The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-27

charge'-" Hmfngton, ~. l. Com, Jan IL
The New York Times contains foil accom-,
of this interesting case, which will appear II
our next number.-Ed. Era.
PoIITIcs-PRIEC1PLE VS.. PRACTICE.
The establishment of the French Eur;.o
with its almost autOcratic Constitution ia os
evil omeu. 1t stands upon popular sutyraca
indeed, and 80 far confesses the popular So,
ereignty in theory in effect it is a nulEsaa
abstraction but even if the principle held i.
latent force for the proper occasions it il no
more promising for future changes than Tho
intrinsic instability of the French characto.
The first Napoleon, and the Citizen King Iou;.
Philippe, as well as the present usurper brok.
through the rule of legitimacy with impupitv
The Dutch dynasty of England obtained n.
crown by election in the revolution of Isss
and, again, the Hanoverian succession WAS 50,
tied by Parliament, representing the people IN
l7Ol.
The catastrophe of Louis NapoleOns corop.
ton is not at all relieved by the fact of his eoo
ton to the throne. Monarchy is but little con.
cerned about the links in its chain Of title ;r
only its conditions and powers are satisfactorily
settled. The coup fetat of December. lssi
was very cordially received by the despotism.
of Europe, and the Empire is already formally
acknowledged by all the Kingdoms and State.
concerned in the matter; and nothing threat.
ems disturbance of the present order, or prem.
Uses advantages to popular liberty, in the i'm.
mediate future, except conflicts of interest and
ambition among the rulers themselves. The
refugee republicans of lS4S are in the deepes
despair.
Nations like individuals, feel oppression, and
resist it, either in n passion or with a purpose
based upon principle, as may result from their
character or from circumstances Insurrec-
tons and rebellions are as natural as disobe.
dience; they are often nothing else Commu.
mites are made up of individuals and are Just
40 much more of the same thing; and it de.
ponds upon intrinsic character whether sue.
cessful rising turns out revolution or a rOw
Forms of government are questions of blood
and creed, more than is commonly thought
Republican freedom and the spirit of Protes-
tantism, or the right of selfgovernment in OWL
affairs, and of private judgment in religion, 60
together, and Illustrate the results of race and
creed combined, both in the ancient world and
in the modern. Infdel Greece, Rome, and
France, and Protestant Britain and America
show similar repugnance to the divine right
of Hierarchy and Monarchy The historic ex-
amples show that the religious institutions and
the civil constitution of a people correspond
closely Blood and temperament are not so
steady, though they give the law and control
the destiny in the long run, however they may
occasionally suffer temporary suspension Of
influence. The people who appoint their priests
will elect their Governors A Protestant Prince
is but symbol of sovereignty; the Executive
Ministry must represent and obey the Commons
Ecclesiastical independence and supremacy con.
sorts with political absolutism Governments
sacred and secular, which do not ask the peo-
Piles leave to be, ON the one side-on the other
Rulers and Priests, mere ministers of the pop
ular will. Thus, those nations who form their
own religion, and those who acknowledge none,
are politically free. Freedom in religion makes
unbelief possible. Submission to authority Sc
cures faith, and tends to superstition and sla-
very in all its forms. Atheism and Fetchism
are respectively the ultimate abuses of which
the opposite principle are capable in religion
in politics, they run out into pure Democracy
and absolute despotism.
There may be az absolutely best form Of
Government for all men, but it is nevertheless,
clear that special adaptation and present Prac-
ticability decide the relative excellence OF sys
TENS for the various kindreds of men, IL Is not
n question whether freedom is best for any peO-
pile, but how freedom and order can best be
balanced, where people are less capable, and
harmonized where they are fully fitted tor
democratic institutions
1t is very certain that more than twenty
centuries ago the rights of map were wen
enough understood to get fair recognition IN
the forms of civil government among highly
cultured people. Some of the ancient States
were very pure democracies. Among barbarous
tribes, civil liberty, suffrage, and eligibility, are
almost universal Fitness is right with them
Perhaps the masses are never anywhere with
out the knowledge of the first principles ofpo-
ltical Justice, or Indifferent to the advantages
of personal and civil freedom If it can be said
of our slaves, that they so far desire as to be
capable of enfranchisement the sentiment can
not be denied to any people under the sun
Mere selfshness and wilfuness are enough to
inspire the wish, and a very little understand
ing is sufficient to underpin it with logical prln-
ciples. Doubtless, the aspiration for lbertys
instructive in every human breast; and among
every people there is philosophy enough to d.
gest the impulse into system Of doctrines
Democracy is, therefore, not discovery 50
recent or 50 local that its happy realization
among us must needs be followed like bril-
liant star just risen in the heaven Of human
hope A few wise men Of the East may come
10 worship whore the young child 10 iaia =" ~
cradle, but the nations will pursue their favor
ito idolatries none the less
Psychological constitution, climate and o'0',
conditions determine the social anu
civil institutions of men. Monarchy suits DOT
with one kindred, democracy is ill-su''ea -
another These differences, with their ln'e'
venng shades, are demonstrated by a suncs"'
experience, and they seem inevitable oeca"'
they are constitutional; but there is no grou"D
in all this for despair; oppression is not 'he''
fore, the fixed fate of any people.
Feudalsm reigned over all central E"roP,
during the middle ages. II must have oA'
some sort and degree Of adaptation to the "
pie, and some correspondence TO their nece'
ties and interests-even to the very i'ne"e