The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-05-06
axepablIcans and
State Rights.

The Massachusetts, Republicans, at
their convention on Thursday, adopt
ed the following resolution:
We believe in the 1nyiolable SOW
ereignty of the national Union estab-
lished by the constitution over ali the
States and all the people, and in the
duty of the national government, by
the wise laws efficiently executed, to
protect the ballot in all national cleo
tions and to maintain and vindicate
the constitutional rights of citizens of
the United States, whatever and un-
der whatever fiction of State sove-
reignty or other pretense such, rights
may be assailed." al
We suppose we can take this reso.
luton as an official utterance" of the
Republican party of the country with
out doing that party an injustice. If
one will stop to consider what is meant
by "the inviolable sovereignty of tho
national Union over all the States and
all the people," he will discover what
the real purpose of the party IL. The
constitution of the United States in no
paragraph or provision gives the fed
eral government supremacy over the
States, but expressly declares that all
power not delegated by the States to
the federal government shall be re-
served to the States themselves. The
inference is that there are matters oyer
which the federal government has no
jurisdiction whatever, and in which
the States are sovereign, absolutely
and without recourse. The attempt
to declare the federal power supreme
is therefore revolutionary and subver-
sivs of the constitutional provisions.
1t may be the duty of the national
government, by wise laws efficiently
executed, to protect the ballot in all
national elections, but it is net nom-
mated in the constitution. Up to with
in few years all elections have been
conducted under authority of the
States, which have shown themselves
fully competent to guarantee to every
citizen fair hearing at the ballot box.
Not until Congress assumed to con-
troll these elections did we hear of the
frauds committed save in exceptional
cases. BY taking this control from the
States and comforting it upon the fed
eral power Congress has done more to
demoralize the elections than could
have been accomplished by centuries s
under the old system.
The contemptuous reference to the
s'ficiion of State sovereignty" comes
WITH bad grace from State and from
a party that was among the first to
set up and defend that dogma. "In
those cruel slavery days" the aboli-
tionists of Massachusetts, were strenu-
Gus in insisting upon the supremacy of
the State over the federal government,
and they argued their cause ably and
INCREASINGLY. The leader fought and
suffered in defense of the doctrine 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 haye undergone q change
of heart, however, and are now seen
declaring the supremacy of the feder-
al government and the subOrdination
of the States-in favor of centralized
government at Washington and the
abolition of all State lines.
This Is in reality the whole purpose
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 nation
rather than q union of States !; to cause
all laws and regulations to emanate
from one central authority to over
turn the very foundation stone of re-
publicanism in the country, 1t is well
that the Republicans of Massachusetts,
have SO freely expressed their views.
for there is no longer any excuse tor
misunderstanding the policy of the
party.-(St Paul Globe.