South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-02-17
The Fatal Sense Of Safety and
Security

iAet' Us nOt uecelNe ourselves or Ge
lullcd into false sense OF security
1.-THE idea be INDUCED hat 40 danger
IS IN prospect, or Is threatening Tie
safety OF our free Institutions IL Is 9
great aud fatal mistake. No intelh
gent observer of the course OF events.
IN this country for some years past,
who has studied the history of free
( governments, can fail to see the dan.
ger man'festly approaching.
When Clay and other great states
men warned the country Of the dang
ers OF rupture in tie Union of tie
States, and civi! war. FROM the reck-
less course Of partisan leaders in
trampiing upon the pledges of the
puoiic faith upon which the Union
mad been founded, they were hooted
aud rldiculed. And not until the war
actually broke out and was upon US,
did the people really become sensible
OF the dangers of which they had
been for years warned
Only few months since the Presi-
cent OF the United States was brutailv
assassinated in public thoroughfare
as direct and uadeniable result OF the
'spohs system OF Office, and yet when
an effective remedy for this degrad-
ing ard corrupting practice in our
political affairs is proposed in Con.
gress, 1t is ridicalcd and derded bv
public journals and votaries OF mon.
archy.
Within a few years candidate for
President, undeuiabiy elected by a
majority Of the votes OF the people,
was by unprecedented arrangements
cheated out OF the Office, the country
brought to the very verge of civil war
and the defeated candidate actually
iuaugurated and made President Of
the United States.
the dominant political party, in or.
der to control the elections and per.
petuate ITS partisan asccndency and
power, has adopted aud organized,
under color of law, system OF p5rti-
san supervisors and deputy marshals
OF elections, whose appointments and
proceedings are conducted in parti-
san secresy, and paid for by the gov
eminent; whereby the elections have
been corrupted and controlled, and
that party continued i'm the control Of
public affairs.
The political party in power has
undertaken TO aid lit Il scheme Of re-
radiation of State liabilitie. I'm the
Southern States, in order to strer 9TH
en- Itself IN power. The demoraliza.
ton ofthig movement will soon spread
into the other States, aud finally be
extended 10 the liabilities OF the Fed
eral Government And the rule of
action ofthia party, publicly proclaim
ed on the floor OF the United States
Senate, is, 'thatanything is iustifiable
IN morals and in law that will beat
down the Democratic party, and keep
the Republican party in power. This
is the teaching OF political ethics by
the Republican party. Everything
has become dcbased by partrism. The
party instead Of the country fills the
minds Of politicians. The interests
and success OF the party, instead of
the welfare Of the country, is the rul-
ing principle. Partyism has become
the Moloch to which tile country and
It's safety are being sacrificed. Arn-
bition, cupidity and seGshnoss have
taken the place Of patriotism, and
magnanimous regard for Justice, and
the rights and liberties of the people.
The unrelenting and memorable par
tyism of the party in power has de
graded and .demoralized the political
elements of the entire country.
In view OF all these matters refer.
red to, and which are in no wise ex-
aggerated-indeed. not fully portray
ed, "a man must be purblind, or ignor-
ant OF the history of nations, who can
lot see the approaching danger to our
country and its free Institutions. 1t
Is simply question Of limc when the
conflict shall arise, unless Congress
shall speedily adopt some efficient and
thorough measure to arrest the mani-
feet danger and remedy the OWL.
Judge Gedde's proposed amend
mcnt by taking away from the Pres
ident the appointing power, would
accomplish much a tow years ago
Hon. n. /. Southland introduced into
Congress . proposition to amend the
Constitution BY substituting plural
Executive for the single President
This is worthy the serious attention
of patriots and 5ta,esmen.- Washing
ton American Register. Feb, H.
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4 shooting affray occurred in the
OE5cc Of the National Republican, in