The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-04-19

The Tendency Of Republicanisu.
Nothing could moro clearly illustrate
the tendency of the doctrines taught oy
the Republican party than the position
assumed by Attorney General Brewster
In the Lottery case in New Orleans ne
went there as the law officer OF the
Government to represent the f"st-
MASTER General in question between
the Post-office Department and the new
Orleans National Bank. The question
was whether the Injunction which Lao
heen secured in the State Courts should
be dissolved, matter for the pnl!eo
States Judge to decide after nearing
the arguments Of counsel inere was
nothing in the case to provoke any OK.
element or to cause counsel 10 iorges
themselves. vet if we may believe sne
New Orleans papers the Attorney Cen
cral either forgot for the moment the
character of his surroundings, or de-
monstrated clearly the absolute con-
tempt which the leaders of the hepup.
lican party have for forms OF law ana
those who are appointed to administer
II. Instead of celebrating the case OF
the Government against the National
Bank. and contenting himself with pre-
senting the law and the facts upon
which the Postmaster-Ge General had
acted. for the consideration OF Judge
Pardee, we are told that he, the At
torney-General. attempted to bully ana
browbeat the Judge, declaring that ne
appeared as an ddviser of the Cour,,
and that the Government. OF which
Judge Pardee was part, demanded
that the authority of an executive offlcer
of the United States should be man
tanned against the frivolous attempts OF
local or State Courts to restrict or oP'
pose such authority. It seems that ne
further stated that no Judge would dars
to enforce this frivolous injunction. ano
that the Judge before whom he appeared
dared not enforce SO frivolous an inter
ference with the lawful functions OF an
executive officer of the United States.
The people of the United States have
seen much and heard much OF the de-
, fiance of law and public opinion since
, the advent of the Republican party bu'
, nothing has yet appeared which car
equal this for arrogance and presump
, ton. Here is an officer OF the executive
/ branch of the Government deliberatel.
! telling q Judge in his own court that n
+ dare not oppuse the authority OF al
! executive officer; that he Is bound U
q obey and be governed by the acts
those in power in Washington, and tina
4 he is powerless to Judge for himsel
n questions of law coming before him, upo
4 which action had previously been take
= bv an executive officer of the Govern
' ment! No more monstrous position wa
. ever assumed BY any previous law Office
n of the Government, and it almost stag
n gers ones belief to give this report du
b credence. 1t does not seem possiol
& that any man. however great his pos
is ton in the Republican party, coul
/ stand up in this free country and dlcta'
" to Federal Judge what he might an
" might not do. Such conduct migl
st pass in q country whore the power
10 the Government was supreme, and Il
Ia people were voiceless. but in this coul
W try, where the people are sovereign an
is their will is law, it is hard to compr
h. bend how such thing could he possibl
AZ But disregard Of law and legal .
IN thority is no new thing in the history
the Republican party. Its whole c
n reer is fnll of defiance of law and o
Of solute contempt for public opinio
he The .'insolence of office" has had II
NJ quent illustration in the reign OF II
.c- party. and it needed not this latest
nd iustration to show the people how 81
en- constitut ional power is when lodged
,le such hands. For Mr.. Brewster to
me- sumo that Circuit Judge could n
&C. and that the Supreme Court dare q
he dissent from his opinion, and to assul
lse further that no Judge had the right
ills review tho acts or question the dict.
lse of Cabinet officer, is an assumpti
ar. of party power which can not fail
rex awaken profound solicitude in eve
lev patriotic breast. Step by step the nj
b. of the citizen to have his liberty a
in property protected under constitution
in guarantees has been abridged and
re- MED, and now in case involving
- y;rht If n chartered banking concern