New-York tribune., 1879-05-08
RETITIYG A PERNICIOUS DOCTRINE.

If there be any principle underlying the
schemes of legislation brought forward by the
Democrats at Washington it is that the Ma
tiOnal Government is an oppressive and ag-
gressive power, menacing the liberties Of the
people, power which the peoples represen-
tatives In Congress are in duty bound to ham
per and cripple as much as possible. The
President, as the Chief Minister Of that dan
gerOus power, must not be permitted to per-
form the functions of his Office with only the
restraints of existing laws. but new statutes
must be devised as fetters for his hands
and pitfalls for his feet. The National
Army, which In all its glorious history of
hundred years has never manifested the
slightest disposition to interfere with popular
nights, must be treated like an alien and hos
tile force, and watched with jealous suspicion
lest it should seek to subveTt civil govern
ment. IN short, the theory on which the Dem
Ocrats are proceeding IS that there is some
thing in the structure and power Of the United
States Government inimical to the interests
and privileges of the citizen. The theory goes
still further and maintains, in effect that the
will of the citizen is chiefly expressed through,
and his rights are chiefly protected by, his State
Government; that there must necessarily exist
more or less active antagOnism between
State and Federal power, and that the well
fare Of the people viii be best subservcd by
weakening the latter and StTeng thening the
former.
Now thero is nothing new in all this. 1t is
simply revival of the old State Sovereignty
doctrine under very thin disguise of anxiety
about popular rights. That doctrine has never
been reinQuished 10y Southern statesmen, aHd
it is the Southern statesmen who are now, as
of old, shaping the cOurse of tho Democratic
marty. The hard knocks of the war failed to
beat into them the idea that this is a nation,
and they arc now persistently at work trying
to repeal all the legislation adopted to
strengthen the National authority in order
that they may once moro set up tho doctrine
that we are only cOnfederacy Of indcpend-
ent States. Tho Southern Democrat is true
Bourbon, who learns nothing and forgets
nothing and he still cherishes the theory of
Calhoun with unabsted devotion. As to the
Northern Democrat he appears 80 be about as
much Of doughface as in tho old slavery
days, and is cOntented TO take bis political
GOSPEL al the feet Of his Southern leaders. lie
may not have the intelligence to see that his
party Is being constantly committed to re-
assertion Of the vicious doctrine which brought
about the rebellion, bnt il is more probable
that he is utterly careless OF principles or
consequences so long as there is held out to
him fair prospect Of tho enjoyment of the
spois Of Office by a union with the Solid
South.
If Northorn Democratic politicians arc in-
different to the revival of the dangerous
L -. L.. ~. To thn ~
ton, the great body Of loyal, patriotic citi-
gems are not. They view with alarm this new as
sertlon Of theories that wore last defantly set
forth in Congress in the days of Toombs, Floyd,
SlIdell and JEFF Davis. When they see South
ern States multiplying the election laws, and
Southern Congressman seeking to fetter the
Army aud to hamper the Chief Magistrate SO
that he cannot obey the Constitution. which