Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-05-21
L I'll Il SEN TIN Ell /.
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ROCKVILLE, MD.
r.;a M.~n,. Nav OF ioon
May 81, 1880.
RADICdLLSM

nary development, intended and calculated
to involve the people in the worst calamities
that can afflict civilized society, under the
pretence of philanthrophy and benevolent
professions, always assumed by usurpers of
popular rights. The annals of the French
Revolution, more than any other event in
human affairs, have most fully and satisfac-
torily demonstrated this truth. tits the very
insanity Of politics. 1t is the greedy morbid
lust for rule, unaccompanied by those purer
and nobler motives of ascendency which
should distinguish and operate upon rulers
1t is an infurated hunt and desire after
power and place regardless of consequences
1t is lingering, deep-seated.d disease Of bigot-
ed, narrow and jaundiced minds. 1t fastens
itself upon the body polite in times of civil
disturbance and commotion, and which il
not cut, like incipient cancer, becomes fatal
to the nation which it infects
1t is profound pleasure, which no dem
onstrativeness but sober joy alone could
adequately express, that we have a sufH-
Gent number Of intelligent freemen, tena-
cious of their boosted liberties, to turn back
the tide of error and evil which ever flows
from such dangerous heresy, and we have
every assurance that they have determined
to apply the knife and cut out the cancer
which is feeding upon the heart Of the ma
ton. The only guaranty for the perpetuity
of our liberties and happiness rests in the
preservation of our institutions unimpared,
as they were handed down to us by our
fathers, with that nice adjustment of checks
and balances to the legislative, judiciary
and executive powers contained in our
primitive constitutions; ever remembering
not to delegate to our representatives any
further powers than are absolutely neces-
sary tor the administration of civil govern
ment, and holding them to strict account
ability for every usurpation of power not so
delegated or given in the constitution, from
which alone our legislative bodies derive all
their rightful power over other citizens. The
truth Of these propositions all intelligent
men must admit, and to be kept pure, active
and etfectual, it must be operated by other
than those who are the supporters of Radi-
calism.
The active madness of Radicalism began
to show itself in New England, where, we
might say without fear of contradiction, mad
ness was the normal condition Of the peo-
pie, some forty-five years ago. Ithad existed
previously, but in mild and not dangerous
form. 1t began by claiming to possess
sense Of the right and duties of the citizen
so high that no written law could express
or compass them. 1t claimed to believe that
individuals and classes had born in them
certain specified rights which could not in
any manner be takN from them or with
held. To the negro slave in the Southern
States did the votaries of Radicalism espe-
cially apply their principles, a class which
they themselves had helped to enslave, aid
ing thereby in the creation of the institu-
ton Of slavery in the United States. The
right of the owner TO the slave was by their
concurrence made a lawful one. BY reason
of this institution the Southern people were
pursued with every epithet which could sting
and every prophecy that was violent, de-
moralizing and degrading. The light which
they followed was not the light of reason
and justice embodied in law, but the delu-
sive light Of an ignis tdtuus.
With the war came the wicked triumph
of Radicalism--it assumed tremendous pro-
portions, gathered strength and became a
lawless giant In its triumphant march it
left land drenched with blood, grief-draped
and breathing an atmosphere death, fields
were laid waste, the torch of the incendiary
doomed up from cities and private residences,
fortunes were sacrificed, ruin wreck and
desolation were seen everywhere and
Niobe ON every hearth--all the triumphs of
Radicalism.
When the confederate flag was furled and
placed away, when the South was beaten
and acknowledged manfully her defeat,
gave up her arms as well as the dogma of
secession and promised obedience, it was
supposed that peace would follow. But not
80. Radicalism was born in bitterness and
nurtured in commissions and 1t cannot live
when commissions cease. When the last
echoes of artillery died in the distance, when
the clouds floated away, the deluge ended
and the olive branch was extended this
fiendish element, with methodica mad
ness, turned from the bloody battle fields
and made the Senate and forum the theatre
Of its malignant hate, vituperation and dis
cord.
The very Constitution, by the authority of
which alone the Radical disciples occupied
their seats, they openly defied, and with the
reckless daring of highwaymen boldly as
sert, they disregard and go outside "when
il stands in their way They took an oath
TO support this great instrument, but that is
nothing. What do such highlands Grim
mails care for oathss They made war upon
the South because OF what il called the +" sin
Of slavery but war upon slavery was hy-
pocrasy; il was war upon the Constitution
as time has proved, and that war is still go
ing ON. They have rcsorted to every spe-
cics Of legislation which would in their
opinion awaken sectional hate They have
concocted and actually pcrpetrated murder,
treason and arson among the most quiet
sections OF the South In order 10 manufacture
material with which to iniiame and preju-
dice the people OF the North against the
South. They have openly asserted that they
have been legislating for the good OF the
country, and in the same breath they do not
pretend to say that much Of their legislation
has been wholly in violation of the Consti-
tuition, but that the consequences Of the war
necessitatcd the same. Necessity Is dan
gerous plea, and under such circumstances
only iyrants resort to il. But this assertion
is without the shadow Of truth. Their leg
islaiion has been made TO degrade aud fasten
ia bondage one portion of the people, and TO
secure and continue the power Of govern
ment in their own hands, and that in den