The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-07
WASHINGTON: FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 7, 1852

by the exhibition not Of the horrid apectre of an
archy, but the living demon. They have disgusted
and alarmed the stout hearted end more reflective
advocates Of free government; put arms into the
hands OF the enemies OF freedom more formidable
than bayonets, and sent despair into the hearts of
all who were ablcst 70 maintain its cause
Let il not be said that the wild and anciful theo
ries Of a few revolutionary leaders and the excesses
OF some of the more reckless Of their followers,
cannot and ought not to be supposed to have had
great an influence upon the great body of sincere
md republican patriots in any country, as to have
seduced them from their principles. No; agree.
that the dreams of the delirious disciples OF any
creed or the exccsses Of the desperate and abandon
ed, who are always ready 70 avail themselves OF
every popular commotion to crafty their appetites
for plumber or revenge. neither ought nor can be
supposed to have had any great influence on the
considerate and steady cham great reform;
but, unfortunately those wild and destructive thco-
res of and political reforms. which have struck
terror into the hearts of the liberals Of Europe, have
not been confined to a few, or to small class Of
zealots. German philosophy, for series Of years,
has combined with the popular literature OF tho
day 10 ingratt upon the minds OF their excitabie
and imaginative readers all oyer the continent the
same niechevous theories. New, strange, and
bewidering theories of the destiny Of man and of
human society, and the perfection OF which both
are. by nature, susceptible, have quite unsettled
the faith and confidence of tens OF thousands in all
existing institutions, both social and political
The followers Of the new philosophy, everywhere,
perceiving that their theories Of universal happi-
ncss and equality are not likely u be realized in
any OF the known or existing forms OF eociety or
government, become the advocates for the aboii-
ton Of both. Denying all imperfecton in the ma
turc of man. and seeing that the Christian religion
Stands in the way of their reforms, they are com
PEELED to abandon their own cherished theories, or
10 renouncc that also. And hence we observe that
the policy Of reconstructing imperial and arbitrary
governments on the continent of Europe embraces
The altar we'll rs the throne.
The great curse of Europe Of the present day is.
that the theories and doctrines OF The champions
and advocates OF liberty and republicanisln- have,
all along, proceeded upon the same error which
rendered all the philosophy of the choos of anti
guilty aborivc, and for the most part. utterly usc
less To mankind. Tsey all proceed upon abstrac-
tioIs. All their theories OF society and govern
ment, all their ideas of liberty and equality, and
the forms they would institute to secure them, are
founded upon Some preconceivcd notion OF what
they conceive ought TO be rig ht and proper, with
out the slightest reference to any practical testto
any thing that has been proved to be eound and
practicable in the past history Of the world Sir to
get right and to be able TO constr uct true and prac
tical systems OF government, they must fret re-
construct their system Of philosophiziDg; they must
reconstruct their own theories and adapt them TO
human nature they have it developed in
the past, as they it displayed at the present
day. They must adapt them 10 the races Of mon as
they perceive them TO exist in all their varieties and
differences OF capacities and propensies, without
troubling themselves about the question Of origi-
nal unity or equality. They must iound their theo-
ries upon experience and not upon fancy They must
come to understand that the competency Of ma n
for self government ia not a simple universal
truth bat that il ia complex and conditional pro-
position, which may be true OF one aud the Same
people at one stage Of their progress and not at
another; and as 10 races, they must come 10 learn
that every has civilization peculiar TO itset,
and physical and mental faculties Of various grades
of capacity for improve vement and development, as
all history testifes In short, they must adopt the
method OF reasoning and theorizing pointed out
by The great founder Of modern progress, Bacon.
When they shall have done this, they will have
taken the FIRST step towards true progress in the
science Of government. Discarding oil uninean-
ing cant and catch terms about liberty and equaii-
ty, they must come to know that there is liberty,
that there 10 an equality, which is agreeable to
ture-a liberty and equality resting q basis
that will stand, and that all else is spurious, dclu-
siyc, and inischievous
trust, sir, ] may now be allowed without TAX.
ing my final leave of Europe, 10 pay short visit
to Amcriea-Smerica, always open and exposed
TO every disease contse eion. moral and physical,
which originates in iorciga atmosphere. We
il proclaimed through the columns Of thou
sand presses in this country that the spiri; of De-
mocracy is necessarily progressive. l ask par
don--for intended TO divest myself far as pos
sible OF every partisan view and feeling in deliver-
ing my sentiments this great sihject; but sm
unable 10 proceed in my argument without allu-
eions and the use OF terms which may TO have
partisan cast. We are told that reform in this
free county ia aggard-thst il Iingcrs far in the
rear Of the advancing spirit Of the age. Sir. il is
proclaimed through tho same channels, to the peo-
pile ol THE country, that too much Of the old anti.
Democratic leavon still turks in our constitutional
forms and in our legislation. By more circum.
scrbed party, but still widely difluscd over tho
etiiutions are denounced rs being oppressive and
unjust 10 the natural rights OF mankind. alien &c
liberty, upholding social forms which ndmit Of NO
equality Of position of happiness; that there IL
no true fraternity; no freedom, such as the spirit
oi the age and the progress Of civilization de-
mand.
Whence THE type OF Democracy in this countryi
NO man can mistake its paternity. II is European
born. Ii is the same type or Democracy which
bas undone tho Of liberty in Europe, and its
mission in this country can never be accomplished
but by the ruin Of liberty in America. Docs not
every one know that the most popular and Leading
champions Of the cause Of Republicanism and De.
uIucracy in Europe regard with positive con.
tcmpi-Iiay, that they turn away with disCust--at
tie very mention of American Rcpublicansm.
They scurn 10 receive our American, bomcbred
IDEAS OF liberty. Why, say they, you have no
philosophy; you have no true and lofty conceptions
Of tho destiny of man and of human society; you
are far in the rear Of European enlightenment upon
all thesc suhjects! Such the arrogant prcten-
s:oDs Of the European champions Of liberty. Some
Of the more reckless among them hayc toe hardi-
hood declare that our Whole system s false, and
that il il cannot be reformed they prepared to
destroy IL; that il il model which misIeads the
friends If freedom abroad and that IL had botter be
pulled down than upheld IA errorl
should like, il had time, 10 say word about
this agc of progress That IL is an age Of increased
population, wealth, and power in this country. and
Of increased knowledge and science everywhere,
doubts. That IL all FOR good. Blu, should
like 80 know in what consists that progress Of the
age which is announced hs The basis OF reforms in
gard TO poiit'os institutions. The highest moral
nstitutiu on earth except religion, is that Of gov
ernincnt What is the progress Of the gre in the
science # government Il il an espcrimentn
sccnce. New revelations Of facts lay the ground
work for reforms and improvements in govern
incnt What is that progress in America, We
have seen what modern progress has done in Eu-
rope in this department Of science. Bot nsk /,
what progfcss has there been in Ametics? Have
any new aud better fornis OF government been die
covered. nny new principles brought out by cxpe
ricnce better calculated 10 advance and secure the
happiness Of mankind, than those devised and d.
gcsted by the architects Of uur revolutionary pc
riodl What new theories have been developed in
The lapse Of the last halt century whirh show al adj
vancein the science Of government Has our legisla-
ton become wiser and riircr founded in more
patriotic iScas and better 10 advance the
interests and happiness Of tue pcoplcI Are our
public functonarios. executive, legislative. or judi
cal, Of higher order Of intellect, of enligbtcn.
ment, of patriotism. and OF fidelity TO their great
trustsl IL there lees corruption, waste, prob gacy
and hvoritsm in the public administration : And, ,
to notice solne OF the ordinary tests, has crime di-