Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-06-18
The Bid Of the Illinois Senator for the
Presidency

hNb MOulu 0NbINuIQW NiNt ANNIIHAuNHla
This is mere assertion, which Mr.. Davis
fortihes by no fact But suppose II Is
true; IL Is man Of straw against whom
he Eliminates. Capitalization, accord-
ing to the extreme States rights school
of politicians, ''is a taking to the Gem
eral Government of any powers not
expressly granted in the Constitution"
Measured by this standard, coercion of
the seeding States was Capitalization.
Mr.. Davis evidently does not accept
this definition, for he lauds Mr.. Lin
coin, who inaugurated coercion, and
asserts that he Hincoln) favored the
reverse of Capitalization. If any
party advocates usurpation by the union
of powers denied it in the Constitu-
tion, they are centralizationists and to
be condemned by all men who love
the country. Win Mr.. Davis say there
are any suchP If there are, who are
theyP And what centralizing measure
have they advocatedP It was easy
for the Senator to name the men and
the measures. But he has failed to
do so, and he failed because they do
not exist.
Mr.. Davis denounoes the growth and
power of great corporations" and he
should assume control over them. He
would argue that Congress can ''regu-
late commerce" that railroads are one
of the channels of commerce. and
therefore, though the Constitution does
not say expressly that Congress may
regulate the railroads, it is neverthe-
less to be implied from its power ito
regulate commerce. Extreme State
rights men will say this is centraliza-
ton. Yet Mr.. Davis advocates it.
Thus he is found in the same letter
denounoing Capitalization and favor
ing policy which has more elements
of centralization in it than any policy
suggested within the century. Many
Republicans, and Democrats, too,
believe that this is one of the
implied powers of Congress; others do
not believe it; and those who do not
believe it will charge its advocate with
being cenhalizationists If this, or any
other power not expressly granted, is
granted by implication, its use is neither
usurpation nor Capitalization. No one
knows this better than Mr. Davis, and
no one knows any better than he does
how shallow and groundless all this
talk of Capitalization is; and knowing
IlllS ut DlONtS nllhnCll q hDllltte5OSuO W
appeals to it,
Mr.. Davis betrays his willingness to
pander to the lowest prejudices of the
| people in his reference to corporations,
| which he says have Overgrown pow
err and "grip on much Of the polit-
| ical machinery Some corporations,
or rather the members of some corpo-
rations, have no doubt corrupted legis-
/ 1off svrsl L Fblau
| thing. But whatever improper infu-
ences some corporations have exercised
was not because they were corpora
tons, but because they could command
large sums of money. But Mr.. Davis
can do the same thing. Compared to
the whole number of corporations in the
Union, there are very few that control
as much money as Mr.. Davis does. Mr..
Davis, therefore, is to be considered an
"oyergrown power and dangerous.
He will hardly say that.
Mr.. Davis says public expenditures
NAV be reduced 'many millions an
nually without impairing the efficiency
of the public service" He is a Sena-
tor in the majority; a part of the Gov
ernment; public expenditures pass un-
der his scrutiny. What has he done to
reduce themP Let him explain. What
has he done for economy In what in
stances has he Topped off an unneces-
sary expenditure, OF attempted 10 do
it? He had the power, He says he has
the will. But he has done nothing -
nothing whatever in that direction.
Mr.. Davis laments the magnitude of
the public debt, but he is prudently
careful to say nothing of the men who
created it, or the causes through which
it was created. He says 90 its rapid eX-
tinction is TO be desired because it
diminishes present burdens" There
are but two ways to eXtinguish debit:
First by Reputation, or, second, by pay
ment. Reputation would undoubtedly
Cif it could be maintained) diminish the
present burden, which is the interest.
Docs he favor that? If he does, why
does he not plainly state it? Will Mr.
Davis tell the people how the debt is to
be eXtinguished Immediately except by
repudiatiOnP He denounccS the tariff;
he has done what he could to deplete
the treasury and having dome this he
says in effect, "let us extinguish the
debt now" Is it his pun pose that the
debt shall be eXtinguished by Issuing
greenbacks, which are " free from
laNes,n and must remain SO until the
Supreme Court reverses its lecision2
lie donounces obligations that are free
from taxes" and presumably he Includes
! tho grecnback in the list. But if he
does mean that the debt should be eX-
tinguished by an issue of groenbacks,
why does he not say so? A Presiden-
! tial candidate who gives his opinion to
the public should give them so that
they may be understood, This Mr..
: Davis does not do. Ills letter is the
work of demagogue. Detroit Posi-
and Tribune.
Bds- Mr., Bayard's proposition to va
J cate the offices of Supervisor of Elec-
!, tions all over the country, and give the
| Senate y chance to reject the Presi-