The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-07-31


dollar for thatservice.
Youall know we have in the United
States q form of Government hitherto
unknown among men. II is partly the
result Of the fact that the thirteen colo
nies were each separate organizations Of
government under distinct charters, and
that they eonfederated as States, and do.
clared their independence, calling them.
selves the United States of America.
Several years after their independence
WAS aohieveda Constitution was adopt
ed, which created central Government,
with certain powers therein set forth,
which Constitution provides as follows:
"The powers not delegated TO the Uni
ted States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited by it to the States, are reserved
to the States respectively or to the peo-
pie"
| These reserved powers are the great
mass of the powers of government. You
are protected in almost all your rights of
person and property by the State sover-
eighty alone. Our whole code of laws
defining the rights of persous and prop
erty, and providing remedies and pun
ishments for.wrongs, which make up the
very body of our civilization, is adopted
or created and enforced by the States,
and not by the General Government.
Outside of the scope of this State sover'
eighty lie the powers specially delegated
to the sovereign--the whole people of
the United States operating through the
General Government. These two sover-
eigns, the Republic and the State, have
| distributed between them, by the decree
| Of partition, the Constitution of the
United States, all of the powers regarded
by the people as safe to be intrusted to
any Government.
Now, by the Constitution Of the United States,
the whole power TO provide for and regulate cleo
| tons Of Members Of Congress was left With the
respective States; but for fear any Of them might
fail altogether 10 provide for SUCH elections, Con-
gHess was given power to itself by law, to provide
! for them. II Ohio should refuse 10 pass law TO
elect Members Of Congress, the United States
might pass such law, and provide for the times,
places and manner Of holding such elections and
the appointment Of all the election officers. But
zone OF the States ever did refuse or fall to pass
| snch laws; and from the foundation Of our Gov.
/ eminent down until 1871 the elections were con.
| Quoted without interference whatever by Federal
| officers. In 1871 the Republicans enacted this
\ Federal Election Law. II did not pretend to re-
peal alter or amend any Of the Slate laws provld-
ing for the appointment OF State officers TO con-
| duct these elections or prescribing their duties,
| but 1t gave the Federal Courts and Marshals the
| power TO appoint Supervisors and Deputies TO In
spect and direct the action Of State Officers in the
| performance Of their duties under State election
laws. From the very nature Of our Government
| from the separate character and powers OF the
General and State Governmental 10 just as un.
constitutional 70 subject State officers while per-
| forming duties under valid State laws to the su.
perviBion or control Of Federal officers as 1t Is to
1 N Nha afn
troll Of State officers. That sort OF interference is
| organized anarchy. II submitted In respect Of
this subject by the States there are no duties
| which State officers are called on to perform
| which the Federal Government may not super
wise or control. Mr.. Foster says that 'the great
question is whether the State or the nation Is su.
| preme." l say the great question ia whether the
Republic and the State are co ordinate agencies
| Of Government each supreme In Its sphere as de-
| fined by the Federal Constitution; or whether the
| State can exercise no powers of Government not
subject to Federal supervision and control.
| This assumption OF sole supreme power Of the
! Federal Government illustrates the fact that the
| pendulum 10 swinging from the extreme Of seces.
sion on the one side 10 an equally dangerous ex.
| treme OF consolidation on the other. Secession
held that the Union might be divided whenever
any State believed that the Constitution had been
violated. On that theory the Republic was but
rope Of sand. Consolidation demands that the
| Federal Government shall exercise all powers
which the dominant party shall think expedient.
| Ol that LneOIy I'll OOuQQAElbB t0UeThl DOW
or so carefully marked by our forefathers will be
obliterated, and we shall have one great Imperial
| Government to which the States will have the
| same relations that the counties and townships
now have to the States. Secession would have
broken up the Union into petty, but free, Repub.
lies; consolidation would swallow up the States
and sink liberty In an Empire.
Fellow.citiSens, / was not brought up In the
school Of strCteSt construction Of the Constitution,
and far less in the school known as Estates
Rights" My venerated father under and about
whose roof you are assembled tonight, who gave
large part Of his life to the study OF our COM
pex form OF Government, taught his sons 10
\ learn from the Constitution as expounded by the
Fathers and the Courts that the General Govern
ment is supreme only within the scope It's limited
and defined powers and the States and the peO.
pie thereof also supreme In the exercise OF all
powers not granted to the Federal Government
He taught them that 1t was equally the duty Of
the patriot to maintain In full vigor all the row.
ers granted to the General Government, and all
the powers reserved to the States respectively or
to the peoples 30 that our dual form Of Govern
ment might not be lost through either the cen.
tripetal or the centrifugal forces Of the system
he willingly saw his sons go forth TO battle for
the constitutional powers OF the General Govern.
ment and now, were he yet among US, he would
believe approve their effort to resist by peaceful
methods the attempt TO impair the distinctive
feature Of our system Of Government on which
depends the perpetuatiOn Of popular liberty.
CONCLUSION.
My friends, all the policies Of the Republican
party which have discussed this evening, though
apparently differing widely In character, are in
fact closely related In purpose and effect. l be.
lIeVe them all to be part Of general tendency OF
the classes which control that party to practically
Bubvert popular government The steps are first
to destroy the independence Of the msss1s by i'm
mensely increasing the burdens OF debts and tax.
"A ~ otr kha
wards Of labor, and by the same act swell the
wealth and power Of the favored classes; sad then
allying the Money Power to the illimitab'e forces
OF Government patronage and plumber to control
the elections by bribery and force and practically
subvert the free rule Of the ballot. Look at
the powers which may be brought to bear
to effect this result See the vast growth Of corpo
ratlons some of which already rule with an iron
hand the greatest States Of the r public; look at
the 1000 National Banks, holding almost every
business interest and business man In their grasp
see the veteran corps Of one hundred thousand &C
tive paEtisans paid fEom the public Treasury and
tell me whether, II the policy which has impoYer.
ished the mass OF the people, and piled up the
vast fortunes which have risen Gs rapidly 90 cloud
mountains IN the sky, shall be permitted TO 60 on
these powers, backed BY the army and navy, may
not BoOu be strong enough to make the rule by
ballot &c completely farce aB y was In the Re-
public OF the bogus Napoleon, Neither the great
Wealth.hOldiDg powers Of this Republic, nor the
party which represents them, can be trusted with
the preservation OF the sacred Are Of liberty They
have mot sufficient interest in preserving It, They
are at least as safe under corrupt and arisloora
ic rule. They want privilege, exemption arsl0o
racy, not equal rights, equal taxation, and the
ballot Il may be long before they strike At the
mere form Of our Government, but they have
struck and are striking ut ~ spirit speak not
OF ndiViduRls but Of classes for among the wealth
lest men are many Of both parties who love and
ment. But II 70 the mass Of the people-the farm.
era, the owners Of small industries, and those
whose dependence and hope for themselves and
their children is In well paid paid labor-who
OF every part OF this most perfect form Of Govern
ment, In which Is set the Jewel OF popular liberty.
They have II in their keeplBg-in tho free ballot
held nv indenandhnt meIl-And II they would |