OCR Text |
Show THE UHION FOUNDED ON THE I STATES. ! In one of his speeches in New Hampshire, the president deprecated the idea of state citizenship. As the result of his policy he expressed the hope that "men shall no longer be said to belong to the Btates of Louisiana, Louisi-ana, Maine or Ohio, but be citizens ol a common country." This sentiment id not of course original with Mr Hayes. It was the hue and cry of the country during the war period. The war was to deteroiiue whether the United States wero a nation or a mere confederacy. There never should haye been a doubt on this subject. sub-ject. Practically, the United States is a nation, and has always been since the different colonies united to secure their independence. Practically. also, the United States has always been and is to-day a confederacy, without which the present government govern-ment could not exist. In attempting to break up this confederacy the southern Btates neglected to observe the fundamental ideas of the government, govern-ment, and in accepting their challenge chal-lenge the northern states took advantage advan-tage of the accidental political power they had acquired to itn press their sectional policy upon the south. The constitutional union lapsed at that time, aud the national government has since been sustained by force rather than by the fraternal unity of the several Btates. President Hayes has opportunely done something some-thing contrary to the wishes ot his party, to restore the old order of things, but the country is still unsettled, owing to the effects of a universal business reaction that has followed the devastation and de moral ii itioo ol the war. We are now iu the midst of another revolution, that of laboi nguiiist capital, the legitimate outcome out-come of the great section il contest. Until that is safely past it cannot bei determined what kind of a national government we are to havo, though the Hebald has yreat Juith In the1 capacity ol the people to re-enktbHsh j the old constitutional order of tiling. It will bo a severe- stru'm, but if the j labors of the bed' and ablest minds of all the slates can ha brought to bear upon the work there can be iittle question of its accomplishment. The sentiment quoted above, how-over, how-over, which hasbeon more tlmu twice repealed by the president of the United States, will not hasten the reconstruction of the government on constitutional principles. Under republicanism re-publicanism tho &tato governments have been emasculated, until they are the merest figureheads, entirely poweriess io protect; me uvea unu property of their citizens and to execute exe-cute the laws. Upon the first signal of danger during tho late strike the governors of most of the disturbed states confessed their utter weakness) and inefficiency, and huslmed to de-mund de-mund federal aid to suppress the mobs. This fact illustrates the progress pro-gress thp war and republican legislation legisla-tion havo made in breaking down elate pride and patriotism, and it has bad the effect to lead to the demand de-mand in certain high financial and political circles for a large increase ot the standing army, which would still f.irtbar centralize the eovernment. and the freedom of their citizens. Destroy these elements and there ie no union, but a strong central power like that existing in France. Without the nation there might perhaps etill exist tho states; but without tho states we can have no national government founded upou the popular will and governed in accordance with a written constitution. State citizenship and state pride are as essential as har-mrmv har-mrmv hpt.wRftn Ilia states to the pres ervation of the national government. I f Mr. Kayeshad impressed upou the , people the value of the state gevern-meuts gevern-meuts as the essential supports ot the Union be would have exhibited a oettor knowledge of the history of the government and more prufound statesmanship. |