The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-02
THE TENDENcY OF AFFAIRS.


the word in its rigorous and primitive sense.
Popular suffrage from being restricted has
grown to be universal. Not alone is il an
accompaniment of citizenship, but in some
States II Is bestowed on those who have
never abjufed their allegiance to the country
Of their birth. The term OF residence (says
cotemporary0 rs a qualification for suffrage
has been gradually abridged. In no State
does It exceed one year; in several il is limi-
ted TO three months. With this extraordn-
airy expansion Of suffrage, every restriction in
the shape ofproperty qualification or the
payment OF taxes has been swept away, and
the conditions now required for the exercise
of the elective franchise in most ofthe States
is simply n term of residence and citizenship.
As might have been anticipated, the applica-
ton of the elective principle has proceeded
pari passu with the extension of the suffrage.
Every office, from The highest to the lowest
executive, Legislative and judical--is made
dependent on the will Of the body polite
In the eagerness ofiawgivers to court the
favors of the masses by enlarging popular
prerogatives, there has been species
Of competition amongst the States which
should repudiate most speedily and most
completely the principle of n representative
republic, and substitute in It's stead that of
pure democracy. While thus sapping one
by one many of the safeguards of law-regu-
lated freedom, tho evil consequences which
were certain to follow have been overlooked
in the fond anticipation that the virtue and
integrity of the people would prove equal to
the new responsibilities with which they
were invested. Recent events, however, be-
gin to impair the convictions even of the
most sanguine advocates of democracy.-
Theoretically, the idea that in an enlightened
and free community the people may be safe
ly made the direct repository of all power, is
certainly fascinating and specious. Practi-
cally, however, it, does not seem to work well,
or to answer general expectations. The
abuse and errors which flow from it are less
manifest in the rural than in the urban popu-
ation. The former are usually fixed to the
soil, trained to habits CT reference and obedi-
ence to law, less violently agitated by the
spirit of craftsmanship, and suffering less from
the alloy of unworthy and turbulent ele-
mcnts Cities are composed of different ma
terials. In the latter there are thousands of
men enjoying the right Of suffrage who rarely,
if ever, use II with wise discrimination; who
are infuriate zealots Of party; who are bad
citizens, reckless of the restraints of law and
indifferent TO the preparation of crime
These are the men who usually control our
elections. They hold at least the balance of
power, if not more, and very frequently
achieve deporable triumphs over the mode
ration, the good sense, the sobrety and the
intelligence Of the rest of the community.
These conclusions have been forced upon
dspassonate observers by the increasing
proclivity TO violence ard disorder constantly
evincing itself in our cities. ave cannot
help seeng," says an able Northern Journal
"that the public confidence in the ability Of
great cities TO govern themselves by univcr-
sal suffrage, has been sorely shaken by the
events of the last two years. Many promi.
nent and influential men, thorough democrats
in principle, and not at all inclined to sympa-
thise with anii-popular tendencies, have open
y declared that, so far rs great cities are
concerned, democracy is a faiurej that where
every scoundrcl and vagabond has an equal
vote in the government with the honest and
upright citizen, it is utterly impossible to
MAINTAIN good government. The scoundrels
and vagabonds, in the division caused by
political parties, will always be able to turn
the scale and manage matters to suit them
selves. Every days experience in New York
as well as in New Orleans, in every large
State in the Union, in fact tends powerfully
to confirm and strengthen this conviction; and
unless our public officers make thorough
and complete reform in their mode of admin
istering the government, they will'inevtably,
before many: years, be swept from their
places, and make room either for the lawl less
and irresponsible supremacy of vigilant com
mittees, or for the strong arm of military
power.
| These are sad truths, and we commend
their consideration to candid minds. We are
rapidly approaching n crisis in our political
history, when We shall be compelled either
to retrace our path and submit to those
wholesome restrictions which in the early
days of the republic enabled us to steer the
ship Of State safely across the stormiest
ocean, or submit to be overwhelmed beneath
the surgng and swelling tide of an unlimited
democracy. The problem of n republic is
not dissolved. The nations of antiquity
tried it and failed, and those amongst mod
ern powers which have repeated the expert.
ment have proved equally unsuccessful. The
danger in allrepublics has been the gradual
absorption of the representative by the dem
ocratic principle; and although the advanced
and general intelligence of America has great
ly mitlgated this peril, and rendered its in
huence slower and more insidious, We are
far from being exempt from its pernicious in
fuence. A despotism is frigh,ful, whether
it be that of the nny-hended multitude or
I Of one man. The rule Of n Louis Napoleon
may be horrible enough, but is it worse than
the unbridled and terrific sway of the masses