The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-03
An Elective franchise.


An Elective Franchise.
The democrats Of California in conven-
ton, have nominated an excellent ticket
and adopted platform which is excep-
tionaI as pointing out clearly the indispu'
table right of state to decide who shall
exercise the elective franchise. The re-
publican party leaders are vigorously
expounding the idea of national suprem-
acy, which is but another name for cen.
tralization. II is an issue That must be
met and may as well be joined nowas any,
time. Questions of grave Importance to
the states have from time to time been
propounded, but no theory yet advanced
is so fraught with real danger to the
rights of the states, as this republican
party scheme of so-called national suprem-
acy. According to this theory, the natio-
nal government is enabled to deprive a
citizen of any state of the right to vote, or
may confer the privilege on the veriest
criminal, for if national supremacy
they ingenuousiy termit-means anything,
it means that the states are but satellites
while the grand controlling orbit is the
national power, This law means more
than would at first glance appear and
must be met squarely on its merits.
According to the doctrine now sought to
be fastened on the people, state govern
ments have no rights as states or individ-
ually except as may BIO permitted by the
courtesy Of the controlling party OF the
government, The states are, it is true,
but members of a grand confederation
The head of the grand confederation is the
national government, and IN national mat
tiers, which involves the honor and integ-
rity of the states collectively not indiyidu~
ally-the national government should con-
troll. But in matters pertaining to the
states, as states, and for the states iudi-
vdually, there should be no law but the
state law. The right of secession is wrong
it cannot become popular, nor is it right
that it ever should Democrats do moi
contend for that principle; republican,
know that it is not the doctrine, so to meet
the question aud endeavor to make il
popular, the republicans now try to ap
peal to the patriotism of the country, By
raising a false issue, and under the caption
of national supremacy hope to deceive thu
people into belief that perpetuity of tn,
union is the paramount cause Of the posi-
ton assumed.
National supremacy, no matter nov
much covering republican argument ma.
place thereon, means Capitalization. 1t i
but the first step in scheme to edueat
the people to the theory that state ha
no rights; that it can pass laws RESTRICTING
suffrage. and prescribe the manner uudo
what conditions elections may be held an
the elective franchise exercised, but oOl
subject to national supervision. The re
publican theory, if enforced, wi
eventually end the republic, centraize th
government and establish monarch!
1t is grave question, and although Ii
title, national supremacy, sounds harmleI
enough, yet underneath is the hidden pu
poses Of the origiuators- is the
termination to force Capitalization, TIL
is the sequel to the cry of strong COVER
ment, and the people when they proper
understand it, will not be slow to rebul
the authors. Nothing would be mo
gratifying to the leaders of the republics
party than the establishment Of the
theory of national supremacy and consuu
nation OF the scheme Of centraIiza'io
The democratic party favors union of Il
states, indissoluble, for all sections, aud
union for mutual protection of nation
interests, but in state matters, the dem
Gratis claim that each state has the rig
to prescribe who shall execute state law
aud that 10 all state matters state Za1U sh:
DO supreme. This is not the law of sece
siou-it is simply reserying to each sta.
the undoubted right to govern in it's sta
matters as the people Of the state may dete
mine, but always in matters where nation
integrity is concerned, paying obedience
national law. In word tho repubIiea
favor Capitalization and the right of Il
national government to override any al
all state laws at pleasure; the democra
recognize the national law as supreme
national matters, but insist that state la,
IN state matters, is supreme, beyond int
ference. This is the platform for Il
people and is the only true basis Of a fr
government.