American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-13

Vice-President Arthur has not peen
satisfactorily explained, but a very lit
tie reason and common sense goes a
great ways among the advocates of a
Z" 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
a 50 Strong Government" they are silent.
They certainly do not insist on the an
Inhalation of the States and the CEN
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. If
the executive head of the General
Government should be cut off the State
Governments remain for the protection
of life and property of the citizens and
for the preservation of political and So
cial order. To destroy the State Gov
crnments would be to rush into an
archy or despotism. The advocates of
"Strong Government cannot seri-
ously propose to restrain the right of
suffrage. This could not be done with
out the submission of the ma jOrity,
and there are no recorded instances
of the aiority 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 a 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, or
of what they contemptuously 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 beyond 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 no
food until some one else has chewed it.
Even then the Sovereign Master of 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-
yond the madness which despOtism in
spires in the breasts of the wise. Nor
are they brutal and degraded serfs.
But they are among the enlight-
ened and cultivated people of Rus
STA. In that country political assas-
sination has a rational motive and
political revolution is n duty. In this
country the political assassin is a
lunatic whose insanity is so obvious
that he should long ago have been con-
fined in a madhouse. To generalize
upon the character of the political in
situations of the country from this alb
normal and isolated crime of Il mailman
and to argue that there should be a
''Strong Government" is mere nom
sense. TO Guiteau's added brain the
death of President Garfield was "a
political necessity" in order to unite
the Republican party. Those who find
the cause of Guiteau's crime in the
political institutions of TIE country do
not reason more coherently. Excess
of religious enthusiasm has often pro-
duced insanity in weak minds, but that
is no argument against the Christian |
religion. Political excitement operating
upon the Predetermined egOtist Guiteau |
has impelled him to this terrible crime. |
But that proves nothing against the po-
litical institutions of the country. 1t is |
a truism, verified by all political expe-
rience, that that Government is strong |
est which rests on the consent of the |
governed, and none deserves this |
definition of Strong Govern
ment" so much as that of the |
United States. Notwithstanding the |
alarm caused by the crime of
Guiteau there is nothing in the polit-
ical system of this country which calls
for the Intervention of the foolish advo-
Gates of "a Strong Governments
Harrisburg (fa.) Patriot.