Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-19
REPUBLICANS and
STATE RIGHTS.

MASSACH OSETTS hEPUBLIC4NS AND
STATE RIGHTS.
The Massachusetts Republicans, at their
convention on Thursday, adopted the fol-
lowing resolution:
We believe in the inviolable sovereignty of
the national Union as established by the con-
stitution over all the States and all the people,
and in the duty of the national government, by
wise laws efficiently executed, to protect the
ballot in all national elections and to MAINTAIN
and vindicate the constitutional rights OF cltl-
zens of the United States, wherever and under
whatever fiction of State sovereignty or other
pretense such rights may be assailed.
We suppose we can take this resolution as
an ''oficial utterance' of the Republican
party of the country without doing that par
ty an injustice. If one will stop to consider
what is meant by "the inviolable sovereignty
of the national Union over all the States and
all the people," he will discover what the
real purpose of the party is. The constitu-
ton of the United States in no paragraph or
provision gives the federal government su-
premacy over the States, but expressly de-
clares that all power not delegated by the
States to the federal government shall be re-
served to the States themselves. The infer
ence is that there are matters over which the
federal government has no jurisdiction
whatever, and in which the States are sover-
eign, absolutely and without recourse. The
attempt to declare the federal power su-
preme is therefore revolutionary and sub
versive of the constitutional provisions.
1t may be the duty of the 'national' gov
eminent, by wise laws efficiently executed,
to protect the ballot in all "nationaP' cleo
tions, but it is not nominated in the constitu-
ton. Up to within few years all elections
have been conducted under authority of the
States, which have shown themselves fully
competent to guarantee to every citizen q
fair hearing at the ballot box. Not until
Congress assumed to control these elections
did we hear of frauds committed save in
exceptional cases. By taking this control
from the States and comforting it upon the
federal power Congress has done more to
demoralize the elections than could have
been accomplished by centuries under the
old system.
The contemptous reference to the "fction
of State sovereignty comes with bad grace
from State and from party that was
among the first to set up and defend that
dogma. SIN those cruel slavery days. the
abolitionists of Massachusetts were strenu-
GUS in insisting the supremacy of the State
over the federal government, and they argued
their cause ably and increasingly. The leaders
fought and suffered in defense of the doc
trine and eventually succeeded in carrying
the day. State sovereignty was bulwark
behind which they took refuge while working
for the emancipation of the slaves. They
have undergone change of heart, however,
and are now seen declaring the supremacy of
the federal government and the subordina-
ton of the States-in favor of centralized
government at Washington and the abolition
of all State lines.
This is in reality the whole purpoSs of the
Republican party-to destroy all vestiges of
the peoples rights and concentrate all power
in the hands of few. It aims to make this
a nation rather than union of States; to
cause all laws and regulations to emanate
from one central authority; to overturn the
very foundation stone of republicanism in
the country. It is well that the Republicans
of Massachusetts have so freely expressed
their views, for there is no longer any excuse
for misunderstanding the policy of the party.