Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-07
The RepublIe,s Vital Principle:

That the people of the several
States should be free to manage
their local affairs without the interfer-
ence of the Federal Government has
been held as a fundamental principle of
our republican system by the Demo
cratic party since its foundation. In
deed, most of the great statesmen of the
country outside of the Democratic party
have yielded ready assent to this doc
trine, and it has only been within recent
years that it has been disputed.
The Republican party prior to the
great civil conflict recognized States
rights, but at the close of the struggle
sought in every way possible to cast ridi-
cule upon them and set them
aside. The Radical leaders sedulously
sought to inculcate the belief that the
Federal authorities were best qualified to
Judge of the requirements of the people
in matters of government, and, acting
on this revolutionary idea for years, one
section of the country was held at their
mercy by the power of the bayonet and
the subserviency of plant Federal tri-
bunals. All who dared protest were
denounced as "copperheads," ''rebels"
and ''unreconstructed secessionists." "
1t was this shrewd confounding of
secession with independent local govern
ment that enabled Radicalism so long to
deceive the Northern masses, and for
this reason the Democracy fought for
years a losing fight against the encroach-
ments of the Federal Government
The States to-day, however, so far as
their functions are concerned, are indie
pendent of the General Government and
are likely to remain so for generations to
come. Indeed, recent events have served
to strengthen this probability. Heretofore
it was the South only hat felt the smart
of Federal interference with the local
affairs of her people. 1t has now come
the turn of the North to experience it,
but in a milder form. The ambition
of the present occupant of the White
House has prompted him to interpose
his wishes in the political affairs of New
York, Pennsylvania and other Northern
States, and have them executed by his
personal efforts or by trusted agents.
Against this interference every thought
full citizen must protest. To concede the
right of the administration to intrude
in such matters is to give license for
its encroachments in graver concerns.
The feeling which has been awakened
by the course of the administration is
healthy one, and augurs well for the fu-
ture of the Republic. 1t proves incon-
testably that when the people once real
ize that their rights are infringed upon or
imperiled, they are quick to arouse them.
selves to defend them. The mask that
Radicalism has worn so long Is being re-
moved, and as it falls the people see the
true character which it has
hitherto concealed. Upon this
question of independent State govern
ment, free from Federal interference,
there exists to-day nearer accord OF
sentiment throughout the land than has
been known for years. The doctrine Of
States rights forms the vital principle
of our government. Once this doctrine
is destroyed, civil and political liberty
will languish and ultimately perish.
Kept alive, however, it will give peren-
NAL health to our body polite, and es-
tablish the Republic upon the sure foun-
dation contemplated by its trainers.