The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-03-10
The Political Situation.

view they seemed to be due to the dis
sensions in the Republican ranks. but
ON closer study their explanation is
found to lie deeper; it is a .sground-
swell.' Of which Sill surface disturb
Anoee are elects not causes. To get an
understanding It this sub, ect it is nee
| essary that we dismiss from our minds
all partisan prejudices, for it concerns
the organic principles Of our Govern
ment. and demands a thoughtful con-
s;deration.
The American people are divided into
two parties; these grow out of the form
| of our Government; each is needed for
its preservation. All agree that there
| is o division line between the powers OF
the General and the Sta'e Governments.
To enlarge unduly the power OF the
States endangers our Union. 70 extend
unduly the jurisdiction OF Congress
leads to corruption.
For q long time the Democratic party
had the direction OF affairs. The digis-
ion Of our country in o free and slave
States led the latter, out of fear of Fed
eral interference, to carry the doctrine
of State rights too far Civil war was
the result After the contest was over
there was reaction against the doc
trine of State rights. A feeling grew
up that the stability of the General Gov
eminent might be insured by giving to
it larger powers. Jurisdiction was
mistaken for strength. This sentiment
was carried too far. for, while State
rights have been unduly magnifed.
they still exist, and are as sacred as the
rights of the General Government.
Cur Oldest political organisms are
those needed BY local communities. and
which are designed for the preservation
OF the rights of the respective localities.
These organizations have different
names, but they are substantially what
we now call towns. Notwithstanding
the diyersities OF language and lineage
in our country. the people gave like
powers and forms to their local govern
inents. Our Union and Constitution
grew out of these fac.s. Their exist
ence depends upon preserving the
boundaries between the different gov
ornamental functions thus established.
At the cl Sc of the civil war the public
feeling was SO excited that prejudice
States"
At the last Presidential e'ection the
Republican party Sc ectcd as its candi-
date one who went very far in favor of
''centra ization." He expressed his 10y
that power gravitated more and more
towards the National capita.
A member of tho Cabinet in 1880,
speaking of our Government in an adj
dress which was circulated by the Re-
publican organizati n. said:
:" 1t must not be forgotten that this
Government is no longer the simple ma
chinery it was in the early days of the
Republic. The bucolic age of America
is over. They are the inter-
ests OF near,y $4,000, 600 of peop Q,
spread over an immense surface, with
occupations of endless variety and great
magnitude. producing interests SO push
ing, powerful, and so Instant Y appea'-
ing to the Government, rightfully or
wrong:ully, that the requirements Of
craftsmanship demanded n this age are
far different from those which suficed
century ago."
To show how far recent Administra-
tons have drifted from the positions
held by the patriots who formed the
Constitution, it will only be necessary
to refer to the warnings uttered by
Washington in his farewell address. It
is remarkable not only for its wisdom
and foresight, but firm the fact that it
aptly describes the condition into which
we hay Q been drawn by the influence of
destructive currents:
The spirit of encroachment tends TO
consolidate the powers OF all the de-
partments in one, and thus to create,
whatever the form of government, .
real despotism. A just estimate of that
love of power and proneness TO abuse it
which predominates in the human
heart Is sufficient to satisfy us Of the
truth of this position. The necessity
OF reciprocal checks in the exercise Of
political power BY dividing and distr,b-
uting it into different repositories and 4
constituting each the guard an of the
public veal against invasion by the
others has been evinced by experiments.
ancient and modern, some of them in
our own country and under our own
eyes. To preserve them INST be as
necessary as to institute them"
The words uttered by Washington
and by General Garfield respectively
show the difference between the policy
now most favored by the Republican
party and that advocated by the patr OTIS
of the evol ton.
/ have no intention of impeaching the
patriotism of those who hold opin ons
which grew out of the exc.tements Of
civil wa. But, in their eagerness to
extend the jurisdiction Of the General
Government, they went fO6 far, and
expo g the country to unforeseen dan
0ers review of the events of n fou
years past, as set forth by Republican
journals. will make this clear.
The capital Of our country is on one
side of this continent. at q great dis
lance from most parts of the Union. |
without commerce or manufactures, and |
ordinarily no enc has occasion to visit it
except for business with officials. Law
ish expenditures are as necessary for its |
citizens as good harvesfs are for the |
farmers Every appropriation in favor