Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-08-04

men for services often poorly per-
formed, or not performed at all, is
being used in vast sums, with the
knowledge and presumed sanction
of the administration, to control
the elections, and even the MEM
bers of the Cabinet are strolling
about the country making partisan
speeches instead of being in their
departments at Washington dis
charging the public duties for
which they are paid by the people,
But with all their cleverness and
ability, a discriminating public
will no doubt read between the
lines of their speeches that their
permanent hope and aim is 10 keep
themselves, or their satellites, four
years longer in Office. The per-
petuating of the power of chronic
Federal office-holders four years
longer will not benefit the millions
OF men and women who bold no
office, but earn their daily bread by
honest industry, is what the same
discerning public will no douht
fully understand, as they will also
that it is because of their own in
dustry and energy and Gods boun-
tiful harvests that the country Is
comparatively prosperous, and not
because of anything done by those
Federal ice-holders. The coun-
try is comparatively prosperous not
because of them, but in spite OF
them.
This contest is, in fact, between
the people endeavoring to regain
the political power which rightful-
" belongs to them, and the pure,
simple, economical constitutional
government Of our fathers on one
side, and hundred thousand Fed
eral office-holders aud their back
ers, pampered with place and pow
err, and determined to retain them
at all hazards, on the other.
Hence the constant assumption
Of new and dangerous powers by
the general government under the
rule of the Republican party. The
effort to build up what they call
strong government, the Interior
ence with home rule and the adj
ministration of Justice in the courts
of the several States, the interior
ence with the elections through
the medium Of paid partisan Fed
eral office-holders interested in
keeping their party in power, and
caring more for that than fairness
in elections in fact. the constant
encroachments which have been
made by that party upon the clear
" reserved rights Of the people
and the States will, if not checked.
subvert the liberties of the people,
and the government of limited
powers created by the fathers will
end in a great consolidated CEN
trail government, strong indeed for
evil, and the overthrow of repub-
lican institutions. The wise men
who framed our Constitution knew
the evils of a strong government
and the long continuance Of poll
teal power in the same hands.
They knew there was tendency
in this direction in all governments
and consequent danger to repuh-
licau institutions from that cause,
and took pains to guard against it.
The machinery of a strong CEN
tralized general government can
be used to perpetuate the same set
of men in power from term to term
until it ceases to be republic, or
as such only in name. apd the ten
dency Of the party now in power
in that direction, as shown in va
rious ways besides the willingness
recently manifested by large
number of that party to elect a
President for an unlimited number
of terms, is quite apparent and
must satisfy thinking people that
the time has come when it will he
safest and best for that party to be
retired.
But in resisting the encroach-
ments Of the general government
upon the reserved rights Of the
people and the States, / wish to be
distinctly understood as favorinQ
the proper exercise by the genera
government Of the powers right
fully belonging to it under the
Constitution. Encroachments up
on the constitutional rights of the
general government or interference
with the proper exercise of it
powers must be carefully avoided
The union Of the States under thu
Constitution must be maintained
: 1t is well known that this has al
: ways been the position of both tn
! candidates on the Democratic Pres
: idential ticket. 1t is acquiesce'
: in everywhere now, and finally an,
r forever settled as one of the re
e suits of the war.
: 1t is certain beyond all question
r that the legitimate results of til
5 war for the Union will not he over
a thrown or impaired should tn
e Democratic ticket be elected. /
g that event proper protection wi
s be given in every legitimate wa
8 to every citizen, native or adopted
d in every section of the republic
n in the enjoyment of all the right
y guaranteed BY the Constitutio