The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-06

We take the following extracts from q non
partisan article in the February number Of
Scribners Magazine. In these few sentence.
there is matter for thought and reflection:
In a few months We shall be plunged
once more IN the excitement of Presidential
canvass, aud this time the excitement promises
to be unusually great, owing to the evsiing
belief that the contest will be very close, and
that neither candidate will be willing to ac-
knowledge his defsst.
The circumstances under which the coming
Presidential election 10 TO take place are not
ordinary any more than those under which the
LIT took place. The seriousness OF the blow
given to the federal machinery Of government
by the Southern rebellion was not made mani
fest until the election OF 1876, and that blow
struck it in its weakest point,-the one cleo
ton in which the whole Union participates,
and the choice OF the one officer who repre-
sents the whole Union.
Tho election brought forcibly to mind-moro
tho truth OF the old saying, that the greatest
danger to the Government lay in the manner
OF choosing it's chief oificer. We say the cleo
ton OF 1876 brought this TO mind moro forci-
oily than the secession OF 1861, because it II
much castor to deal with movement for set
lux w IlFbl IopuOuC tQAn WITH u dispute
about offices. In the one case, the malcontents
openly and avowedly commit treason, and expose
themselves thereby 10 It's pains and penalties.
In the other, each side maintains that it is
itself the government, and the minds Of the
best men may be confused rs to which 10
king, which pretender."
Civil war WAS avoided by a device which.
though II put IN end TO strife, did not satisfy
the defeated party, therefore did not establish
q useful precedent. The worst OF ltIwas that
1t left both sides in what may be called reyo-
lutopary state Of MINI.
by revolutionary state Of mind, we mean a
state OF mind IN which the voters or party
managers are SO eager to get possession OF
power that they do not care what their oppo-
nents think OF the means they employ for that
purpose, as distinguished from the constitu-
tional state OF mind which prevents a party
from taking power by any process which it's
revolutionary state, which has undoubtedly
shown itself in both parties since 1876, is some
thing which no thinking man can contemplate
without uneasiness, or can fail 20 see the ne
cessity OF extirpating, at almost any cost. As
long as IL lasts, free government is IN constant
danger
The Democrats seek the Presidency with the
eagerness OF men who seek . revolution, and
tho Republicans resist il IN the spirit OF men
who dread revolution. The Democrats seek
the enioyments OF IN amount Of patronage, and
the banding OF an amount OF money, (the ex
penditure OF &i00,000.O00 per annum, and the
distribution OF nearly $4,000 offices), which in
other constitutional countries nothing bat
revolution could give. and the Republicans
hold on TO an amount OF patronage and the
handling OF an amount OF money, which In
other constitutional countries nothing bat .
revolution could take away. No stste in our
time. with the population and revenue OF the
L nted States, would dare to throw all the Al
illustrative Offices OF the Government into
tho arena 10 be struggled for At every election,
Tor no political machinery 80 yet invented, be- |
sides our own. 10 considered. able 10 bear such |
! strsin.