The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-03
THE CHANGES OF POLITICS.

hh OT 1OLslNos
The Ners and Courier publishes an
extract from the speech of Senator John
A. Logan, of Illinois, in the Senate in
1868 during the impeachment trial Of
President johnson, which was the out.
growth of n political difference between
the President and Congress. Mr. Logan
then said "tliat if u President should veto
appropriation biils-and there were not
a two-thirds vote in Congress against his
veto-and thereby defeat the appr0pria-
tions 80 as to block the wheels Of govern
mcnt, he could DC impeachcd for an i'm
proper use Of power, although he is au-
thorized by the Constitution ~ use such
power. Here would be case wherein
the exercise OF lawful power was done in
such way as to become 50 oppressive
and obviously wrong that there must be
q remedy, and impeachment would be
the only one" The old adagc that
"!imcs change and men change with
them" is very clearly vindicated in this
instance, rs Mr.. Logan to-day is one Of
The obstructionists in the Senate. In
1868 it WAS Il fight between Republi-
can Congress and n halfway Democratic
President, now it is struggle between a
Democratic Congress and Republican
President. Then the President, accord
ing to the Illinois Senator, ought to be
impeachcd If he CLOSE TO veto nm appro-
priation bill now, according to the idea
of the snmc politician, the President
ought to veto the appropriations bill, if
his party does not like its provisions
This ia too apparent for Mr.. Logan to be
able TO make much lcadway in the pres
ent contest, which, by tho way, may be
compared with the situation in 1868 in
other ways also. In that struggle Presi-
dent johnson was completely circum-
vented by tic unity and determination
Of the Republican purity which controlled
Congress and had its own way. To day
the Democrats who control Congress can
circumvcnt Mr.. Hayes and carry out
their views, if they but have the indie
| pendcnce to assert their convictions and
act up to them. The Republicans have
bluflcd the Democracy long enough. II
| is time to put All end to their boasts, and
the Democrats will never have a more
favorable opportunity to display pru-
dcnce, ability and nerve combined than
ut this time. The Republicans offer
battle over ground which is contrary to
the genius of American institutions,
and subvcrsvc Of American liberty.
There should be no halting on the part
of the Democrats in Congress. The
country expects them to restore it to
constitutional government, and pure
administration Of its affairs. 10 do so,
they must plant themselves Il on princ-
pie, not policy, and stand Lrmly forth
! before tho country in defence of their
position without being afirighted by Re-
publican clnmor. Not one particle OF
principle should bo yielded, for by do
ing SO the contest will lose its dignity
and become mere squabble for political
advantage, fdr which, in itself, the coun-
try cares nothing. 1t is not the party
name which sensible people support, but
the great principles which nctu.te the
party. If the Democracy admit the
right of the general government to
overlook elections in the States, the
country will care very little about the
contest now waging, for any changes tha,
may be made will DO but Temporary ex-
pcdients, and this admission of the prin-
ciplc will become au additional precc-
dent to render the expunclion of the
obiectional principle from our statute
books more difficult in the future. Now
is the golden political opportunity of the
Democratic party. 1t can present to the
country great constitutional issues that
will arouse the old flame of liberty
throughout the land: if il does not cringe
before the bombastic threats of the OBJ
structionists. Ii, however, it should not
make the issue upon the principle, but
simply fight over cxpedicncy, then the
dignity of the party will be lowered and
the advantage lost. We fear the latter
course will be pursued, but hope for bet
ter things.