Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-25
JOHN SHERMAN,S LTES.

JOHN SHERMAN'S LIES.
The speech of John Sherman, delivered at
Portland, Maine. on the 23d inst, was a
somewhat remarkable production, coming as
it did from so prominent an officer of the
government and candidate for the chief mag
istracy of the nation. 1t was devoted in
the main to defense of his policy of re-
sumption, and to rehearsal of the manner
in which the public debt had been refunded
into low interest bonds. Before entering
on this subject, however, he devoted few
minutes to political questions which, he de-
clared, were more important than those of
hard money or soft money, greenbacks or
bank notes. This part of his speech, brief
though it is, is so prolific of faIshoods that
we cannot permit it to pass unnoticed. In
speaking of the revival of the doctrine of
States rights by the Democratic party, he
perpetrates SO many offenses against the
truth that they can best be
pointed out in consecutive form thus:
Lie 1. "rhis doctrine has been the evil
genius of American politics. It was born of
hostility to the Union" This is unqualified
ly false. Instead Of being the evil genius
OF American politics it has been all that has
preserved tile nation from falling into the
hands of those who would pervert our sys
tenn of government and erect upon the ruins
of the republic monarchy if not despot-
ism. The doctrine was not born of hostility
to the Union. 1t had its existence at the
time the Union was formed, was recognized
in the declaration of Independence, and in
the constitution framed in 1776 as legiti-
mate and necessary part of our governmental
system, and has ever since been maintained
and asserted by all statesmen worthy of the
name, both North and South. 1t was never
attacked until the Republican party came into
power.
Lie 2. 'It was the bulwark of American
slavery" How any person who took note
of the events that transpired during the
anti slavery agitation could be guilty of such
a palpable falsehood passes our comprehen-
sion. None we're more emphatic defenders
of the States rights doctrine than the old
abolitionists. 1t was their bulwark of de-
Tense against the encroachments of the slave
power and their refuge against prosecution
for assisting in the escape of the bonds
men.
Lie 3. "It poisoned and estranged a large
section of the country" Mr.. Sherman is
not fool, and he therefore knows that it
was not the doctrine of States rights
As held by the Democrat
ic party, bat rather perversion
of it, that led to secession. The right to
secede was never one of the reserved rights
Of the States, for the Union was intended
and expression was given in the original
law to the intention to be perpetual. The
doctrine of States rights was no more re-
sponsible for secession than was the deca
logue.
Lie 4. Every life that was sacrificed.
and the treasure that was wasted in the war
we're the bitter fruits of this doctrine.'' 1t
being apparent that secession was not
caused by the doctrine of States rights, it is
foolish to attribute the consequences of that
act to it. The assertion is SO paItry and
malicious that every reader will see it's mo-
tive.
Lie 5. CHOW it takes the form of nullifica-
ton by members of Congress. These Off
GERS would surrender essential powers of the
national government, nullify its law.
cripple it in executing its con-
coded powers, and make it confederate
instead of national government" We deny
most emphatically that these officers ever
proposed to surrender any essential powers
of the national government. Thew have
only sought to confne those powers to their
legitimate channels to prevent the most
outrageous usurpations that we're and are
being practiced. No attempt has been
made to nullify any proper law, but
only those that were in themselves despotio
and unrepublican, grossly in violation Of the
spirit OF the constitution. It was not neces-
sary to make this confederate instead of =
national government, for it is now and al.
ways has been confederation of States. and
nothing more.
Another falsehood, barefaced and malio-
nant, needs to be mentioned .Seyerd
members Of Congress, y the secretary said.
"who were confessedly elected by tissue
ballot-box stufing, the meanest form Of
crime against the elective franchise. partici-
pated IN refusing the necessary appropria-
TONS Tor the support of the government nm
less the President would approve the repeal
OF the election laws If there ara anv
members OF Congress who were confessedlv
elected by tissue-ballot- box stuffinp, we have
yet to learn their names, and we are verv
certain that Mr.. Sherman has not. The az,
sertlon, therefore, is . deliberate, nslioiou.