Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-01-21
A DANGEROUS HERESY.

The defeat of secession and the de-
struction OF the only motive which in
duced any State to desire separation
from tho Union, did not destroy the
only theory that had menaced the per-
pctuty of the system Of government
founded by the fathers. Dangerous
as secession was its triumph would
not more effeetuslly have destroyed
our Union than will Capitalization, the
fundamental tenet of Radicalism, un-
less the patriotic masses can be arous-
ed TO a sense of the actual and immi
neni dangsy, -scd nermanently retire
the class of statesmen and politicians
who cling to this political hcresy.
Successful secession would have left
us number of small Republics, each
based on the great principle Of MAORI
ty rule. 1t would have been a most
deplorable calamity, for there would
have been danger of frequent wars,
wasting the substance of the people,
rctarding intellectual, moral and ma
terial development. But the Republi-
can idea--the right of the majority TO
rule-would have survived, ard that
is the only thing which makes our
form of government better than that
of Russia.
Successful Capitalization will give
us one consolidated despotism, the only
possible escape from which will be rev.
olution, and the result of even that last
resort of the oppressed will be doubt
ful, for the army and navy and all the
machinery of Government will be in
the hands of the oppressors. We do
not believe that such destiny is be-
fore this Nation, for we have faith in
the patriotism OF people who have
demonstrated their capacity for self
government, and who are constantly
rising in the intellectual scale. In the
general elections of the last six years
they have condemned the ti-Repub.
lican course of tho Radical party, and
there is no doubt that they will repeat
the verdict as often and as emphatical-
ly as may be necessary, in order to
preserve our institutions from the de.
structive tendencies of Capitalization.
During the exciting local campaigns
Of this year many of the authorized
expcnents of Radical sentiment-the
organs and orators OF the Republican
party--have thrown off all disguise,
and boldly proclaimed warfare against
the rights OF the States in a spirit as
hostile to the underlying and pervad-
ing principles of the Constitution as
were the fiery appeals of the hot
blooded fanatics, North and South,
during the year preceding the war OF
the rebellion. Stripped of redundant
verbage, the Radical creed is, The
States have no rights that the Nation
is bound TO respect. Those are not the
exact words of any recognized author.
ity, but they precisely and concisely
express the one idea that has been
more prominent than all others for
some months past in the political liter.
aturo of the Republican organization.
1t is claimed by all the prominent
statesmen and publicists of that party
that the General Government not only
has the right, but is in duty bound, to
supervise and direct the election Of
Presidential electors. The Constitu.
tion OF the United States says these
electors shall be appointed in such
manner as the legislatures of the sew
eral States may direct. A State legis.
lature may appoint electors itself, may
authorize the voters Of the State to ap-
point them, may have thcm drawn by
let as jurymen are selected, may let
the Supreme Court name them, or may
have them selected or appointed by
any other agency, the whole matter
being entirely within the province and
jurisdiction of the Legislative body Of
each State. 1t will be seen that the
Radical CLAIM of q right on the part Of
the central authority to interfere in
this business is direct assault on one
of the most important guarantees of
our fundamental law. If the General
Government has any such right, IL
must, Of course, have authority to step
into and direct the deliberations Of a
Legislature In that event a party in
power could never bo ousted by any
number Of votes. A Republican or
Democratic Congress, having an Ad.
ministration in sympathy with it,
could insure the choice of its own can.
didates for electors, and thus keep
itself in power forever, unless hurled
out by an uprising Of the outraged
people. The same rulc would apply
in tho election Of Congressman, and
thus the entire framework of the Gov
erment would be practically destroy
ed. Minority rule would be enthroned,
and the majority would have no rem
edy except force. All this follows the
admission of what is claimed by the
Republican party leaders as inevitable