Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-20
THE FALSE ALARM.

From the ST. Louis Post-Diepatch.l
We cannot agree with Mr.. Hender-
son.
The danger to the republic is not
in one man. No American yet born
will witness arepeiltion of Nspoleon'o
coup d'etat i'll This country. No
American yet born Will proclaim
him self dictator or emperor iii the
fashion OF Caesar and Napoleon l.
These historical parallels III MIR.
Heudersou's speech were drawn Win
great power, but they cannot apply
to the American repubtic-canhot ap-
ply 10 Grant.
We believe that the American re-
public is in great danger, but we d"
not believe that Grant alone repre-
scnts that danger. We believe that
John 3. Henderson is able, fearless
and patriotic. But he ls ON an en-
tirelv wrong track when he prophe-
sizes the downfall of the American
republic if, instead of John sherman
or Blaine, Grant should be elected to
Il third term. We are convinced that
| the opposition TO Grant has 50 tar
hurt itself much more tnan the eX-
| president by predicting That II again
returned to the wnlte mouse he would
declare himself an emperor Or lmitute
Cesar and Napoleon.
| This u false issue.
The real danger lies i'll "a precisely
opposite direction. Instead vi chang.
ing the form and name of the repuD
lie, abpishing elections and estabnsh'
ing perpetual executive, the grea
danger is That unde. the very name
and form of the republic. through the
very instrumental!ty OF sham cleo
tions, the spirit and substance Of the
repub .ic Will be killed.
The enemies of tie American ite
public dare not change Its ontw arc
form, dare no: establish an empire IL
name or an emperor Ill TACT. bu
they not only deslre to grasp and con
centrate Imperial powers IN the hand!
of few, establish perfect oligarchI
and personal despotl7m under TIT
very forms of popular sell-goVern
( ment.
New York is still republican
| state. Yet Ru-coe Cunkiing is alread,
as deSpotic u master as If he were
| grant duke or king.
Pennsylvania suil has 4 govern
Cameron Inherited and wields Tn
personal ruir OF the state from iii
e father precisely as though he hat
: neen born on a throne.
Maine stiil has 4 popular form o
government. Suil Blaine i, is ali
soiute dictator nf HAT -ttte &.
Cameron is in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island stIil uudergOes th,
body knows that voters are eiIhc
bought or. disirauchised, AMI th
state is the persona! property Of
few.
n Colorado, Kansas, NevaHa, in III,
e west, are s,ill cquaI and sUvereigl
d states. ct ererybady knows how
uuGer the very forms Ui popula
government, seats III the senate ar
regu ariy tiiied by open purchase ant
rank Fcnaiity.
Tue supreme court of the Cuiiel
States is still the highest tribum,
in the land. ct every body know
that when the grave>l political ques
ton Of Tie century WAS submitted. L
il a maj jorIty of its members did 10
shrink from perjury 10 save ii
}. party"
Il. b. Hayes Is siiIi called presiden
OF the United States. Yet every
body knows that lie was never elect
ed by the people.
&. John Sherman is still the cand
date oi Mr.. Henderson and the sc
called re1ormers for The presideuc,
et ii Is this rnme john Sherma
who, more than any other huma
BENG, personally inspired, lnstigate
and carried through all the lnfamou
frauds, torgeries and pcrjurIes co!
nectcd with the counting in o; IT,
first fraudulent president.
Congress is stii. called the Amer
can congress. The lower house
- still called the house OF represent:
lives. Yet everybody who Ia 10. al