The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-17
BALTIMORE.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER II. 1858.


eminent abilities of the author, and his large and
protracted parliamentary experience, have given
GREAT consideration to his work, even among those
who dissent from his conclusions, and 1t is inter-
estnr to see with what good faith and earnest and
respectfu fairness of discussion, his theories and
Deductions have been examined, and controverted
or approved, by the organs of public opinion
AMONG his countrvmen. More edfying still is the
spectacle-unhappily so rare in these days, among
ourselves-of a practical, laboricus statesman, who
amid the cares and tolls of office, the struggles of
the political arena, and the pressure of legislative
duties conscientiously discharged, has been willing
and able to lift himself above the schemes and
topics of the Misunderstanding his experience, in
the maturity of his powers, to fearless discussion
of the principles on which his government is found
ed and the changes that will make it better. \
public man, who can think as philosopher AMI
write as a scholar, seems to be the lost PLEAD
among our stars. 1t is Notifying to know that
the best exposition of our political system, its prn
cipes and its practical operation, is the work of
foreigner NJ. De ToCQUEvILLE, and that we owe to
the genius and comprehensive appreciation and
analysis of his countryman, NJ. GUHoT, incompar-
ably the most just and able judgment which history
has pronounced upon the character and influence
of WASHINGTON.
In the times in which we live the Congressional
Debates and public documents, and the partisan
newspaper press have become the chief, if not the
exclusive representatives of our political wisdom
and literature. Having, generally, for their OBJ
ject immediate political efiect-subservent to the
personal or partisan interests Of the hurried and
selfish moment, and addressing themselves, for the
most part to that lower scale of intelligence and
principle, which it is found more profitable to
hatter than to elevate-they move, in the main,
upon descending grade, their tendency necessaIi-
ly downward in form and doctrine. Whether the
public demand Graves no better supply, or the
public caterers mistake corrupt the public taste
and appetite we leave readers to determine
for themselves. We should be glad, for our own
part to be persuaded that the style of the wares
is not true criterion of the market for which
they are manufactured.
But-to return to Earl GREY. Though con-
spicuously and consistently liberal in his political
opinions, and decided in his views as to the need
of Parliamentary reform, his Lordship does not
think that the objects of good government are to
be furthered in Great Britain, by rendering the
House of Commons more democratic in its char
acter. His system directs ITSELF instead, to the
purified equalization of the elective franchise and
to such distribution of Parliamentary represen-
tation, will render the lower House a mirror of
the interests and opinions of all classes, without
giving to a mere majority of voices in the nation,
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Government.
What volumes of twaddle--what piles of nom
sense and adulation. and imposture 90 down into
the place of departed trash before that honest and
manly truth What oceans of demagogism-what
multitudinous and filthy waters of Buncombe re-
cede before it How would the occupation of the
popular parasite and pander be gone-and along
with it the orgies of licence, which are libel on
freedom and self-government-if the people would
but hold in their hearts, and infuSe into the ma
tional life, this essence of genuine and rational re
publicanism No man, surely. who has the
capacity to think, believe that power in the
people is good, for anything but what it brings
No such man can persuade himself that power, i'll
used by democracy,is any the less an evil than the
the same power proshtuted to the same purposes OF
wrong by an oligarchy or despot. The ends of
society all centre in the development and hap
plness OF mankind. Government Is the great in
strument by which society works these out, and it
is for these, and these only, that government is
intrusted with power. Whatever the form of
government, Its ends are the same, and if it
abuses for evil, the powers which are bestowed
on 1t for good; If it wastes them, or misappes
them, or lets them sumber, so that the purposes
for whose consummatlon it was Instituted, fail
partially or utterly, it is itself failure and
oppression be its name and its pretensions what
they may. Indeed, if one govern ment owes
greater responsibility to Society and to its Author
and Ruler, than another, for the abuse, or prost
tuition, or wantonness of power, it surely must he
that of free people, who have been forgetful or
reckless of those duties, the faithful discharge of
which can alone give to authority any sanction,
human or divine.
Why, then, is it that the people hear so much of
their powers and so little of their obligations ?
Why are they taught so much about governing,
and so little about governing well? Is there no
American statesman to be found, who is capable of
10 speak TO the people with honesty, and able to
address them with authority, for their own sake and
IN their own behalf, and for no purpose or prefer
ment of his own? Is there no Republican who
will show true confidence in Republicanism-no