Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-14

years the latter force has been over-exer-
cised and the former weakened by disuse.
Capitalization of power and action is
the obvious result of the invention of steam
, and telegraphy, and the safety of our pop
ular institutions demands decentralization.
Distribution of power and its exercise for
local self-government, is a right of, and
necessary for the the American citizen,
and it is the intent and meaning of our
written constitution of union that the
strength of a state rests upon the number
of upright, independent, selfsreliant, self
respecting individuals it contains, and
under our democratic theories of govern
ment, all invasions of individual freedom
of conscience and action, not essential for
the preservation of local order, and protec-
ti0n of individual and public rights, are
unwise and unjust.
All tendencies of legislation, which,
ignoring individual responsibility, sub
stitutes governmental control in matters
social and personal, tends TO weaken the
powers of the individual, and, enfeebling
them by disease, to lessen their agency in
good government. In this mischieyous
substitution of governmental power in
matters social and personal, lies the objec-
ton to sumptuary laws. Interference with
conscience in social and religious affairs
is an Invasion of private opinion and per
sonal liberty, which seek to impose penal
ties for anticipated acts and offenses yet
uncommitted.
This spirit of unwise and unjust inter
ference by the government Is an objection
to laws, which under the name of taxation
favor certain classes of occupation at the
expense of others, and abridge that free
dom and commercial intercourse which an
enlightened and enlarged sense of self
interest should control. 1t is, in fact
principle of socialism, Of communism, of
paterRal oversight by government, substi-
tuted for individual endea7or, guided by
intelligent self-interesE, and restrained
by individual conscience.
HON. JAMES o. BRoADHEAD,
of Missouri, replied to the sentiment,
Thomas Jefferson" in an eloquent eulogy.
Col. W. T. Villas, of Wisconsin, dwelt at
soae length, in glowing terms, upon ''the
Democracy of the Past, Present and Flu
ture." Hon. Lyman Trumbull, of Illinois,
replied to the toast, Tine Constitution"
Judge Trumbull favored checking centrali-
zation OF power, and going back to the
principles of the fathers. He claimed that
the Republicans had ever ridden the feder-
al constitution by protection of GER
tain favored classes.
EP. WHEELER,
of New York, president of the free trade
league, responded to the toast,"A Tariff for
Revenue Only" The speaker took strong
grounds in favor of free trade as result
to be achieved gradually, in order to avoid
q financial shock. The first step in this
direction shenld be the election of pro-
nounced free trader as the speaker of the
next house of representatives. This would
lead up to putting it in the platform of
1884. He asserted no protection Democrat
ic candidate for the presidency could carry
New York. AS the president of the free
trade league, he had evidence of the growth
of the free trade sentiment, especially in
the great Northwest. IN the next presi-
Dental campaign there must be no truck
ling to protection interests, such as was
experienced in 1880, when Barnum was the
chairman of the national committee.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Temperance, Virtue, Prohibition,
Vice." was replied to by J. G. Jenkins, of
Wisconsin, extempore, in place of Henry
Watterson, of kentucky.
''The Democratic Press" was replied to
by William Henry Hurlbert, of the New
York World.
"The Great Northwest was replied to
by Gen. j. G. Black, of Illinois, in place of
Hon. John NJ. Palmer.
"Monopolies Shall not Rule" received an
appropriate response from Hon. William
NJ. Springer, of Illinois.
"Public Office Public Trust" was replied
to by Mayor Carter II. Harrison, of Chi
cago. He contrasted the position of rulers
in monarchies and republics, and gave the
newspapers a severe rap over the knuckles,
for welding their great power for selfish
rather then for public ends. This COM
pleted the programme. which lasted until
late hour.
During the day the rooms of the club
were filed with visitors and the presiden-
tial chances were canvassed at length. The
general drift of opinion seemed to favor
S. j. Tilden for president in 1884.