Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-03
David Davis View.

WASHINGTON, May Zo.-ln reply 10
letter from Hon. o. III. Browning, form
erly Secretary of the Interior, the fol.
lowing letter has been written:
WASHINGTON, May IA, lSs0.-Ay Dear
Sir: l have had the pleasure to receive
your letter of the 9th instant. AS a
constituent, a friend and an honored
citizen of Illinois, you have perfect
right to ask for my views on public
questions, and have no hesitation in
expressing them, taking the inquiries
in the order presented:
CentraAzatian.-The Constitution WISE
ly defines the limits of the Federal and
State Governments under happy and
harmonious system, wherein each is
independent in its appropriate sphere,
and both operate concurrently to pro.
tect the integrity and stability OF the
Union. Any encroachment Of one on
the distinctive domain of the other
necessarily dislocates the machinery of
the Constitution and involves danger to
the whole body polite. In fact, every
departure from the great charter of
liberty and law is attended with peril.
The demand made by adherents of one
of the great parties for a strong gov.
ernment means substantially a central
lied government, destructive of home
rule in the States and the very reverse
of what Mr.. Lincoln described as q gov.
ernment of the people, by the people
and for the people. Carried to its logi-
cal conclusion, such change would
finally overthrow the Republic.
The Third Term.--An innovation upon
the sanctified traditions of the Presi-
dency first established by the example
of Washington is urgently demanded
by powerful interest in the Republi.
can party. If the limitations Of two
terms, heretofore reunanimously accepted,
be destroyed, the way to q selfperpetu.
ating Presidency will be opened by the
use and the abuse of the enormous
public patronage. Break down this
barrier and an end of the experiment
of Republican Government looms up
darkly as the cost of fatal concession.
Great Corporations. rapid growth
Of the corporate power and the malign
influence which it exerts by combina
tions on the National and the State
Legislatures, is well. grounded cause of
alarm.
Civil Service. Neither laws nor com.
missions created under them will ef.
fectually reform the many and glaring
abuses of the civil service. The form
er have been constantly evaded, and
the latter are powerless for good. An
honest Executive, bent on real and not
simulated reform, has abundant au.
thority to make it effective anywhere,
If he has the capacity to see his duty
and the courage TO perform it.
Sabsidies.-Experience has demonstra-
ted that subsidies in any form are
sources of corruption and ought to be
forbidden.
Revision Of the Tari6.-Tariff practical.
ly means taxation, and all taxation not
equitably adjusted Is odious. While the
interest on an oppressive public debt,
the pensions earned with the blood of
soldiers and sailors who fought for the
Union and the regular expense OF carry
ing on the Government are to be met,
duties on imports must continue TO fur.
nish one OF the sources OF revenue. So
long as these duties are levied manufac
turers will be benefited according to
the degree or mode in which the duties
may be distributed. The existing tariff
is regarded as confused mass of incon-
gruities and monopolies, created by
special legislation and open to constant
fraud on the revenue. It taxes the
consumer heavily on those articles es.
pecially that are most needed by the
toiliDg masses II taxes every newspa.
per, every school book, every Bible and
the salt of the workingman with gross
injustice. because the poor pretense of
revenue does not exist 70 cover the
wrong. A revision, therefore, which
shall be ct once searching and fair Is
demanded, and should be promptly
and efficiently made.
-
Elections. ballot box should be
the safeguard of the Republic, for II IL
intended to express the free will Of .
free people. Therefore elections should
be exempt from the presence Of any
menacing force, and to be free from the
contamination Of corrupt Returning
Boards. No party deserves confidence
that seeks ascendency by striking down
honest suffrage either by the use Of
troops, BY fraud Or by intimidation.
It would not be proper for me 10 ex.
press any opinion upon measures pend.
ing or proposed in Congress. Ny votes