Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-08-26
The wisdom OF The Fathers.

Whatever may be the ending OF the s'rug-
ole for life in which President Garfield Is en-
eaoed at this writing, all must admit that our
institutions, whilst subjected to new test OIL
their strength. have passed the ordeal smooth
Il, aud without friction, The test has not
toop like that crucial one which had 10 De
encountered during the Civil war, when 'ne
coyorument was fighting for its very eSis-
,.pce ana to this end was willing 70 eAPe"u
,be Iast dollar and devote the last man. anu
,yas very nearly reduced to this extreme Du'
tbe tc.t has nevertheless been an important
one one which happily illustrates most iorc-
INV the wisdom o the fathers IN preserving
and distinctly de6nding the rights OF 'ne
States whereby an ndissoluble union OF lhue-
.,ructible States was made possible ltWouiu
he well for those who advocate consoldat-
ed. strong and paiernal government to pause
for a moment and take to heart the lesson
taught by the long and dangerous sickness
Of the Chief Executive.
During the whole Of the months Of july
and August, up to the present time the res
idept has been unable TO discharge the duties
or exercise the great powers OF hls once 10
that practically the country has been WIN
out chief executive officer. During TINS
time there has been no cabinet meeting TOT
consultation witt. him as to the affair OF the ma
tion. and we have BEEN distinctly told mat moi
ono Of the seven heads OF the apartments
ha,o had any communication &ith their
President respecting any official act or duty.
Literally for the best part Of Two ih"htls
,b.rc has been no President 10 'aAe e"'0
~, no laxys he faithfully executed bus'-
ness and social life has been without l"' -
disturbance, save deep seated grie' az wv
sickness Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS matters, and
beyond the ordinary avocations Of life the al
absorbing subject Of the Presidents lines
alone has occupied the public mind which
has been stirred to depth, at home anC
abroad, almost hitherto unknown. Why il
it that this assassns blow, struck at the li'
of our Chief Executive which has so deeply
stirred the passions and aroused the sym
pathies of the whole people, has so little affect
ed their interests IL is because in thei
wisdom the Gthers of the constitution pre-
served the autonomy of the States, and lief
under their control and protection so much
Of the business and social life of the people
that the executive Of the nation has next tc
naught to do with these all important matters.
Had they been dependant in any way upon
or controlled by the national government,
who can tell the extent to which disturbance
and disaster may have ere now gone when
the mind to direct aud the hand to execute
were both poverless But happily things
were otherwise directed and were the life Of
President Garfield to-day to come to an UNI
timely end, as we fear, alas every moment
to hear, the affairs Of the people under the
wise and conservative conduct OF the
respective State governments would scarcely
feel any lar whatever from that sad event
che isI~e. orr STRONG
consolidated government, and to that extent
an obliteration Of States Rights, or as the late
Horace Greeley once termed it. ''the abolition
Of the cumbrous machinery Of State Govern
ments, pause a moment ard be thankful
that the wisdom of the fathers ofthe cons titu-
ton was greater than theirs