Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-02-12
THERMOMETRlCAL THEORY
OF GOVERNMENT.

part of Il conversation between an Old
Divine and his eiere.
"York. Then after ALL you are not
republican. Father Lyle?
Lyle. Yes, am that is, should
be in America, and wherever else Il re-
public would be practicable. | love re-
publcansm with all my heart. But as
tor turning all the nations on earth Ing
to republics, will believe it possible
when you succeed in washing IA blacka-
more white. Real, genuine, true reput-
licanism,-ay, and what you call con-
st,utionalism tool look upon as mere
moonshlne in hot countries.
York. In hot countries Well, Faith
er Lyle, that is a theory. Why, in the
world, should the British Constitution
be impossible where the weather Is not
scod or temperate ? | certainly never
heard OF thermometrical theory Of gov
ernment in my lite before.
Lyle. Then, my dear fellow, you
hear it now; and | pray you to ask
yourself whether that peculiar national
activity, and devotion TO business, and
regularity of action, without which they
call a constitutional government (by
which mean representative one) is
a ridiculous iarce,-is possible except in
u temperate climate. Just compare the
daily habits and the ineradicable feel
ings and tastes Of the extreme south Of
Europe, of almost all ASA and Africa,
with the demands OF the representative
system, even as partially developed in
the parliamentary and municipal
system OF Great Britain. Only con
ceive the House of Commons work Co
ing on under the sun of Calabria or
Sicily. DON'T you see that the inhahi-
tants of the south is positively in many
respects different being from the
Engishman, the Frenchman, and tie
German? Just put away all popular
phrases out Of it, Does in not univer-
sally present union Of languor and ex-
ciiabilily, totally Incompatible with that
everlasting busting, busy, energetic
mode Of thought and action which is
necessary to make a representative gov
crnment al honest reality.
Who'd poster himself with politics
under the glorious sun of the South,
with tecming soil, and weeks in sue
ccssion without cloud 10 hide the sky?
You ca T have steady application 20
politics with the thermc meter al 50 deg.
in the shade. People want 10 be gov
erned, when it's terribly hot for months
and months together. OF course they
want to be governed well; but If that
can. be, they won't take the trouble TO
govern themselves, except by violent
tits and starts. Revolutions, if you
please, are easy enough under broi-
ing sun but a House-oG Commons
Committee is as Incompatible rs ice it.
self with melting atmosphere. Rep
rescntativc governments 90 with the
green grass where the heat is SO in
tense that the turf is periodically burnt
up for more than halt the year. these
men won't take the trouble TO govern
themselves and they must be governed
with a strong, though iratcrnal arm.
All this is very sad, no doubt, IN many
peoples eyes. in my own, confess, il
is not gratifying, for | own to an in
tense dislike Of dcpolism Of every spe-
ces. But one can't get over facts, you
know if the weather will make people
idle IN habits and vchcmcn i'll passion,
| sec no help TOR it but 10 take them as
they are, and reconcile ourselves 10 the
fact that republicanlsm and the ten
pound franchise are no part OF the Chris
tian revelation, and that ii is possible
for man TO be good and happy who
never even heard oil a representative
government"