The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-09-16

nation between all elements opposed
to Democracy, meaning one who
looks for correct Republican theo-
ries of government, there appears
no other channel into which one can
conscientiously drift but the Demo-
cratic one. To prove this true it is
only necessary to inquire into the
theories and practices of parties,and
first into the forms of this govern
ment. Respect for the constitution
is one of the cardinal principles of
Democracy. The constitution of
these United States creates q federal
government for national purposes,
and powers not conferred thereby
upon the federal government are re-
served to the states. The constitu-
ton is thus explicit. BY the consti-
tuition government rests neither in
state nor in the federation, but it is
vested in the people, and these, in
sovereign capacity, delegate certain
powers to federal and certain other
powers to state authority. The eX-
alted wisdom of the fathers of Amer
lean independence, of the trainers of
this constitution, always held sacred
by the Democratic party, adopted
plan by which all power should re-
main in the hands of no single set of
officials. This was an embodiment of
the doctrine that a government is
nothing but despotism where one
man or one set of men are given all
power. twas for liberty's sake that
the powers of government were di-
vided, and while the powers of the
federal government are positive as
to certain purposes, necessarily SO, it
has no power at all in many things.
The federation of states was for the
mutual protection of each other;
the state governments reserved the
right to maintain internal peace, and
to regulate the rights of persons
and property within their limits.
The one may levy taxes for sustain
ing the federated government and
to wage war, the others to govern
citizenship and franchise, to regu-
late rights to property and of entail,
and the privileges of liberty and
even the taking of life. These are
principles now active, and for the
last hundred years, the history of the
Democrauc parCy, coexistent with
the constitution, shows that it has
ever defended and has proposed to
preserve the principles OF govern
ment thus set forth by these fathers.
and established through revolution
and written with blood. The power
of the federal government to de-
clare war is supplemented by the
establishment and control of the
postal service, management of COM
mercial relations with. foreign
countries, and the right to maintain
its dignity and its influence, and to
carry out its duties by taxation.
While the Democratic party has
struggled to preserve the rights of |
the federal and state government.
as set forth in the constitution, the |
Republican party, creature of but
little over two decades existence,
has made the most vigorous and
persistent efforts to encroach upon
its provisions. The first natural i'm
pulse of tyrant is to distrust the
people, and the Republican party
started out with the proposition
that the people could not be en-
trusted with self government, and
that power should be exercised
from Washington for all purposes of
government. From the federal
standpoint it usurped the right to
govern property in the states, TO
1eny their citizens civil liberty, to
regulate elections, to say who shall
md who shall not vote for legisla-
.ors and governors and congress-
nen, and to enforce this usurpation
t has placed the polls in the hands
If supervisors and marshals. who
exercise the power to deny a citizen
he right to vote in such elections.
N the city of New York. Demo-
ratio New York, in 1879, the federal
government turned the polls over to
me thousand three hundred marsh
lis, many ofwhom were guilty Of the
most heinous crimes described in pc
lal codes. Democrats made an effort
n Congress to repeal this obnoxious
aw, but their purpose to do so was
defeated by the perfidy of Mr.. Gar
ield and others like him, who said
he law was unjust. but who would
lot sustain Democrats in passing the
ill over the veto of President
Hayes, who was simply obeying the
doctrines and behests of his party.
These supervisors and marshals are
appointed at five dollars per day, for
en- days, to look after election mat
e~s. They are appointed pretend
ngly to supervise congressional
lections, but with their power to III
rrest persons interfere with the
ofpresidential electors and
Fith state and even local elections.
he law is Unconstitutional, but it is
a aid Of the doctrine OF a central
red government, and Hayes and | ,
fairfield, who are but creatures of |
hesc Republican revolutionists, | i
hey the power that fraudulently
'laces them In oilice. Republics are /,
Iverthrown gradually BY vice and
v crime, and BY The sfcklihy hand Z
{ despotism that undermines fnn- I
amental principles. while the emincs | ,
re being laid for the grand catas- 4