The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-09-03
A Strong Government.

As was to have been expected the
terrible tragedy at Washington has CIV
en- fresh encouragement to the adyo-
Gates of what is vaguely styled Strong
Government" No sooner were the first
confused accounts of the attempt upon
the life of the President transmitted by
telegraph than these uph0lders OF
'.Strong Government" rushed to the
conclusion that it was the act of con-
spirscy of Nihilists, or Communists, or
other imaginary enemies of political
and social order in this country. Gen.
eral Grant, who may be regarded as the
chief exponent of the notion of Strong
Government, exclaimed at once that this
must be the work of an insane man or
Nihilist, and added with emphasis,
"if Nihilist, it is tine that Nihilism
should be put down." The excited ed
itor who never saw Nihilist except in
his dreams re echoes the cry of Grant
and insists that Nihilism must be
stamped out" What these imaginary
Nihilists or Communistic cOnspirators
could gain by the assassination OF Pres
ident Garfield and the succession OF
Vice President Arthur has not Deen
satisfactorily explained, but very lit
tie reason and common sense goes a
great WAYS among the advocates of a
"Strong Government"
The advocates of ''StrOng Govern
ment" in this country have never yet
presented the faintest outline OF plan
for its establishment. We know that
with those who most frequently mouth
the phrase it is nothing more than the
expression of their hatred of popular
liberty. But if asked how they would
check this popular Liberty so as to
secure their somewhat muddy ideal OF
Strong Government they are silent.
They certainly do not insist on the an
nihilat on of the States and the GEN.
tralization of all political power at
Washington. A little reflection in this
crisis would teach them that the rights
of the States cannot be restrained with
out inviting the greatest dangers. II
the executive heal of the General
Government should be cut of the State
Governments remain for the protection
OF lie and property of the citizens and
for the preservation of political and So
cial order. To destroy the State Gov
ernments would be to rush into an
archy or despotism. The advocates of
a "Strong Government cannot seri-
ously propose to restrain the right of
suffrage. This could not be done with
out the submission of the majority,
and there are no recorded instances
of the majority voluntarily surrendering
their political rights upon the request
of the minority.
Since the advocates of .'Strong Gov
ernment'' in this country have never
presented the faintest outline of po-
litical programme we are left only to
conjecture concerning their meaning
beyond the fact that they have an igno-
rant hatred of popular Government, Oh
of what they CONTEMPORARY term 1.-THE
rule of the mob" Probably Russia
presents their ideal of a Strong Govern
ment." But this Government of their
} admiration is undergoing some severe
.. trials. The Imperial Master of all the
Russia's is prisoner in his own domin.
ions, and he can find liberty and repose
only in fleeing hey ond their limits. He
is surrounded day and night by his Cos.
sacks. He can drink no wine until
others have tasted it. He can eat nc
food until some one else has chewed it.
Even then the Sovereign Master o. Rus
STA is not safe from dynamite, or the
dagger, or poison. Not one crazy Gui
teau, but ten thousand Russians have
devoted themselves to the destruction
of the Gar. These are not insane be
i yond the madness which despotism in
{ spires in the breasts of the wise. MOI
are they brutal and degraded serfs
: But they are among the enlight
ened and cultiva.e ed people of Rus
STA. In that country political assas
sination has rational motive ant
,, political revolution is a duty. In thi!
country the political assassin is {
, lunatic whose insanity is SO obvious
, that he should long ago have been con
, fined in a madhouse. To generaIiz'
upon the character of the political in
) situations of the country from this alb
{ normal and isolated crime of a madmaI
and to argue that there should be ;
1 "StrOng Government" is mere non
sense. To Guiteau's added brain thu
; death of President Garfield was -
: political necessity" in order to unit
! the Republican PARTY. Those who fine
/ the cause of Guiteau's crime in thu
political institutions of the country d.
) not reason more coherently. Excess
. of religious enthusiasm has often pro
duced insanity in weak minds, but tina
| is no argument against the Christian
religion. Political excitement operatin,
: upon the fceble-minded egotist Guiteal
Y has impellcd him to this terrible crime
: But that proves nothing against the pc
4 litical institutions of the country. 1t
r a truism, verified by all political expe
rience, that that Government is strong
9 est which rests ON the consent of tn
|. governed, and none deserves thi
4 definition OF a "Strong Govern
!. kment" so much as that of tn
United States. Notwithstanding th
J. alarm caused by the crime o
( Guiteau there is nothing in the polit
/ ical system of this country which call
o for the Intervention of the foolish advo
, Gates of "a Strong Government. -
/. Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot.
Z, 1t may interest smokers to knO,