Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-12

all civilized commanitieA-lt might be BET
ter II the federal power wero more sccessi-
bio; lit were not so remote from these
who need and are entitled To ita prutcc-
li0n.
The republic has proved itself strong; IL
has successfully resisted attacks from with
10 90 well ss from without. but We must
not settle down in fancied security because
our Institutions have withstsod the strain oi
Q mighty civil war. Nations, like individ-
uals, are continually besct by dangers which
threaten their existence. The worst enemy
of the people is the demag0gue who tlStters
them With the pleasing assurance that their
institutions are immaculate; that they sre
exempt from the iutrmity which belongs
to every human invention and undertaking.
| While it may be true that our government
10 the best the wit of man has get devised,
1t is not perfect. and they are lts best friends
who acknowledge its defects aud strive 70
remove them; who cling to 1t az the system
which is best adapted to our wants, which
afsrds the ampiest security for our liber-
ties. aud most surely tends to promote our
hapeiness.
Having conquered the rebellion, We must
now be Satisfied with the peaceful sway Of
the laws. Military government in time Of
peace is contrary to the spirit Of u institu
tions. We must stand by the purpose for
which We fought, and that was the main
tenance of the government of our fathers.
Citizens of the north and south sustain pre-.
ctsely the same relation to that government,
and 1t cannot lawfully do In one state what
1t has not au equal right TO do in all the
states. The war leglslated, 1t established
the supremacy of the nation in every BOW.
er conferred on 1t BY the constitution. but II
did NOT destroy the states. or tho right Of
local self.government.
Our presidential elections, involving as
they do the vast patronage of the govern
intervals, exciting the passions of men, and
disturbing the business Of the country, al
ready begin to threaten our peace, and re-
semble revolutions.
But the principle of being governed by the
majority, under proper Limitations, is firmly
fixed in the American mind, and, however
frequent and exciting our elections may be.
come, the people are not to be feared so long
as their will, as it is expressed at the polls,
is respected and obeyed. When they lose
faith in the fairness of our elections and are
forced to believe that the ballot-box ia con.
trolled against their wishes and interests BY
the intrigues of interruptions men, cur fate
will be even worse than disunion. Mere
trickstcrs, with no proper notions of social
or political duty, aepire to Office, expecting,
if successful, to get rich in the shortest pos.
sible time by plundering the public. 1t is
not surprising that men of this class do not
shrink from crimes like bribery, forgery and
perjury in the accomplishment Of their ends.
To their virtuous minds the best leaders Of
q part " are those politicians who believe
that conscience is out of place in politics.
II the horrors Of anarchy are to be avoided.
the elective franchise must be sacredlv
guarded. Men who care for the honor and
safety Of the country must not be deferred
from waging q determined and unrelenting
war against those who attempt by fraud 10
defeat the popular will. Much that is dis.
creditable in our history might have been
avoided by a closer adherence to the wise
precepts and virtuous methods of our an
cestors, but it is not the part of wisdom 10
waste our time in vain regrets and shut our
eyes to the existence of palpable evils, which
must in the very nature of things prove de-
structive Of our system of government if
suffered to remsin unchecked. II the abuses
which have steadily grown since our adop
ton of the "spoils system" are too strongly
intrenched to be at once and entirely dis
lodged, their worst tendencies can and must
be resisted. Put admitting, as we do, with
a sense Of humiliation. the dangerous prev
alence of low opinions and practices in our
politics, there is no cause to believe that the
popular conscience is hopeles.ly debauched
To cay that w are far advanced in national
decrepitude because there have been numer.
GUS instances Of frauds upon the elective
franchise, and Of %corruptions in Office which
have gone unpublished. would exhibit q very
superficial acquaintance with the character
Of our people and their institutions.