Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-05

there is no constitutional warrant for
acquiring or holding such conquered
territory. say. then, not only that
there is danger to apprehend an ad-
dition to the Constitutional powers of
our government by usurpatiOn, but
that such usurpation is now being ex-
ercised, AND THAT IMPERIALISM IS
NOT TO BE APPREHENDED ONLY,
BUT IS HERE.
If we look back upon the history of
our country We find that periodically
the republic has been weighed in the
balance against a stronger form OF
government to ascertain whether the
republic be not found wanting From
the very foundation-AB URBE CON-
Dl-TA-there was a struggle between
the republic and the oligarchy, or linn
tied monarchy. Adams, Hamilton,
Morris and many other leading states
men favored strong government fash
Toned in the main upon the English
model. Kings, Lords and Commons
as comprised in the English govern
ment were to be reproduced in Ameri-
!, ca under conditions not essentially
changed, but somewhat ameliorated. A
President for life, an hereditary SEN
ate and a popular branch, this was the
Hamiltonian form of government. In
his speech in the constitutional con-
vention of June 9Th, 1856, he says:
81 believe the British government
forms the best model the world has
ever produced"
'FThe people are turbulent and chang
ing; they seldom judge or determine
rightly. Give, therefore, the first class
distinct and permanent share in the
government"
John Adams wrote book in favor
of the English system and it's adop-
ton in America. This was the crisis
the birthrob of the republic, when
an effort was made to strange in his
cradle the infant Hercules of liberty
and republican government.
Failing in this effort the Federal
party after the retirement of Washing
ton and under the administration of
John Adams went back to the dream OF
strong government as, "the SOW to her
wallow, or the dog to his yomit." The
alien and sedition laws were passed
and as Mr.. Jefferson said, "other usurp-
ations and violations of the Constitu-
ton were so great, so decided, and so
daring that after combating their &C.
ton, inch by inch, without being able
in the least to check their career the
Republican leaders thought 1t best for
them to give up their useless efforts
there and go home" To make long
story short / give you this historical
incident.
When Jefferson was about to retire
from public life in 1909, farewell ad-
dress was presented to him by his
friends. They recounted his distin-
guished services, the Declaration of In
dependence, the act Of religious liberty,
the founding of the University of Vir-
ginia and other achievements which
linked his name to immortal recollec-
ton In American history. In his reply,
Jefferson expressed his profound
thanks, but said in substance: Gen
tlemen, you have omitted the greatest
service | ever rendered to this country,
and that was: but for my efforts the
people would have sank into apathy
and MONARCHY as the only form of
government which could maintain it
self" This was the second great crisis
through which republican institutions
passed.
The third was the civil war Of 1861
1865. Fortunately we passed that crisis
as the Israelites crossed the Red Sea,
dry shod. Mr.. Lincoln sized up the
matter when he declared that neither
side could monopolize the credit for the
final result-that result, he declared,
was the gift of Providence, and neither
section could afford to claim exclusive
credit"
The fourth great crisis was when
large section of the Republican party