Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-30
A STRUGGLE FOR 4 NAr1oN.


Many of the Republican papers are en-
deavoring to keep constantly before their
readers the fact that the present political
contest is the final struggle for the establish
ment of nation in this country. In this
they do not, for once, mistake the issue. The
contest is in reality based upon the idea of
whether this shall be nation or confeder-
alton of states-a republic such as was
formed by the founders of the government.
Some of the partisan papers endeavor to
create the impression that the convention
that framed the constitution had in contenl-
plation the establishment of O nation in
which the central power in Washington
should be supreme in all things, and quota
tions from the debates are given to sustain
this theory. 1t is true that such sentiments
found expression in the constitutional con-
vention, but they were combated by the
ablest statesmen present, aud the present
constitution, establishing ga more perfect
union," was adopted as the best sense of the
people of the United States. In it no word
can be found that looks like purpose on the
part of its trainers to constitute nation. In
almost every clause the States are recogniz-
ed. The Senator'S and Representatives, are
chosen by. the States; man must be citi-
zen of State before he can be recognized as
a citizen of the United States; Congress may
do certain things, but only such things rs
are not reserved to the States. Everywhere
in the instrument State boundaries are rec
ognized and State rights asserted. If this
was intended to be a consolidated nation,
why were the onstitution-makers guilty of
adopting as the name of the Republic that
misnomer. the United States of America?
The truth is this was intended to be a re-
public, not nation in the sense in which
the word is employed by the Republican
press. Certain powers were delegated to the
general government composed of the execu-
tive, legislative and Judicial departments,
just as the stockholders of a bank delegate
certain powers to the president and execu-
tive committee of that institution without
surrendering any of their own rights as indi-
viduals. Tt is simply a convenient
form of conducting business. 1t would be
impossible for each stakeholder in bank or
a railroad company to attend to the details
of the business, and SO they employ some
one to look after their interests just as the
people employ President, Congressman
and supreme court to attend to the details
of the government.
The Republican party is pledged to make
of this nRtion-to take from the people
and the States the right Of self-government,
and to make the President the ruler instead
of the servant of the people. The Demo-
cratic party is pledged to preserve the re-
public in its integrity. Tt insists that it is a
confederation of States, and that the authori-
ty of the States in all matters not especially
delegated to Congress is superior to that of
the federal government. The Republicans
boldly assert their intention of revolution
izing the government and destroying the re-
public. The Democrats oppose this policy,
The struggle promises to be an exciting one,
and it is important that the people should
properly understand the issue. 1t is one Of
more than ordinary Importance. Upon it
hinges the destiny of free government not
only in this country but throughout the
world. It is to be hoped that the American
people are not yet prepared to confess the
failure of a republican form of government,
but will cling to the traditions that have
been handed down from the great statesmen
who erected the noble structure that has been
the admiration of the world for more than
century past The issue is whether we will
have nation or a republic-a government
of force or government of the people.