Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-17
THE COMING ISSUE.
An Eloquent Plea for Local Self
Government.
Judge TrumbulFs Speech at Chieago-Ihe
Policy Of ceatralization-The Danger
From honops,ies to the Citizen
and the Government.
SOUNDING THE ALARM SIGNAL.

CHICAGO, March 16.-The:speech of Hon.
Lyman Trumbull. delivered at the Iroquois
Club banquet at about o'clock this morn
ing, too late for telegraphing, was one OF
the notable speeches of the occasion. MIR.
Trumbulrs toast was Local Self Govern
ed" He started out with the proposition
that the world is governed too much, but
that the people have lost sight of that fact.
He continued, that the tend ency to Gen.
tralization in our country within the last
twenty years has been alarming. and this
tendency had its origin in the war OF the
rebellion, when 10 maintain itself it be-
came necessary for the Federal Government
to put forth allits powers and exercise some
questionable constitutionality. 1t is an old
saying that SIN the midst of arms laws are
silent" While am not willing to admit
even, in the midst of civil war, the Consti-
tuition is silent, applause it must be con-
fessed that where tiagrant war RACES, many
of its provisions for protecting individ-
ual liberty will be dormant; but when
peace returns, a liberty loving people will
see to to it that they are revived in all their
vigor. (Applause.) Has this been done in
our case, or have our people, IN their eager
ness after wealth and ease been so indltfer-
ent to the encroachment of the Federal
Government upon the reserved rights OF
the people and the States, that it has been
permitted to assume powers never con
templated by the trainers OF the Govern
ment, and which have already well nigh
broken down that division of powers which
are the great safeguards to liberty. One
has but to look at the proceedings
of Congress-. the President and
Federal Judiciary to see that together
they are claiming to exercise almost impe-
rial power. Vast amounts OF money are
collected and squandered upon local i'm.
provcmentS, in the erection of public
buildings and otherwise. Places OF holding
courts are increased and Judges and other
officials are multiplied The present Con-
grcss bids fair, from present indications, to
be the most eXtrayagant ever assembled.
Already bills are introduced tn appropriate
annually some sixty millions OF dollars for
educational purposes, a larger sum than
was expended by the Federal Government,
for all purposes, twenty-five years ago.
He then referred TO the enormous
amounts proposed for other schemes, and
went on: We see the executive using the
army to perform police duty in State.
This will soon lead it to increase, and it
cannot be long under such system before
the liberty of the American citizen, as in
most the countries of the Old
World will b. at the mercy
of hreling soldiery. We see federal courts
overriding State tribunals and dragging cit
izens of the same from their homes to liti-
gate questions between themselves into
federal courts, provided citizen of some
other State has the slightest interest in the
controversy.
These are a few assumptions of power by
the federal government on its march to inn
perialism applause But this is not all.
Laws are passed by Congress, confeSscdly
for the benefit Of one class of people, and
that not the numerous, at expense OF the
many. This is done under the pretenSc OF
protection 10 American industry.
After brief reference to the protective
tendencies OF the times, and the unlimited
encroachments OF monopolies, he conclud-
ed as follows: What is 10 be done, in view
of the alarming tendency to Capitalization
and encroachment upon individual liberty
to which have alluded" Shall We despair
power Of the federal government,
through its control OF the money power,
its collection and disbursement, annually,
Of three or four hundred million OF dollars,
and its vast patronage, is very great. and
in the hands of unscrupulOuS party,
which had the support OF over Onc.third
of the people would perhaps, be irreSiSti
bic except by revolution. But not one
third or one-tenth OF the people of this
country when aroused to assert their
right, will consent 10 surrender them to
the control of central deSpotism, con-
trOlled by money power. The people be-
licve in their capacity for self-gevernment,
in their ability of providing for the educa-
ton, and cultivation, of their domestic
peace and local affairs, without the super
vision OF great central power, which i'm
poses burdens for its own aggrandizement,
and by unjust and unequal laws, cOmpcls
the many to pay tribute to the few. We
have only To sound the alarm
cry. that local self government
is in danger and that vast moneyed
monOpolicS are exacting unjust tribute;
applause and cries of good; that corpora
tiOns created for purely private purposes
are destroying individual liberty, and, like
fire bell al night, it will awaken the peO
pie 10 their danger; will arouse them 70
vindiCation Of their rights, and to the re-
establishment of our political structure
upon the foundation where our fathers
placed it. securing to the citizen individual
liberty. to the State the management OF it,
domestic affairs and to the Nation the
powers necessary to preserve the Union
and protect us aS people from foreign az
gressIOn. Applause.