Year: 1875

| ing over these things, we inquire: What
| lies behind all this? Don't we see that change
| of opinion, that change of position, must be
| for some reasons There must be something
| behind all this action of the President There
| must be something to explain his inconsistent
cy. There must be something that underlies
all this. The Force bill, with authority to
take away State Governments; an arbitrary
| military Empire laid OF in the South and


placed under the control of a Dictator, must


mean something. We can only look at it i'm
the light of events that will transpire in the


approaching Presidential election when we


have the conqueror and usurper installed in
the Government, and he has gone on extend


ing his military power until he has accom-
plished his purpose. The time may come
when some member on the other side OF the
hall may introduce resolutions like This:


WHEREAS, Great disturbances and d,ssstisfac-
tions exist in the country, and, for the sake of
preserving peace and harmony in the country,
be ii


Resolped, That \ or b is hereby declared Prcsi-
dent


don't care whether you call him Monarch,
or King, or President for the next Presi-
dental term or the next eight years. What
would you do then? Where is the power to
prevent its Where is the army? Where Is
the navy? What could you dos The inn
potency and weakness of an unarmed people
when brought in contact with the armed we
all know. We would be powerless, and /
here to-day, in presence of this Senate, warn
the reople against the approaching danger.
l tell my countrymen, Mr.. President, that the
Empire is ahead, and that instead of having
free and republican government now we
have kind of government that is called
stratocracy. There is a military government
where the country is ruled by a military chief
tain, and where the army is the power. That
is the government you have got now. The
army is the power. We have got a stratoc-
racy. We have not got democracy; we
have not got a republican form Of govern
ment. That is all the government you have
got. How far off the Empire? How far of is
the military despotismy | warn the people of
my native country against the dangers which
are coming. Don't lett talk about party, but
let the people, who compose the Government,
run il for awhile. Let us bring the hearts
of the people up to the Government and
arouse them against corruption, against
proiiigacy, against usurpaton Of the Admin
istration. The Administration is trying to
overthrow the Government. Let every effort
be made to sustain the Government and eject
from power the corrupt and usurping ruler.
Instead Of the resolution now before the
Senate, would go TO the President with the
language, If | was permitted TO prepare
the resolution, that Cato used to the ambas-
sador of Caesar, when the ambassador ap-
preached him and asked him TO capitulatc,
saying that his name would be second to
none but that of Caesar ] would say to this
EMPEROR WOulu say 10 tuls Dictator WHaL
Cato said to the ambassador: "Go and tell
this Emperor to disbend his legions and re-
store the liberties of the people" This 1
would say to him rs humble as am; would
tell him to stop his eDcroachments upon the
Constitution, and close the gulf between the
people, and bring peace and prosperity to
the country. Do this and | will mount the
rostrum and contrive TO gain his pardon
from the people for his violation of the Con-
stitution of his country and the tran
scendent impositions that he has prac-
ticed upon the country. This, even hum
bic as | am, for the sake of peace, for the sake
of concord, for the sake of restoration and
prosperity, am even willing TO modnt the
rostrum and strive TO gain his pardon from
an indignant people. You must close up
the gulf, restore peace and prosperity TO the
country.


Let peace and prosperity be restored to the
land. Nav God bless the country, and may
God save the Constitution! / know when |
give utterance to this it comes from a heart
that never beat hostile 10 it. Let us come up
TO this good work; let us forget what has been
heretofore; let us lay aside our personal
differences; let us lay aside party discipline;
let us give up our parties to the Constitution
of our country and lay them on the altar in
defense of the Constitution. Applause in the
galleries, which was checked by the President
pro tenl