Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-04-02
nailp Aenneoet sournaI
Augusta, Wednesday Morn'g, April 2, 1879
The Republican Position.


The powerful speech of General Gar
field on Saturday will command the atten
ton of the whole country and fin it upol
the remarkable contest now being waget
in Congress. The speech is worthy of tn,
occasion. Ii is bold acceptance of th'
challenge of the majority and a clea
statement of the position which the repub
licans occupy. In his opening Mr.. CARTEL,
stated what action had been taken at tn,
last session in regard to the appropriation
bills, that the republicans were then read,
to pass them if the Objectionable amend
ments were withdrawn. hut that the dem
ocrats opposed this and decided that they
would force the other branches of the GOV
ernment to accept the amendments or see
the supplies necessary 10 its existence
stopped. Hence came the extra session,
and the joining of battle between the OPP
posing forces. The issue Is, and the pro-
gramme has been arranged accordingly.
To compel the Executive to sign bills
which he does not approve. In a few
words Mr.. Garfield shows the perniciou>
character of such a course. What. he
says, lis our theory of law? 1t is Il free
consent. That is the granite foundation
of our whole structure. Nothing in this
republic can be a law that has not the free
consent of the House, the free consent OF
the Senate, and the free consent of
the Executive, or if the Executive
refuses his free consent. then il
must have the free consent OF
two-thirds of each body But the fell
purpose of the democratic majority is to
take away the freedom of the Executive
by unconstitutional methods and coerce
him to do the bidding Of the House.
These methods Gen. Garfield well says,
''are against the constitution of our coun-
try "They are revolutionary to the
core They tend to the destruction OF
the first element of American liberty
which is the free consent of all the power,
that unite to make the law
The comparison which Mr.. Garfield
drew between the attempt begun in 1861
to destroy the government by shooting il
to death and the present attempt to starv,
it to death, brings up clearly the peril o
the present situation. The present >trug
gle is not simply parliamentary struggle
1t is contest in which n principle
lx~.,, ..f L..
ment is at stake, a. vital as was tn,
principle involved in the rebellion. Tn,
republicans stand for the principle Of fire.,
consent, the democrats oppose it, and tC
carry their point say they will stop the
wheels of government unless they car
have their own way. This is rs revolu
tionary as the course of the rebels in 1861
when they declared if they could not hay,
their way they would take up arms.
The grandest part of the whole speccl
is that in which the speaker declared the
determination of the republican party tC
resist to the bitter end the democratic pro
gramme and 90 10 the people for .u,tica
ton of their course. 'Gentlemrn.' saio
he, 1--WE have tried to count the cost W,
did try to count it in 1861, before we pickct
up the gauge of battle, and lthough ne
man could then forecast the awful loss il
blood and treasure, yet, having started in
we staid there to victory. We simply
made the appeal to our sovereign--to tn,
great, omnipotent public opinion in Amer
ica--to determine whether the t'nior
should be shot to death, and now lawfully
in our right and in our place here, we picl
up the gauge of battle which YOU have
thrown down, and will appeal to our com
mon sovereign to say whether YOU shall
break down the principle Of free consent
in Legislation at the price Of starving tn,
government to death. We are ready tc
pay those bills for the support of the gov
ernment at any hour when you will otieI
them in the ordinary way and if You ofi'el
these other measures "a separate measure
We will meet you in the spirit of fair an,
fraternal debate. But you shall not com
pei US, you shall not coerce us, even t,
save this government, until the question
has gone to the sovereign to determine
whether it will consent to break down AN
of its voluntary powers. And on thi
ground, gentlemen, we plant ourselves
In support of this position and this de
termination, so nobly expressed, the Re
publicans and the better men of all pai
ties will unite. If the ex-Coniederatc
want to try again the fidelity and courag
of the people Of this country in support {
the government and constitution they wi
have an opportunity if they persist in thei
revolutionary purposes.
Political.
Three State election, will be held within
week-in Wisconsin, Michigan and Rhod
Island.