front and pressed home the
doctrine that the Nation is supreme in the
| domain marked out for it by the Constltu-
! ton, and is clothed with ample authority TO
enforce it's laws, protect the rights OF Its cltl-
zens, and preserve the purity OF its elections
| These declarations are exceedingly Significant
| and mark movement which must enlist the
attention of men who are interested in pOltl-
! cal controversy chiefly for its influence on the
broader currents of contemporary history
which mould the destiny of the country and
affect the form and spirit of its government.
The fact that the most intelligent OF the two
great parties, in widely separated States, has
thought it necessary to reassert doctrine
which few years ago was supposed to be
placed by the lessons of the war and by the
Constitutional Amendments beyond the reach
of assault, challenges attention. How general
and emphatic this fresh assertion OF National
authority has been will be seen by a glance at
the platforms of the principal Republican con-
ventiOns held within the past few months.
The Ohio Republicans, meeting in May, be-
fore the close of the extra session, declared
as one of their cardinal doctrines, " the unity
"of the Nation and the supremacy OF the
National Government in all matters placed
'by the Constitution under its control" A
! little later the Maine Republicans announced
their belief that &c this country is Nation,
" and not a Confederacy of States, and that
a." the National Government is supreme in all
"subjects lodged with it by the Constitution"
| Iowa followed soon after, and the Republicans
| of that State added to an assertion OF the
! national idea O plain explanation of the Tea-
! son why they deemed it important to place 1t
at the head. of their platform. They said {;
I'VE declare that this country is q Nation,
| "not a Confederation of States the Demo-
cratic party denies this doctrine, which was
| " settled by the war, and is therefore an I'M
" safe party to trust with the National life.'
| A few days ago the Republican Conventions
| in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania expressed
with clearness and force the same principle.
| The Wisconsin platform says: The Republic
"of the United States is Nation, not a Con-
federation of sovereign States, and its Gov
eminent is clothed with permanent author
" ity for the regulation Of all subjects of Ma
tional concern" The Pennsylvania platform
declares that L" the United States of America
els a Nation, not a league. It's Constitution
"and all laws made in pursuance thereof are
"the supreme law of the land, anything in
L" the constitution or laws of any State to the
CONTRARY Notwithstanding"
The meaning of these declarations is that
the Republicans throughout the North are
alarmed at what they believe to be real dan
ger TO the doctrine of National supremacy and
psrpetuity, established at the cost of a terrible
civil war; True, the heresy of State Rights has
not been formally revived in any Democratic
platform, but the whole course of the Demo-
cratic party in Congress during the last regu-
lar session and the extra session which fol-
lowed was practical reassertiOn of the Calhoun
dogma. The attempt to break down the Army,
the bold declaration of purpose to nulllfy the
election laws, the threat of refusing aDprOpri-
ntions to the whole civil department of the
| Government, and the adjournment of Congress
without making any provision for the Federal
Marshals who are the right arm of the National
Judiciary. all showed disposition to cripple
the National authority In the exercise of its
constitutional functions Then 1T is remem-
Eered that the South, which now owns
and manages the Democratic party. has
neVer recanted Its State Rights opinions.
Not single Southern Democratic leader has
ever said upon the stump, or would venture
to say to-day, that those opinions are obsolete.
Not a single Southern Democratic newspaper
tells its readers that the war converted the
Southern theory that the Union is league
of Independent States into beaten heresy
without any living force IN current politics
The South still clings to its pernlcious doc
trine, and still hopes to establish it as constl-
tutional law by the help of the Northern De-
mocracy, and thus to Justify the rebellion.
When the Republicans look at the attitude
of the Northern Democrats they find no evil
dence Of a disposition to oppose the South in
it's reactionary scheme. No Northern Demo-
cratic Convention declares for the supremacy
of National authority. On the contrary, every
such convention held this year has Endorsed
the attempts IN Congress to undermine that
authority. The Northern Democracy is evil
Z. Al Oh mill no