The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-01-01
NOT A SOURCE OF
STRENGTH.
From tho Hon, John Z, Horman's Address before y
Constitution Club.

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From tho Hon, John T, monman's Address before tho
Consultation Club,
wish to say q few words to those who
are longing for what they call a strong
Government. We must beware how we
draw the life blood from the extremities
TO the heart, Congestion Ia not strength;
II 10 death.
France has for centuries been a Gov
eminent Of complete GENERALIZATION. II
was such under its kings; such under
both the emper0rs; 10 such to-day under
what Ia called the republic. The prov,
inces and municipalities are all ruled
from the capital, not by their own peO,
ple. We have Americans who travel
abroad, look only at the smooth polished
surface OF French affairs, and contrast
this with the state OF things here, I'M
favOrably to ourselves. Give to such
men clean streets and a good cab ser
vice, and they will give In exchange
free speech, Il free press, and q free
country. These are the men who ad'
mired the strong Government OF the
second Napoleon. The strength OF hia
Government was suddenly put TO the
test when the German army crossed the
French boundary. The s0-called strong
Government had been resting 80 long
upon q people unaccuatomed to self
reliance, that almost at the lrst touch
Of the hand Of the enemy the whole
structure fell, the flames from the public
buildings Of Paris, ared by its own citl'
zens, lighting up the ruins.
We, on the contrary, when our great
war broke out. had n Central Govern
ment very limited In apparent power,
limited 10 the care Of a few thing, IL
had never meddled with the local af'
fairs OF the people, II proved to DO the
strongest Government In the world, "
was backed and braced by a self reliant
people, trained 10 take care OF them
selves. IL was strong because II bad not
by absorbing all power TO Itself weak
ened the people. They had been left TO
rvern themselves In their own neigh
borhoOds. When, early In the war, the
central government was cut or from
communication with the country, there
was no despair; no cessation OF prepa
ratiOns 10 meet the emergencies OF the
times. These were made just az rapid
ly as II under Government orders; com.
mittees OF citizens raised millions Of
money, and sent forward men and mu
nitiOns Of war. The State aud county
and city and town authorities did not
ose their vigor because for a time they
could not hear from Washington. When
communication with the capital was re-
snmPd, the Government found that the
people upder lead OF their local author.
tiles, without orders from the central
Government. had done just what II
would have asked to be done. so all
through the war, the work OF filling
up the armies, and OF providing
means for much Of the expenses,
was done by town meetings and the
local authorities, II these local au.
thOrlties had been accustomed to receive
instructions from the central Govern
ment, had been its chosen agents Instead
OF the chosen AGENTS OF their neighbOrs,
they would have been much lesa potent
TO do what they did, nay, would have
been incapable OF doing II, The lesson
If the war Ia that the carrying out Of
the Jeffersonian theory makes the strong
est Government.