The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-01-24
HoRATIo SEYMOUR.
The Sage of Deerfeld Faithfully Depicts
the Evils of Capitalization.
IHoratiO seymours Paper In North, American Review
f0rE Eab


have excited much comment. At first
view they seemed to be due to the dissen-
tions In the Republican ranks, but on
closer study their explanation Is found
to be deeper; it is a "grOund-swelI," Of
which all surface disturbances are eff
fects, not causes. To get an understan-
ding Of this subject 1t Is necessary that
we dismiss from our miads all partisan .
prejudices, for 1t concerns the organic
principles OF our government, and de-
mands a thoughtful consideration.
The American people are divided into
two parties; these grow out OF the form
or our government; each Is needed for
Its preservation. ALI agree there is a
division line between the powers of the
General and the State Governments. To
enlarge unduly the power of the states
endangers our Union. To extend undu-
ly the Jurisdiction of Congress leads to
corruption.
For long time the Democratic party
had the direction Of affairs. The divis-
ion Of our country into free and slave
states, led the latter out Of fear of Fed
eral interference, to carry out the doc
trine Of state rights too far. Civil war
was the result. After the contest was
over there was reaction against the
doctrine OF state rights. The feeling
grew up that stability Of the General
IL larger powers. Jurisdiction was mis-
taken for strength. This sentiment
was carried too far, for, while state
rights have been unduly magniaed, they
still exist, and are as sacred as the
rights of the General Government.
The oldest political organisms are
those needed by local communities, and
which are designed for the preservation
OF the rights of the respective localities.
To
names, but they are substantially what
we now call towns. Notwithstanding
the diVersities Of language and lineage
in our country, the people gave like
powers and forms to their local govern
ments. Our Union and Constitution
grew out of these facts. Their exist
ence depends upon preserving the bOun-
daries between the different government
tai functions thus established. At the
close of the civil war the public feeling
was so excited that prejudice grew up
against the term rights of states"
At the last Presidential election the
Republican party selected as candidate,
one who went very far In favor of "cen-
tralizatiOn." He expressed his Joy that
power gravitated more and more to-
wards the national capital.
A member Of the Cabinet in 1880,
speaking Of our Government in an ad-
dress which was circulated by the Re-
publican organization, said:
Il must not be forgotten that this Government Is no
longer simple mRchneryit in the early days Of
me Republic. The bucOc age Of America Is over.
people, spread an immense surface, with occups
nons Of endless variety and great magnitude DLed1c
appealing TO the Government, rfghtruy or wrOngfully
lhis age far different from those which Sun1ced
nSntuTy ago.
To show how far recent administra-
tiOns have been drifted from the posi-
tiOns held by the patriots who formed
the constitution, it will only be neces-
gary 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 1t
aptlY describes the condition into which
we have been drawn by the influence Of
destructive currents:
The spirit OF encrOschment tends consolidate the
whatever the form OF government real deeDOtism.
tust estimate OF that love OF power and proneness 70
sucient to satisfy OF truth Of this position The
Ssp % SSr % b. and Sss fG 5o Od rsn
depOtores and cOns uting each the guardian OF the
public veal againft Invasion by the others has been
eTinced by experiments, ancient and modern, some OF
them in our own country and under our own eyes To
them must be necessary 70 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 patriots Of
the Revolution.
'Ihave no intention to impeach the
patriotism OF those who hold opinions
which grew out OF the excitements Of
civil war. But in their eagerness to ex.
tend the jurisdiction Of the General Gov
ernment, they went too far and exposed
the country to unforeseen dangers. A re-
view of the events of few years past,
as set forth by Republican journals,
will make this clear.
The capital of this country is on, one
side OF this continent, at great dis
tanee from most parts of the Union.
without commerce or manufactures, and
ordinarily no one has occasion to visit
IL except for business with officials.
Lavish expenditures are as necessary
for its citizens as good hRrVests are for
the farmers. Every appropriation in
favor of points however remote Is In
aOme degree benefit to its citizens; 1t
maket a clerkship or some employment
for a resident. Hence Washington has
rapidly grown from q small place to a
city of 10000 inhabitants. 1t cannot be
denied that the views OF its people re-
garding expenditures are affected by
their interests, and that they make the
local atmosphere which members of the
government breathe when they reach
ths Capital. 1t is not necessary to re-
peat the history of the cOrruptiOns
which have brought dishOnOr upon the
American people, and which have pc-
sasiOned demands for reform from all
parts of the Union. Those who have
lived under these baleful influences,
when they return to their homes, find
they have been misled by the local idea
At the capital.
The increase in the revenues of the
government has given to Congressman
vast sums of money to vote away for
various purposes. Much Is used for the
payment of the public debt, much is
voted away for the benefit of those who
have schemes which they wish to have
executed at the publie,eos This draws
from all parts Of the Union shrewd and
unscRupulous men, who seek share Of
the lands or money given away.
Within few years our Government
has assumed new aspect. 1t Is now
made I'D Of President, who holds for
four years, and whose energies are alb
BOrbed by the distribution of places; of
Senators, whose terms are six years and
who are engrossed by leRislstions touch