Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-09
Republicans Changing eur Government.

hepuDllcanS managing our U0YernAeAt'
Under the rule of Republicans, who have
no respect for the rights of the States, our
Government is being changed from a free
republic to centralized oligarchy in which
the rights of the States and of the people
will be ruthlessly violated and trampled up
on.
In the time of the revolution, Patrick
Henry exclaimed that, Sin every gale which
sweeps from the North we hear the clash
of resounding arms" and it is true now that
in every gale that sweeps from the North
we hear the sound of rafting chains forged
to bind the freemen of the South. The
warning should be sounded, and the people
of the North as well as of the South should
be fully aroused to the danger threatened.
As the N. Y. Herald we'll says, ''the
reckless determination of the republicans to
force through the Federal Election law is a
matter that may well arrest the serious at
tention of the country.
1t is the boldest and most alarming step
yet taken toward Capitalization by party
that has always sought to build up central
power in the government at the expense OF
State sovereignty.
That has been its ain, Tits tendency, since
it's formation. The record of its postwar
and reconstruction legislation is striking
history of invasion of State rights and abuse
of federal authority. Act after act passed
by republican Congresses have been declar-
ed unconstitutional and set aside even by a
republican Supreme Court, because they
were usurpations of powers reserved to the
States by the constitution of the nation.
These judicial rebukes, while they have
defeated some of the most mischievous de-
signs of the party, have not dismayed its
leaders. The first message of President
Harrison was marked by nothing more
striking or significant than its numerous rec
concentrations of centralisation measures.
The most obnoxious of these was the Fed
eral Election bill, which the republicans in
the House have at last succeeded in pass.
ing.
We do not say that this is a violation OF
the letter Of the constitution, but it is fla
grant violation of it's spirit and purpose.
1.-THE times, places and manner of holding
elections for Senators and Representatives, +"
says that instrument, "shall be prescribed
in each State by the Legislature thereof"
The obvious purpose of this provision was
to give to the States control of elections by
their own people within their own borders.
For century this right has been exercised
by the States.
But now comes the republican party with
the edict that this constitutional sovereignty
of the State must be overriden, and that the
right SO long exercised by the people Of a
State must be seized by the federal govern
ment in the hands of the republicans.
This Capitalization policy has only to be
pursued-and the republican party will not
hesitate to pursue ito change the very
form of our government, to make provinces
of the States and establish imperialism at
Washington. Under such republican sway
the south of the future would be more vas
salized than the South of the notorious re-
construction era.
What makes the outlook all the more
alarming is the fact that the United States
Supreme Court the interpreter of the con-
stitution, has recently taken significant
strides in the same direction. liz the Neagle
casa for ex2mnla IT. exterdad the Grimm al
jurisdiction of the nation over large area
hitherto supposed to be within State do
main. In the Mormon case it conceded to
Congress power to confscate public or pri-
vate property in the Territories. In the
Minnesota railroad case it crippled the pow.
er of the States to regulate traffic charges.
But more sweeping than all these curtail-
ments of State sovereignty was the original
package decision, which virtually gives to
Congress sway over local government that
would have ans zed the founders of the ma
ton.
With this vastly enlarged centralized
power conceded by the Supreme Court of
the United States it is time for the people
to look we'll to party which does not scru-
pie to use that power even to the extent of
abuse. The passage of the Federal Elec.
ton bill is more than an outrage. 1t is a
sign of danger. It is foreranner of ma
tional evil unless halt is called upon its
champions"