The Democratic advocate., 1888-01-21
Aoltital.
The Continuance Of Democratic Rule.

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John G. Carlisle in The Forum.
In undertaking to state some of the
reasons why the Democratic party should
be continued in power, it is necessary, in
the first instance, to call attention to the
difference of opinion between the two ex-
isting parties concerning the nature and
extent of the federal power under the Con-
stitution, because it is manifest that their
administration of public affairs must be
greatly influenced by their respective views
upon this fundamental question. This diff
ference of opinion has existed continuously
since the organization of the government,
and has always constituted, as it still does,
the most clearly defined line of separation
between political parties in this country.
1t would have been reasonable to suppose
that after nearly hundred years of prac-
tical administration of the government
under the Consultation, after repeated de-
cisions of the question by the highest judi
cial tribunals, and after the thorough and
able discussions that have taken place at
every stage of the controversy, the relations
between the several states and their people
and the Government of the United States
would be well understood, and their sepa-
rate rights and powers fully recognized by
all parties Such, however, is not the case.
In theory and practice the Republican party
of to-day is more extravagant in its assertion
of what it calls national authority than
its Federalist progenitor was century ago.
During the short period between the close
of the war and the year 1875, while it con-
trolled the legislation in Congress. it passed
greater number of unconstitutional enact
ments than can be found in all theremain-
der of our legislative history. But it was
not in Congress alone that this dangerous
tendency toward the concentration and ar
bitrary exercise of power was exhibited.
The executive department, in all its branches,
was equally Indifferent to the limitations
imposed upon it by the Constitution and
laws, and the President was rapidly be-
coming what Patrick Henry predicted he
would be, "an American king" So arro-
CANT and intolerant was this spirit of en-
croachment upon the reserved rights of the
states and people, that the conservative
elements in the country spontaneously COM
bined to resist it, and the consequence was
that since the fourth day of March, 1875,
but one Republican House of Representa-
tives has met at Washington, and in 1876
a large majority of the popular vote was
cast for the Democratic candidates for Pres
ident and Vice-President. 1t is, perhaps,
not going too far to say that if the Repub-
lican party had not been deprived of power
in the popular branch of the legislative
department, and if the warning of 1876
had not been given by the people, our fed
erative system of government would have
been by this time substantially overthrown,
and the right of local self-government,
which lies at the very foundation of our
free institutions, would have been confined
to the narrowest possible limits.
1t is an indisputable historical fact that
the Constitution of the United States was
adopted and the Union formed under it by
the people of the several states, each polit-
ical community acting separately and indie
pendently of all others, through its own
state organization. 1t is equally undeniable
that the government thus created by the
people of the several states was one Of de-
fined and limited powers, and that all powers
not delegated to it, nor prohibited to the
states, were, in the language Of the Consti-
sutton itself, reserved to the states, re-
spectively, or to the people" This brief
statement comprehends the whole Demo
cratic theory of constitutional government
in this country, and it must be evident to
every one who seriously reflects upon the
subject that it is the only theory upon
which the orderly and harmonious exercise
of state and federal authority over the same
territory and people can be permanently
maintained. Conflicts of authority neces-
sarily produce dissension and strife, and it
is therefore essential to the repose of the
country that the division of power between
the state and federal governments shall be
scrupulously observed by the party in con-
troll of the administration. The importance
of such a policy was never greater or more
apparent than now After long period
of uncertainty and unrest the whole country
has finally adjusted itself to the condi-
tions imposed by the war, and all that ap-
pears to be needed to insure an era of great
industrial and commercial prosperity is
continued assurance that political and sec
tional controversies will not be permitted to
disturb the pursuits of the people. The
present Democratic administration, instead
of depressing business and arresting the de-
velopment of our resources, as was predicted,
has inspired feeling of confidence and
security that did not exist before for more
than quarter Of century, and in every
part of the Union, but more especially in
the South, capital has been invested, com
mercial relations have been established, and
large enterprises have been projected upon
the faith that no further harsh or extraor-
binary political measures would be adopted
or attempted.
Unless all the present indications are de-
ceptive, the return of the Republican party
to power would be Immediately followed by
the introduction of propositions still further
to extend the supervision of the federal
authorities over the local and domestic af-
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