The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-11
Detroit Post.l
A Main Issue

The declaration made by the Republicans of
Maine, i'll their platform adopted at their State
convention, Thursday, June 26, that "the Re-
publican party believes that this country is
nation, and not a confederacy of States, and
that the National governments supreme on all
subjects lodged with it by the constitution, is
a repetition of the expressions of the Republi-
can conventions of 1879 in all the States 1t
expresses tersely the universal Republican
faith, and the faith in and for which the war
for the Union was fought. But, if it is noticea-
BILE that the expression of this faith is common
in Republican platforms, it is equally noticea-
bic that Democratic platforms do not express
any such faith, but do lay stress upon the Con-
federate doctrine of States rights.
The differing declarations upon this point
Indicate the real issues between the two par
ties The question whether the United States
shall have any authority or control over the
election of United States officers, or whether
the States shall control United States elections
is part of this issue. In fact many Democratic
leaders in Congress deny that there are apy
United States elections, or that the election of
congressman, or of President and Vice Presi-
dent even, are National elections. They claim
the sole control Of the several States. The
question whether the United States shall have
power to enforce United States laws by the
use of United States troops, is another part of
the same issue. The States have right to use,
and do use, their police, sheriffs and military
to enforce State laws but the Democrats in
sist that the United States has no right to use
its marshals, who are the national police, and
its soldiers, who are the National military to
enforce the National laws. That is, the Demo-
10 i,,cic OF hiatt Mo- IL.
same common rights and means for enforcing
Its authority which are used by every State.
They make the State superior to the nation
This is the Confederate doctrine revived; and
TINS issue between the two parties tends to draw
the line again where it was drawn during the
war, between the Confederate State sovereign
ty men on the one side, and the Union men
who are loyal to the sovereignty of the Nation
on the other side.
If this issue has upon its State sovereignty
side, as it has, solid South it will also pro
duce upon the other side a solid North For in
dlvltlon between State sovereignty and Ma
tional sovereignty the North is sure to be solid
IN favor OF national supremacy. The people of
Ine North always keep step to the music of the
Union, and not to the music of each individual
State. While we hold as strong, as high and
as Just State pride as any, onr highest
and best pride is that we are American eiti-
zens, and inheritors of the grand name, fame
and power of the great Republic. This feel
ing of fervent loyalty to and pride in the Ma
ton as whole-this patriotism which always
rallies around the cold flag" of such glorious
hlstory-this sentiment of strong nationality, is
marked Characteristic of the Republican par
ty is fostered by Republican training, is ex-
pressed in Republican platforms, inspires Re-
publican speeches, and occupies very promi-
nent part in the history of the Republican par
ty. On the other hand it is an undeniable and
most striking fact that the majority and ruling
power OF the Democratic party is Confederate,
and Confederate sympathizers, whether the
Democratic party counts its strength by States,
or by Congressman, or by any other practical
method of estimating its power to accomplish