The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-09-25
From the Charleston Erenisg Ne,rs
ArtstocrncY vi DemaGOGues.


Every country has its aristocracy with
more or less political influence. England
has landed aristOcracy, which has ruled
hitherto through the two Houses of Parlia-
ment. France is governed mainly by a
military aristocracy, although the Imperial
power appears to be supreme. Even Russia
in her nobility has frequently found power
paramount to that of the Car. We have
also an aristocracy which controls all pO-
litical movements. We must not look for it
in most gifted. 1t is not one of talent, or
wealth, or family. 1t is TO be sought in
those who unite a certain share Of popular
defamation with the arts of political COM
bination.
The men who guide the machinery Of
caucuses constitute our aristocracy. II is
the aristocracy of demagogueism. 1t is rs
potential as any other on the face of the
habitable globe. All power is concentrated
in its hands. Whatever may be the consti-
tutional distribution of authority; however
may be the adjustments 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 candidates who are to
carry them into effect.
The people appear to exercise their will
voluntarily in the selection of their agents.
This is a delusion. The act of casting their
votes is only one of empty form. BY pre-
arrangement everything has been done for the
voter by the demagogues in caucus. Politi-
cal power with US is thus in the hands of n
comparatively limited number. This con-
stitutes them an aristocracy, the oligarchs Of
the American republic, as much as the We
netian Senate was the sole source of author
ity in that republic. II is the concentration
of all political power in the hands of those
who rule in the secret conClave--who frame
the resolutions hiding the covert purpose un-
der pOmpous scommon-places, and who move
the machinery by which the whole is con-
summated under the appearance OF popular
sanction. This is our aristocracy, in whom
all substantial political power resides. 1t
has become SO much the habitudc of the
, country that it has become ingrained in our
system. Ii is striking its roots deeper every
day into our political soil. And until the
people will rise in their 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 ciques and
caucuses which consign them to political
bondage.
The conclusion from this view is that the
theoretical plan Of our Government is sos1e-
thing quite different from its practical &C
ton. Our System presuppOses, as the Gun-
dation Of the agency for making the laws,
the free and independent movement of the
| people. This is the fundamental idea in
what is called popular sovereignty but in
stead of this republican maxim, the action
of the masses is only secondary. The ac-
tual operation is in broad contrast with the
/ theoretic scheme Of our political institu-
/ tions. 1t is not the people in whom resides
the sovereignty, but the ambitious and in.
triguing few who make it appear that they
are the organs instead Of the possessors o.
the sovereign power. In one word, We arr
under the dominion of an Aristocracy Of
Demagogues.