The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-29

which has ruled hitherto through tue tHo houeoe
Of parliament France is governed manly by
military aristocracy, although the imperial
power appears to be supreme. Even Russia IN
her nobility has frequently found power para
mount to that of the car. We have also an
aristocracv which controls all political move
ments. We must not look for it in the gifted.
1t is not one of talent, or wealth, or family. 1t
is 10 be sought in those who unite certain
share of popular defamation with the arts OF
political combination.
The men who guide the machinery of eau
cuses constitute our aristocracy. 1t is the
aristocracy Of demagoguism. 1t is as potential
as any other on the face of the habltaDle globe.
All power is concentrated in its hands. What
ever may be the constitutional distribution OF
authority; howevernhice may be the adjust
ments and balances under our organization,
federal and state, the power behind all these
is found in the clique of politicians who prepare
the measures as well as nominate the candl-
dates who are to carry them into effect
The people appear to exercise their VIII
voluntarily in the selection of their agents.
This is a delusion. The act of casting their
votes is only one of empty form. By prear-
rangement every thing has been done which
deprives the voter of intellectual liberty. His
thinking has been done for him by the dema-
gogues in caucus. Political power with us is
thus in the hands of comparatively limited
number. This constitutes them an arlstocracy,
the oliearchs of the American republic, as much
as the Venitian senate was the sole source of
authority in that republic. It is the concen-
tration of all political power in the hands of
those who rule in the secret conclaye-who
frame the resolutions hiding the covert purpose
under pompous common places, and who move
the machinery by which the whole is consum-
mated under the appearance of popular sane
ton. This is our arisocracy, IN whom all sub
stantial political power resides. 1t has become
SO much the habitude of the country that it
has become ingrainedin our system. tits strik-
ing its roots deeper every day into our political
soil. And until the people will rise in the
might and majesty of their power, throwing
off this tyranny Of the few over the many. the
American people will be under the influence of
cliques and caucuses which consign them to
political bondage.
The conclusion from this view is that the
theoretical plan of our government is some
thing quite different from its practical action.
Our system presupposes, as the foundation of
the agency for making the laws, the free and
independent movement of the people. This is
the fundamental idea involved in what is called
popular sovereignty; but, instead of this re-
publican maxim, the action of the masses is
only secondary. The actual operation is in
broad contrast with the theoretlc scheme of
our political institutions. It is not the people
in whom resides the sovereignty, but the ambi-
tious and Intriguing few who make it appear
that they are the organs instead of the possess
ors of the sovereign power In one word, we
are under the dominion of an aristocracy of
low demagogues. Charleston News
A CouNTERMARcH.-Age gentleman, who was
lately in conversation with hon. A. H. Steph
ems, at Csawfordville, informs us that Mr..
Stephens admits to have said in g substance"
what the Cincinnati Commercial reports him as
saving, to- wit that he ''was in favor of the re-
election to the senate Of judge Douglas, and
that he regarded the war by the president upon
the ant-Le compton men of Illinois as auickedly
FOOLISH" This gentleman also informs US that
he has heard Mr.. Toombs express his sympa-
thy for Douglas. Now then, gentlemen grind
ers of south official organs Of democracy
what are going to do-especially those of you
who strove to outstrip each other in violently
denouncing Douglas as "vie traitor to the
south and 10 democracy and, while express
ing doubt of Mr.. Stephens having used the
language imputed to him, declared that, if he
did do so, ''he IS no better than Douglas2" Are
you going to countermarch - take the back
track-and swear that Douglas, Stephens and
Toombs are right after all; that Douglas is the
only true democrat; that you misunderstood his
position; that he is the same 'patriotc friend to
the south" you used to boast him; that he is a
very proper mana veritable ''Lttle Giant of
Democracy has been badly treated by
this swickedly foolish administration? Are
you going to do this at the behest of Stephens
and Toombs? are you going to stand to this
tons) of northern and southern "traitors?"-
We know that it is a hard thing to confess ones
lack of confidence in his party leaders; but you
must recollect, gentlemen, that the alternative
before you is: to back out from your own position
in respect to Kansas and Douglas, or re udiate
that Of Toombs and Stephens. If you do the
former, the people will certainly and properly
lose confidence in you, whether they repose it in
your leaders or not. We trust that the demo-
cratic press of Georgia will have manliness
enough to assert their independence of the die
tation Of Toombs and Stephens, and to battle
to the bitter end against all who would screen
or defend the TRAITOR Douglas from the just
indignation of ga deceived and outraged south
ern people" If they have not, they should
wear conspiciously about their persons badge
of their sertitude. Even the sophistry Of an
official organ of democracy cannot gainsay the
sel(-eviden5 fact that, if Douglas is "a traitor
to the south,' which no one dare deny, so are
those southern organs of democracy who are
now sympathizing with and defending Douglas
also TRAITORS to the south '-unprincip pied pol
iticians, who stand ever willing and prepared
to sacrifice country and principles to what they
style 'expediency:" Ind. South
A correspondent of the Boston Courier est,
mates that the abolition of the ranking privi
lege would lead, directly and indirectly, 10 a
saving of five millions of dollars. Enormous
as this estimate may seem, we are not certain
that it is extravagant. The documents that are
franked all over the country, would not be
printed if they could not be sent free. Enor-
nous editions are printed that nobody would