Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-03

plainly stated, but not before.
ONE HUNDRED AND NINE YEARS.
To-day the United States complete
one hundred and nine years of their ex-
istence as an independent government
and nation among the nations. In the
struggle with Great Britain for independ-
ence and the right of self-government
they were successful after seven long years
of war, bloodshed and unprecedented
hardships Whatever were the individual
grievances of the Colonies they become
the grievances of all. Whatever were
the interests and grievances of the Col
onies among themselves, they were for
gotten in the time of strife with the
mother country. Near a century later
the interests and jealousies of the
Colonies had become the interests
and jealousies of great and many
States, and war far more gigantic
in its size and in its results had
to be fought to put at rest those
interests and jealousies. Now that
strife is long since over and the
victors and the vanquished are fast for
getting their enmities and they are be-
ginning to look upon their country as
their common country in all sections.
Twenty years of peace and prosperity
have taught all people and all parties
that perhaps neither party was so wrong
as the North and the South thought three
decades ago. The struggle of quarter
of century since had to come, and
it is well it came when and ended as it
did. From barbarous war the Union
was saved and the people have learned
many valuable lessons. They have
learned that many things may be won by
peace and moderation. But the dangers
of war are not the only dangers to which
our country is exposed. 1t is in times of
peace when countries have grown great
in population and in wealth, and the dis
contents and questions which then begin
to appear that the dangers to liberty and
society begin to grow. The dangers
which beset the American Government
now are much the same as the
dangers which beset all governments
without regard to the form; they
are the dangers which grow out of
the near neighborhood of wealth and pov-
erty, of labor and capital. In the United
States all men are politically equal, and
the dreams of the French theorists, such
as Rousseau, Diderot, D'Holbach and the
men of the Revolution, have been realized
in this respect, but that which threatens
the peace of society in America to-day is
the desire for social equality. The ma
jority of men care less for political con-
sideration than for social consideration,
and political consideration is chiefly
sought for the social consideration that
follows. The dangers which come in times |
of peace are greater than those which |
come in times of war; the dangers of war
are usually from without and bold, while |
those of peace are from within, insiduous
and insinuating. The problem of gov
is but the problem of mans re-
to man, and the merit of
the republican form over all other
forms is its recognition of the right of
each man to participate in the regulation
Of the common affairs of each, those af-
iairs that must be regulated so long as
man associates with man in society.
The American Government is wise
md beautiful adjustment of those
affairs, leaving the domestic and
ocal affairs to them in their
capacity as States, and the States leaving
o the citizens of the various municipal
the control of their local
lffairs. 1t is Constitutional recognition
If the natural right of the citizens of
ocality to control those affairs which con-
'ern that locality only. The giving to the
General Government the control of for
ign affairs and those matters which con-
ern the States as States was wise and
plan. From the days of
lulliication to those of secession our
anger lay in disintegration. Since the
lose of the war which followed
he passage of ordinances of secession :
" the Southern States, our danger :
as lain in Capitalization, and the usurpa-
ion by the General Government of the
overs and rights OF the States. The
ldicial construction of the Constitution
y the Supreme Court has ever been
lost conservative, and conservatism in
always tends to aggression.
o preserve our independence for another n
undred and nine years there must be
lst appreciation and observation of the T
alance of power between the General
nd the State Government. The Consti-
ltion must be observed in spirit and in :,
tier, and in times of trial and
eril the more nearly it is followed,
le safe, will be the course steered The