The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-18
Monday, August 10, 1879.


will solve themselves naturally, if wise
legislation is observed, but the rights of
the states to govern in state matters, with
out federal interference or dictation is q
question so grave and important, that in
1880 il will be the great problem for the
people to solve. The tendency Of all cor
rupt parties who have grown rich on pub
lie plumber through long continuance in
Office, is to centralize power and contract
the liberties Of the people. This is what
the Republican party is endeavoring to do,
and the programme is daily becoming
more definitely outlined and sharply
drawn. The ultimate intention of the
Republican leaders to contract the powers
OF the states and establish a federal
supremacy recognizing none but national
power in all things, is so clearly evident, as
to render further disguise of the same by
the Republican party, impossible.
The law of national supremacy or any
other law, no matter by what name desig-
mated that seeks to vest the power Of the
government in the few to the detriment Of
the many, is subversive of free govern
ment, and, if enacted or permitted to be
practiced must eventually give unlimited
power to the wealthy classes. 1t is dan
gerous to free institution to permit govern
mental rule by, and in the interest of
classes, and any measure no matter under
what pretext presented can be considered
wise or judicious that tends to centralize
the political machinery Of the government.
The only safe legislation is that which the
constitution prescribes, which reserves to-
the states full control in all matters apper-
tanning to state affairs. This includes state
control in all elections and on this point
rests the foundation Of our government.
The right of the people of the states to
determine how elections shall be conduct
ed is sacred franchise which cannot be
too jealousy guarded If the federal
government is permitted to exercise par
tisan functions in the interest of
party for the sake Of perpetuating that
party in power, then is the strong bull
wark that holds the states together at once
destroyed. This government is coufed-
GRAFTON of states bonded together under a
general constitution and as such 10 all
things where national honor, or national
questions are involved, is a unit. The
right OF state to secede, can never be
permitted or acknowledged. But, because
the states are bonded together as a con-
federation it by no means follows that the
rights of the states are ignored or made
secondary to the national authority
In matters where state questions are con-
cerned. To say that the national govern
ment has the power to dictate how cleo
lions in the states shall be controlled or
conducted. is to deprive the people of
those states Of the right to exercise the
elective franchise untramelled, There is
vast difference between the legitimate
rights Of the people of the states in state
matters and the doctrine Of secession.
Secession means disunion, ana disunion
means Acknowledgement of the national
confederation, and as the national confed-
GRAFTON, is the national government, it be-
comes national matter, and as such is
proper to be treated by the national gov.
ernment the same as any other purely
national affair. The Republican party
ignores this distinction, however, and
seeks to alarm the people and deceive them
as to the real meaning of state rights by
boldly charging that it means secession,
and then follow up the argument by pic
turing the horrors of the war and pointing
out the danger of recurrence of the
rebellion. That sort of superficial argu-
nent will do temporarily. but it cannot
withstand the ordeal of fair discussion,
The tilmsy mask that at present. covers
the real purposes of the Republican
leaders Will be torn aside, and the people
Will be made to see national supremacy
10 all its hideousness. With the upmask-
Ing will come the true revelation showing
the smoothly worded phrase national
supremacy as it is-it will then read
centralizatiopp', This nnest;on &c
national supremacy" is the all absorbing
one OF the hour. 1t embodies all that
the word monarchy" means. 1t is the
nom de plume" for empire, and ifit is
permitted to become part of our funda.
mental law-it will end the DAYS
OF the republic, establish mouar-
ohy and reduce free aud enlightened
people to mere subjects them
slaves to monied aristocracy, The princi.
pies OF democracy oppose all measures
that tend to centralize. power and the Dem
ocratlc party opposes national supre.
macy, as preached from a republican
stand point, because it is the precursor to
curtailment of our liberties, and the
iotal abolition of the constitutionaIly given
Fight OF the people to.sgovern for them
selves. The Democratic party believe in
that good old maxim "the greatest good
to the greatest number" aud is pledged 10
the true principles of free government,
an untrammelled ballot, all impartial
Judiciary and that the people of the states
have tue sole right to conduct state cleo
lions without military interference or the
employment of federal supervisors at the
polls. The principles of democracy are
synonymous with good government and as
the exponent Of these principles. repre.