New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-22
4 DEFINITION TAINTED.

What is the strong government Whch
those Democrats who indulge in cant ana
think it is craftsmanship have so much to say
about as one of the dangers TO be appre-
hended from Republican asccndancyf Demo
Gratis being divided into two classcs-the larger
one Of which has no fixed notion or belief,
but only a great hunger for place and power;
and tho smaller one vague iGea
that Democracy means devotion to some
thing which they think 1.-THE Fathers "
established We find the latter always
laying great stress upon the dangers OF
Capitalization and of a strong government to-
ward which they say the Republican party
naturally tends. 1t is the favorite topic Of
such statesmen as HOratio Seymour and
Democrats of his class at the North,
and 'the constant theme of all Southern
Democrats, by whom it is esteemed
the only vital question in politics. Nor is it
strange that the latter should be opposed to a
strong General Government. They have reasons
for such opposition. They have felt the
weight of it.
But how strong must the Government be to
be dangerous, and how weak should it be to
be perfectly safe and not imperl the Consti-
tuition and our form Of government These
questions are of present pcrtinency and prac-
teal interest because Of n condition Of af-
fairs in several Congressional districts at the
South which bids fair to bring them to the
attention of Congress. In Florida and Missis-
sippi, and perhaps other Southern States it is
very generally believed that men have been
given certificates of election to the next Congress-
who were not only not the choice Of amaiority of
the legal voters in their several districts, but
who were defeated upon the vote as actually
poled. This state of affairs is contrary. to
law and to the spirit and form Of republican
government but the men who have brought it
to pass justify themselves by what they call the
necessity of their situation. The minority, in
other words, openly asserts its right to rule
Is government dangerously strong that steps
in at such juncture and cOmpcls submission
to law and the rectifcatiOn of such a wrong 2
Is there much safety in government so weak
that it cannot reach an election precinct where
its own laws are violated, Its fundamental
principles trodden under foot, and minority
perpetuated in power over q majority7
Another question arises. Where stems are
taken for the collection of testimony touching
frauds in the elections, to be laid before Con-
gress so that that body, judging of the quail
ications Of its own members, may have knowl-
edge of the facts upon which to proceed, the
authors of the frauds, by mob violence and
intimidation, and by resOrting to proceedings
under the form Of State law to Obstruct the
process and silence the witnesses, put an end
to the attempt. SO that the authors and
abettors of these frauds not only assert
the right &C the minority to rule the
majority, but they defantly say to the
National Congress that their will ia law
higher than its authority, and that it shall not
entertain proceedings in appeal. This minor
ity ruling q majority because Of the necessity
of the situation, dictates its terms to. the
National Congress, saying to that body
"YOu shall not investigate our methods of
conducting elections. They are purely
estate affair with which Congress has no
concern" Would that government be
dangerously strong which should reach into
these districts with strong arm to protect its