Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-02-15
The Political Situation.

The results of this years elections
have excited much comment. AT first
view they seemed to be due to the dis
sensions in the Republican ranks, but
on closer study qtheirsfexplanation is
found to lie deeper; it is ''groun,c-
SWELL" of which all surface disturb
ances are Effects not causes. 10 get an
understanding of this sub iect it is nee
essary that we dismiss from our minds
all partisan prejudices. for it concerns
the organic principles of our Govern
mant, and demands thoughtful CON
boisThe American people are divided into
two parties; these grow out of the form
OF our Government; each is needed for
it's preservation. & AL agree that there
is 10 divisionline between the powers of
the General and the State Governments.
DO enlarge unduly the power OF the
States endangers our Union To extend
unduly the jurisdiction OF Congress
leads to corruption. Isl "df aif.-ft17"
"a For long time the Democratic party
had the direction OF affairs. The divis-
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 conte st was over
there was a reaction against the doc
trlne of State rights. A feeling grew
up that the stability OF the General COW
eminent might be Ensured by giving to
it larger powers. Jurisdiction was
mistaken for strength: This sentiment
was carried too far, for. while State
rights have been unduy magnitied.
they still exist. and are as sacred as the
rights of the General Government.
2 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 cal towns. Notwithstanding
the diversities OF language and lineage
in our country. the people gave Ike
powers and forms to their local govern
ments. Our Union and Constitution
ence depends upon preserving the
ornamental functions thus established.
At the close of the civil war the public
feeling was so excited that a prejudice
grew up against the term .'rights of
States. 's.~..r..s .s... Fat aa ..g.s-t#.
At the last Presidential election the
Republican party Sc ected as its candi-
date one who went very far in favor of
"centra ization. ~ He expressed his Joy
that power graYitated more and more
towards the National capital.
A member OF the Cabinet in 1880,
speaking OF our Government in an adj
dress which was circulated by the Re-
publican 0rgarffzati n, said:
Is at 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. 900 of peop 9,
spread over an immense surface, with
occupations of endless variety and great
magnitude, producing interests so push
ing, powerful. aud SO c instant Y appeal
ing to the Government, rightfuly or
wrong ully, that the requirements o.
craftsmanship, demanded n this age are
far different from those which sufficed
century ago t'' -
To show how far recent Administra-
tons have drifted from the positi: rs
hell bv the patriots who formed the
Constitution, it will only be necessary
to refer to the warnings uttered by
Washington in his farewell address,. 1t
is remarkable not only for its wisdom
and foresight, but from the fact that it
aptly describes the condition into which
we have been drawn by the influence OF
destructive currents: 81 @". r#.
The spirit of encroachment tends to
the powers OF all the de-
partments in one, and thus to create,
whatever the form OF govern ent, a
real despotisrl. 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 distrib-
uting it into different de oostor,es and
constituting each the guard an of the
public veal against invasion by the +
others has been erinced by experiments,
ancient and modern, some of them in
our own country and under our own
eyes. To preserve them m st 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 eyol ton. ..,s,s.s.s. ...,.;l. 45
| have no intention of impeaching the
patriot SIN OF those who hold Opin ons
which grew out of the exctements of
civil wa But. in their eagerness to |,
extend the jurisdiction of the General
they went too far and
expo e the country to unforeseen dan
gers Areview of the events of few
years past. as set forth by Republican
journals. viii make this clear.
The capital of our country is on one
side o. this continent, at a great dis
tance rom most parts of the Union.
without commerce Or manufactures. and
ordinarily no one has occasion to visit it
except for business with officials. Law
sh expenditures are as necessary for its
citizens as good haryes s are for the
armers. Every appropriation in favor
1f points however remote is in some &C.
gree benefit to its citizens; it makes
elerkship or some employment for
Hence Washington has rap
dly grown from small place to a city
If $50. 0C0 inhab tants 1t can not be
denied that The views of its people re-
II @oI