Year: 1871

State governments. The Federal gov.
ernment must fail to fulfill It's proper
duties ifit undertakes TO discharge, In
addition to itss own, the functions Of
the State governments. Having too
much to do IL will do nothing well.


We have a shining instance before
our eyes to day in the case of imperial
France. In that grea. empire cen.
trslization has been complete. Muni.
cipali.ies and provinces were govern
cd from the capital, not by their own
people. General and local affairs alike
were administered by the one central
authority. For twenty years past all
this centralized power has been in the
hands of ono strong, able man. On
tho surface things appeared to be
going on smoothly and prosperously,
70 much 80 that some Americans not
firm in their faith in our own system
6government have been weak enough
to contrast our political condition un-
hvorably with that of France under
Napoleon. The real worth Of this
centralized administration has recent
ly been put 10 the tost. When the
day came for the French government
10 exert its utmost strength it was
found TO be weak and rotten, utterly
incapable of protecting the people
from the invader, while the people,
unused to selfreliance, were equally
incapable of defending themselves.


Contrast the helplessness Of France,
in this great crisis, with what we
were capable of at the outbreak of
our recent civil war. We had always
lived under what was called weak
central government, limited in its
powers, with few duties devolved upon
it. Before the war, the mass Of our
people never saw an official of the
central government except in the
person Of the village postmaster. The
socalled strong governments of Eu.
rope sneered at our central authority
us being utterly helpless for any great
crisis. Our civil war proved that ours
was in fact the strongest govern.
mont in tho world. 1t was strong
because it had not, by absorbing all
powe. into itself, weakened the peo-
plo. 1t had not, by undertaking to
do everything for them, rendered the
people incapable of doing anything
for themselves. On the contrary, our
people having been left to govern
themselves in their several neighbor.
hoods, to take care Of their local affairs
for themselves, were perfectly self
reliant when the general government
was, for time at the first outbreak of
war, cut of from all communications
with the country. Preparations TO
meet the crisis went on just as prompt
ly Us with the orders Of the govern
ment. A committee Of citizens in
ynnr city raised some millions Of
money OI immediate expenditure In
war preparations One distinguished
citizen of our State, the late General
Wadswortb, opened wide his private
purse and bought, on his own account,
loads Of provisions, which he shipped
to Washington, 20 meet what he knew
would DO pressing need of the gov
ernment. When the central authori-
ties were again in free communication
with tho country, they found that just
what they would have ordered to be
done had been down by the people
without orders, To the discontinue
Of those who had snccrcd at its help.
lessness, our government was found
TO be very strong; its strength was
real, not apparent its strength had
been well preserved, for it had been
left in the guardianship of the people
All through the terrific contest the
effective work of procuring recruits
for the Union army was done by the
people themselves, in their town meet.
ings and through their local autbori.
lies, 1t is my belief that if, at the out


break of our great civil war, we had
been living for any time under a
strongly centralized government, and
had had that, with n great show of
strength, us our only reliance, we
should have failed to preserve the
Union.


Those among us who are advocating
what they call stronger central
government are urging policy which
leads inevitably to weakness. A dis
regard ofthe healthful rules prescribed
by the founders of the Republic must
end in decay. What we noed to in
sure to our glorious Union long life
and prosperity is that We should keep
the people strong by limiting the
action or government to its simple,
necessary duties. The government,
too, will then be stronger in its sim
plicity and in its secure reliance upon
a free people.


Under system which seeks by one
central agency to look aftcr every.
thing in every part of our extended
country, nothing will be well looked
after. The public service must ncces-
sarily become more and more corrupt ;
for watchfulncss over the countless
host of subordinate officers becomes
ca impossible task. One of the most
effective measures today towards a
much needed civil service reform
would be to simplify our tax-laws,
both those which regulate the tariff
and those relating to the internal
revenue, and thereby to reduce the
officers engaged in their enforcement
TO number that can be well attached.


II is right that the practice OF celc'
brating the Fourth Of July should be
kept up by the Tammany Society,
founded, as ii was, for the purpose Of
resisting efforts made, soon after its
formation, to divert our government
from its true principles and practice.


You will celebrate the day, l am sure
not as mere partisans, but as Ameri.
cans, claiming sympathy with and
from all who have faith in the Con-
stitution and pride in the past history
Of our land, and all who are ready 10
guard the American system of govern.
mont as well from decay rs assault.
1t is essential, especially at this time,
that our people should be reminded at


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