Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-01-18

conditions for such a conflict no longer exist
That grea, barrier between the sections, tha
barred all Intercourse and made Us strangers,
hence enemies. is removed. chasm i eit, out
that will he filled. And IL l. no longer true tha'
Mountains in,er1,oscd make enemies Of people
Nh hal el-e Ike kinstrs drops mngle into one"
For IN the agencies of steam and electricity ali
our mountain barriers are removed, anu >pacr,
that sewers and cStraugc>, ~ annlhliated' :"
that now the dwellerS upon the Atlantic anu IA
,iic SLOPES are ngighhor> a. well a. Icllo" Ciii-
,rn> and the most distant portions at our widely
extended republic are brought into the closest ne
Ietiop,. commercial and social. - well A. pollu-
al We arr now one people, Oi one country,
with ono constitution and one destiny. Nor need
ur train soldiers Ia sustain a strong govern
meut'-a government of iOTvc To n ict "hlN W
~, poWrr in III CONTROL and not IN IL protection,
iu il henehccncC For the now inv millions at
this Republic can not Dc governed. They mu>'
govern themselves or the Republic itself cc&>e IL
be for fpr,e /, ever the immediate parent at dc>-
pOtism.
Our dangers are all from within; and our chief
danger j. that which We share IN common WIN
all governments peril attending the transfer
of power from the hands of one 20 the hand ol
another ''Mar, of SucccS>iurS' have dc>olaied
all land, but our, and even our experience haN
rendered u sensible of this peril Ia cur in>tiu-
tionS Hut We need not train our soldiers Tor thl>
contingency; for our exemption from d'll "ar-
4 OF SuCNNs>iuu-utis .i4u> i''R ulH'iA 'H'
Suce ot military fore al the capital, hut rather
upon their absence: - liable are armed men.
ike concealed weapons io ~ used "heh the
blood l. up.
In the ,iay, OF the Roman Republic her lcgion>
were not permitted 10 approach the OaPltal' NO,
permitted 10 pass the RuhicOn. CT>ar crossed
II and the Roman Republic fell. i II possible
that the American people can contemplate Win
indifference the proposed gathering Of militia at
the States al the National Capital ON the i'h oil
March next True the result OF this election l.
not In dispute. but the insult Of the next election
NAV be disputed. and then the gathering oil the
military forces Al the Inauguration OF Gen. Gar
Geld NAV prove a fatal precedent, the very i'u-
blCon Of our Republic. ID the President eie''
las the instinct of patriot he viii >ignauzc NJ
inauguration by placing his veto upon this prot
trred COURTESY and initiate the simplicity OF the
thipl president, who. without pOinp AMI crcHih-
stances almost unattended, walked 10 the Caplt"l
aud took the oath OF hi, great oihcc. Nv wise
provision of our constitution the militia oi Maine
cannot be marched cut Of the state without TIE
consent vi the Legislature.
Recent events In our state. have taught u
that We are not exempt from this common dai-
s-r attending the transfer OF the government
iron the hands Of one 10 the hands Ut another.
We should look this danger square IN The lace
and apply such remedy - wisdom and PATRIOTISM
demand Of u.
III the Trainer, OF our constitution failed, in am
respect 10 guard perfectly AZ all points, the cta
DEL OF constitutional liberty, IL ~as IN this precise
particular Their great patriotism seems 10 nave
reulervd them incapable Oi approaching th'>
greai peril They never dreamed that the Amer
ian peOplr could ever become - blinded bE
Marty zeal A, "a sink the pAirio; in the partisan
aud Dc ready 10 tear down the very temple "i
liberty itself ii public Ofiicr> are not occupied 10y
men OF their choice. This danger dA"ncd upon
the mind OF the Father Of our country, aud ~ Ai>
farewell atdrvs, he gave - solemn warnings
AGAINST H.
Aud Jefferson. having in view hi, gTca, peril
10 our Institutions. Law, down this rule ,hc Vi
TAI principle OF all republics, viz Absolute ac-
luirscence IN the decisions oi the majority But
tbs rule does not touch the point OF our diihcn!-
ue> one element l. wanting. Who shall lie
eide Who shall canvass the returns, anu de
,lary the result Nc man shall IL judge IN b.
own case. Absolute acquie>crucc IN the decisions
% the majority declared By The tribunal oo''-
,af,Ged s. lac. tor thai y,gP0sc,-ths i the VI
isl principle 90 which the attention OF The people
should De directed; the essential condition ui the
orderly conduct of thu Government the only SALE
guard against civil strife aud hlooi>he'i
The power, Of our Government arr di>trihut-
ri into thrce departments Executive. LcsiSla-
tive and Judicial. each independent 81 the other.
" bile a helong> 10 the Executive Department
Ia canvass the votes returned for senators aisl
representatives, and cvrtliy the Pri'"d face n
,ult, II Is made the duty of the Legislature {"
canvass the returns for Governor, determine the
resull and declare IL. And from this decision
there j. no appeal except 10 force. The Cover
nor aud Council NAV err In certifying who zap
pear" 10 De elected members OF TIE Lrgi, laturr.
the Legislature may err in determining VII" i
elected Guyernor. hut in either case, there j. uo
appeal cNccp; a. iuTCc. -. possibly, either 81
these departments, IN the di>clarSc -! These OIL
acial duties, NAV act corruptly and fraudulent
w. and decide ia favor of q candidate no, elect
81 vet there i, no appeal except Ia fore.
committed better DC borne for = time. than to
plunge the state into tho horrors Of civil war.
The provision OF our constitution which per-
init, the Executive or Legislature 10 call upon the
court on any OCCASION, solemn or otherwise, for
IL, opinion seems 20 me a. wrong IN principle, ~
dangerous in practice. Under this provision,
questions are referred 20 the Uouri not for decision,
only for opinions which the Executive or Legs
lature NAV take for what they are worth, follow
them W disregard them al will. a. has sometimes
happened in our history. Ii these opinion, ar
10 he regarded a. decisions binding the conscience
and free will of the other branches OF the govern
mrnt where l. the boosted Independence oi these
coordinate branches which has ever been deemed
the peculiar beauty OF our system and n innda-
mental a. the reserved rights of the State
As the Court has not the responsibility of lie
cidin: such questions, it, opinions partake OF the
character of opinions generally We all know
bow cheap our opinions are when We are not re-
sponsibe for them. We never know quite what
se Onght % do, any more than what We can do.
until brought face 10 face with our responsible
Ties. For responsibility is the true inspirer that