Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-10


decade. Into that centurys life is to be
gathered the mingled blood OF the two hum
urea millions of people represe ting all the
races. all the cOlOrs, all the zones, all the
counter currents of thought aud conflicting
oree's. interests, purposes and theories of
government.
1t Is neither patriotic nor prudent to ignore
Iese iuture dangers and trust TO TEMPORARY
ueVlces when the emer cncies are upon us. The
wise man seeth the evil aud provideth against
| IL. Presolence and prudence are potent fac
tors IN securing success IN the ordinary affairs
OF Ie; ne; Ihey are rudimental in that most
uincult OF human undertaklngs--the science
| uI Tree vPTnment.
IL is but natural. therefore, that thouqhtful
men should be profoundly concerned about
! the tuiu 4 this republic. Perhaps it is also
natural that some mi DIS should turn 10 the
strong arm Of Federal power for pro-
Gsngsr. teT,a%p sH against these contemplated
| nsrrowed to the slmple duty of enforcing
! the public peace. protecting private prop
erty ara preserving the national life, the
! readv solution would be found in a vigorous
cons Ildated, central administration. 1t
| would, perhaps, be task of easy accomplish
ment, should the people consent thereto. to
govern this country for one hundred or two
hundred years to come, rs England governs
| ireland or Rus ~ governs Poi tud.
CITIzRN FREEDOM.
| But that is not the problem before us. In
our effort 10 preserve peace, property and
national life. are also involved the integrity
| OIL SIales. tue lile OF the republic, and the
! existence of citizen freedom. The work be-
| fore as In the future is the most stupendous
| task ever imposed upon the states
manship Of any age. 1t is to save
| with 100000, 600 people; with its vast area;
with Its varied neede and conflicting de-
! mandS; with Its capital TO protect and its
! labor to encourage; with its socialistic prob
| lens t. solve, and vet to leave its citizens
| free: with is giVantic corporations and mann
nosh monop0lies measrriug arms with the
| people themselVes-1n word, II is to survive
| the cef ain perils OF the future and still to
| live after them at once a united ma ion and
| yet republic of state, sovereign in their
| spheres. independent equal and free.
! This repeat ia the great problem OF our
! future--to secure stability amidst new ana
| great perls and yet save liberty. Two no ads
are open; one toward cen ralzatIon. the other
| toward local adjustments. Which will you
| take? The one or the other will be chosen bv
| the people, and must he chosen quickly.
Let 1t be again admitted IN the argument
| that the plan of increased central power at
| Washington would give stable government.
| vigorous social institutions and public order.
| But let 1t also be remem ber'd that these are
less than half the blessings promised by the
| founders OF this republic. Stability 10 es-
! sential; but stability through progressive ac-
| cretions to Federal power, as eXlgenCies ari-e,
| must end at last IN absOluteism or CentTaiZa-
| ZION. Sta0l1iy thua secured IS the death
| of our duplex system. 1t is the destruc-
tiOn OF State independence. 1t is the doom
OF free government In America. There
/ " W.
our momentous future both stability and lib
| erty. That way is to depend, as perilt IN
| crease, more and more upon the states and to
trust m re to local adjustment. hatever
| may have been the wisest policy in the past,
1t is certain. | think, that IN the future our
| great st safety, progress, DermaucnCe and
| freedom lie IN the direction of enlarged local
| administration. The freest government is
/ that which Is mot controlled by homogeneous
| communities; and the strongest government
! tOr country like ours Is that which devOlves
| upon States the largest responsibilities AS
| population becomes dense; aS indu5trIes null
tipIy; as interests conflict; as creeus clash aud
| the dlscOrd OF jarring theories increases over
| this widely extended country the more and
| more difficult will become the problem of gov
| ernment through central admn ,LratlOn at
| Washlngton and the greater will be the ne
cessiJy lor lntru ting TO the States all ques-
tioDs with which they may constitutlOnally
deal,
SOURCE OF STRENGTH.
Such policy as have sought to indicate
would make stronger Instead of weaker the
general government in the confidence and
Affections OF the pc pie. 1t would aid the So
luton of problems " ulch the general govern
nent can never solve 10 the satisfaction of
comm unities with conflicting interests. 1t
would make secure forever the rights of tie
smaller and weaker otates. it would make
Rhode Island AS secure as Texas, Connecticut
as ONO, Florida as New York.
Nor do the increased duties which would
thus devolve upon the local governments
Transcend in any measure the magnitude,
dlgni and Importance Of those already in
trusted TO tn 3 ates. There is scarcely right |
of lersOn o. pr perty; scarcely a relation
ship to family, church or society that Is not |
now def led amt protected by state laws and |
state courts. There Is scarcely barrier |
against Cline or a law for the defense of |
home, of reputation, OF life or OF freedom that |
not erected or enacted by your State gov |
er ments. There Is scarcely one of that great |
body OF rights e1turted at Runney ymede or in |
the "petitiOn Of rights" by Parliament, or /
one for which Hampden died or Or, mWell |
CONQUERED that Is not now secured to the |
American pc pie by their local governments. |
To ala then in preparing the States for the |
still broader and more general duties of the /
future becomes commanding obligation |
upon all patriotic citizens. Yielding To the !
Federal goveTnmen the most loyal devotion;
earnestly supporting u in all It's consIi IL |
tIODAl Ylgor as the "sheet anchorn Of peace /
and safely, let GeOrgIans resolve that this |
state at least shall be prepared for whatever |
the future may have IN store for lt. Let the /,
broade,t and most practical education Of her 1
children be an object or universal concern. /
Let her rich mental capabilities, her varied /.
mineral aud manufacturing resources and ali !
yeoped. Let her agriculture, which !
Is the foundation Of her pros
perity and upon which depends her pro- |
gress, in every direction be an object Of pecu- /
liar and absorbing interest, ana he encour- |
aged and promoted by every legitimate sup !
port. Let her high credit be sustained at Its /
present honorable and enviabe Standard. /
Let the most capable OF her sons realize that |
in the service Of their state. in making her |
laws, shaping her policies and advancing er I
material interests, are great hohors ana fer |
tile tie rs for usefulness, Let The wise care of
her CHRISTIAN charities, tue reformation OF |
her prisons and the slill higher elevation OF
public morals enhance the Just priue ana !
augment the self-Tespect Of ner p Ople and /
add new gories TO the Already splendid his |
tory of our beloved state.