The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-04-11
An iSDissOteEtE tSi6s.

lists In our American polities---the iex-
treme Federalists aad tho extreme
Nationalists. The extreme Federalists
regard tho Union as q mere federation
of States, each of which may terminate
the connection whenever it deems neces-
sary. They regard Che consent of th
individual States as the bond OF union,
and deny to the National Government
any authority to perpetuate tho connec-
ton of any State with the Union
against its sovereign will. There are
many politicians who maintain this
political theory.
The extreme Nationa!ists virtually
regard the Union aa u consolidated
nation, which is tho source of all na-
tional and State authority, and whose
Government possesses all powers not
prohibited by tho National Constitution,
There are no American statesmen who
explicitly profess this doctrine, Sut there
are plenty of them whose public acts
betray tho existence in their minds of
such an impression. Every Republican
politician will repudiate it in words,
while the tendency of Republican legis-
lation is in that direction.
The Democratic party occupies tho
golden mean between these two ex-
tremes. 1t regards the nation Gs a
voluntary union OF sovereign and inde-
pendent States, which are the source of
all national authority. All the powers
of the National Government are speci-
fed in the Federal Constitution, assem-
ted to by every State, and all other
powers are retained by the individual
States, unless prohibited by the Con-
stitution. The preliminary question in
regard to all Congressional legislation
is, Is it constitutional No State can in
any circumstances withdraw from the
| Union, because tho Federal Constitu-
ton and laws are the supreme law Of
the land, and the judicial tribunals of
every State arc bound thereby, ,notwith-
standing anything in the laws or Con-
sti.ut;on OF any State to the contrary /;
because the National Government is
invested with power to suppress insur-
rection and rebellion, and because the
Constitution has established u tribunal
for the adjustment of all controversies
between the States and the hation. The
Democratic party regards extreme Fed
eralism and extreme Nationalism with
equal aversion. The nation is federal
indeed, but constitutionaliy it is per-
pstual. This is American Democracy
The logical inference from this state
Of facts is, that no man can be a Demo
crat and al extreme FelerA.isE or an
extreme Nationalist at the sano time.
Democracy Is the deadly enemy both OF
secessionism aud consolidatiOn!sn. This
was practically demonstrated by the
action of the Democratic party when
the attempt was made to put the doc
trine Of accession into practice. In
stantly it proclaimed the sentiment
that the Union must be preserved at
all hazards, and instantly 1t drew the
sword to vindicate the glorious senti-
ment. As the act Of secession was met
and oye7thrown by tho sword, 50 the
doctrine of secession mus. be met and
over!hrown blythe ballet. No man is
6t 20 take part in legislation foy tho
nation who does not underatanl the
Constitution Of the nation, and surely
no man is more fatally deficient IN this
respect than the man V no chcrishsz the
extreme federal idea. The Democratic
party, also, even in the crisis of war,
showed itself TO be the uncom promising
enemy Of consoIidationism. '#
But If che extreme Federalists have
no proper place IN the Democratic
party, where can they ind political
home At first sight, it appears as if
they had no place in the Republican
ranks. Nevertheless, such is the in
consistency of human nature, there is
common basis of political coalition.
"Politics makes strange bedfelIows.p
There is but a step between extreme
Federalism and extreme Nationalism.
These men are wont to say that the
war has changed the nasurs of tile
Government, and that The Union has
become consolidated nation. This is
not true, for the war vas constitutional
and has left the Union and the Govern
msnt just what they were before. it
commenced Federal Union and a,
Federal Government. But these men
say that the Government is revolution
lied, and VIC find many of them acting
upon that basis. We find them acting
generally as if the Government was one
of general powers. Practically, they
are Republicans, and they might as well
call themselves SO and have done with
it. .r- = : .
But authority is not the strongest