The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-11-20
Gov. Gordon on state Rights.

Gov. Gordon ON State Rights.
Gen. Gordon,s inaugural address, "
which was an appeal for States' rights
lgitation, is looked upon as platform - -
or future campaigns. He said In part :: r
stFor defense against the outside h
world. our nation is simply omnipo> &
lent. There is no room for apprehen, n
sion that the General Government Will o
ever lose its constitutional vigor or 4
power Of self The danger s.
Is that the States may lose theirs by r
gradual accretions to federal power and /
absorption of State C
Functions. The momentous events c
of our recent history have served I
to dwarf, In the estimation OF the Is
people. the importance Of the States. +,
Il Is the transparent purpose OF Gers
tain leaders Of public opinion to f
curtail the legitimate congressional ,
representation Of some of the States
upou the unjust and untruthful as ,
sumption that large bodies OF citizens
are debarred the right and freedom OF
the elective franchise. But an indefi
nIteJy greater danger to our future is
vet TO be mentioned. The greatest OF
ali dangers turks In the silent but cer-
tain growth Of sentiment for stronger
central government. 1t Is sentiment
which not only acquiesces in the di-
miuutiOn of State powers, but demands
4 stronger and yet stronger government
ct Washington In proportion to our
material advancement.
mThere are those who hear me whose
children will see this great country
with perhaps half hundred States
and two hundred millions Of people.
Upon its vast domain, densely popu-
lated, will epring multiplied industries,
with diverse claims and conflicting
interests. The Pacific States, the At-
lantic States, the Cult States, the Mid
Idle States, the Eastern States, and the
great West will demand through their
respective representatives, and with
Increased earnestness, legislation at
Washington friendly TO their respect
j live interests and consonant with their
4 varied theories. Great social, economic
and class problems will press for solu-
ton with resistless urgency. The great
problem of our future is to secure sta
hility amid new and great periIs, and
Z vet save liberty. Two roads are open,
one toward GENERALIZATION, the other
toward local adjustments. The one or
the other will be chosen by the people,
and must be chosen quickly.
\ ssLet it be admitted that the plan OF
increased central power at Washington
. would give stable government, vigor-
Gus social institutions and public order.
, Rut let 1t also be remembered that
+ these are less than halt the blessings
' promised by the founders of this re.
II public. Stability ia essential, but sta
bilIty through progressive accretIons u
= federal power must end at last in abso
lutism or Capitalization. Stability thu
II secured Is the death of our duplex sys
e tenn, It is the destruction of State in
a dependence. It is the doom Of fret
government in America. There Is on
way, and one way only, 10 secure II
70 our mOmentous future both stabiltt.
:. and liberty, That way is to depend
:. as perils increase, more and more upoi
- the States and to trust more to loca
!, adjustment. Our greatest safety, pro
- press, permanence and freedom lie il
= the direction of enlarged local admin
- istration. The freest government
!, that which Is most controlled by homo
I. peuecus communities and the strong
~ est government for country like oui
- is that which developes upon State
~ the largest responsibilities. AS pop,
- lation becomes dense, as industrie
multiply, as Interests conflict, as Greco
10 clash and the discord of jarring theoris
or increases over this widely extende
he country, the more and more difficu
rv will become the problem of govern
=. ment through central administratio
Nv at Washington, and the greater will
40 the necessity for intrusting to II
or States all questions with which tho
as may constitutionally deal.
"a. "Such policy as have sought
~, indicate would make stronger inste;
liz of weaker the General Government
of the confidence and affections of Il
lot people. 1t would aid the solution
r,v problems which the General Cover
ment can never solve to the satisfacti'
"a of communities with conflicting int
ore ests, 1t would make secure forev
'ay the rights of the smaller and weak
hat States. 1t would make Rhode Islal
no as secure as Texas, Connecticut
Nv Ohio, Florida as New York"
the senator Jones in Detroit.