Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-30

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ernment grows out of the amount
and not the benefcence of its power
There is truth in the maxim that
the government is best which governs
least. That which gives the largest
measure of freedom, rights of con.
science, Of persons and of property.
That government is the most endur.
ing which lifts up its citizens into q
sense of the right and duties of their
positions, which trains them to watch
and guard the public welfare, which
makes them bold, free and enterpris-
ing and imbues them with the proud
feeling that government belongs to
them and not they to government.
Let us turn our eyes from this system
which thus gives strength and dura-
ton to the despotisms of the world
when all Jurisdictions are in the hands
Of monarchs, upheld by all the powers
Of the state, its treasures and its armies.
The thrones which topple in civil
lied Europe are those which are over
loaded by jurisdiction. The monarch
who holds unlimited sway over the
greatest empire, who commands vast
armies, who claims control over the
lives, liberties and conscience of men
is the one who dares not walk the
streets of his capital. He trembles
for his life in the recesses of his palace.
This dread of assassination or revolu-
tion does not grow out of personal de-
fects Of character, but from the princi-
piles of government which constantly
bring him in collision with the con-
science, the aspirations and the inter-
ests of his subjects. In marked con-
trast with this we find another great
empire that is governed by woman,
whose appearance in the streets of her
capital is hailed with acclamations of
loyalty and affection. But her juris-
diction is divided with Parliament,
and shielded from prejudice and pas.
sion by distribution of powers. 1t is
not true that any power given to a
government which brings it in conflict
with any class of the citizen or any
section of its domain gives it strength.
1t was on account of this truth that
our enemies in Europe predicted at
the outset that our Union could not
stand because it had to deal with ter
ritories so broad and interests so varied.
1t has been the marvellous wisdom
which distributed fair diction between
different local departments that has
carried it safely and triumphantly
through the first century of its exist
ence. Our great political duty is to
keep it strong by saving it from the
exercise of jurisdiction which shall
excite hostility towards it. Its strength
must ever lie in the affections of our
people. It's duration will depend upon
the fact that its actions will be bene-
ficent to all and hurtful to none.
| beg our Republican friends to
look at the attitude of Mr.. Garfield
with regard TO the Constitution and
see if it is one that shows LOYALTY
to its provisions. 1t is the bond of
our Union. 1t is the charter of our
rights and liberties. He has ON many
occasions to uphold it. On the 4th of
March next he will as a Senator from
Ohio take solemn oath to support
its provisions The Senate was orga.
nized to assert and defend the letter
and its spirit. Does the conduct of
Mr.. Garfield accord with these oaths I?
He avoids the use of the titles it gives
the Government. These we're selected
to show its character and object. He
uses in marked way words the franz
ers of the Constitution rejected and
shuns those they selected. What could
be thought Of a clergyman who should
substitute for the grand, clear tones of
the Bible vague and unmeaning words
which obscure the law of Christian
life? Yet in this way Mr.. Garfield
treats the law which makes the life of
our Union. In view of his efforts to
change the Constitution by substitut-
ing construction for its language, you
doubt if, in his oath of office, he swears
for or at the Constitution. You wonder
what he seeks, which is rebuked by
the title of United States, the Union,
the General Government" What
leads him to dwell upon the words
Nation" or "Nationalism," which are
weak, obscure and trivial? Let us
see how Mr.. Garfield looks at his in
terest and position. We can give his
ideas almost in his own words when he
communes with himself. lie SAYS !:
IL am to be a Senator from Ohio for
six years, Hamilton was right when
he said that Senators should hold for
life. | am glad that his opinions grow
in favor. He did not like our Consti.
tuition, but said everything depended
upon the way it was construed. This
heavy volume upon my table called
the civil list shows the names of more
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