Polynesian., 1859-02-26
DemOcracY.

There is no democracy in nature. The lofty
mountain rises boldly from the lowly valley, and
the tall cedar or aspiring pine towers above the
humber trees of the forest. The surface of the
world is every where varied and diversified. The
nucleus of every society is family. The father
is despotie. When families increase, they form q
tribe. The patriarch Of the little community main
tains the same authority. His will is law and oil
submit to 1t because is parental. As these tribes
become more numerous, the most powerful chief
tain assumes, or is selected for, the supreme COM
mand, and takes the attributes of royalty and the
title of sovereign while the other magnates occupy
the position of nobles This is the oldest and most
natural form of government. The combination Of
these separate communities gives strength to the
nation, and the Capitalization of power in one per-
son lmparts weight and dignity to the throne. The
first internal struggle is commonly between the
monarch and his mobiles, which is hastened or re-
tarded by the personal qualities of the prince. In
this contest appeal is made by both to the peo-
pie, on the one hand to repress the turbulence or
insubOrdination of the lords, and on the other to
restrain the despotism resist the oppression of
the king. To secure the support of the popula-
ton, resort is had to the usual arts of popularity
They are informed that they have rights, of which
each claims to be the champion, and are promised
immunities and privileges which both engage to
maintain and enlarge. If the monarch is weak In
intellect or deficient in conduct he is compelled to
authority limited if he be successful he takes
care to punish the refractory, and disable his op-
pOnents from entertaining similar projects OF ag-
gression. The people, from being often famil-
arized with these disputes. and so constantly fat
tered and cajoed, finding that the real strength of
the nation resides In them, begin at last to believe
that there is great truth in all the praises bestowed
upon them, and persuade themselves that they are
competent to govern without the aid of kings or
princes dispense with both, and set upa republic.
Instead of being content with few masters, whom
they could always conciliate or control, they SUBJ
nit themselves to that many-headed monster q
majority, and become alternately tyrants or slaves.
Democracy therefore, is the last resort because it
is the least natural form of government, and has
been generally found in old countries to terminate
at the point from which it started military despo-
tism. The main attraction it has for mankind is
the constant incense it offers to their vanity. It
calls them " free and enlightened citizens" and
/" sovereign people," 1t denies the divine right Of
kings. but assures the multitude that popuh is
r0r Del. Although there is something repugnant
in it to the feelings of gentleman, there is GER
tain stage Of civilization to which it is not Ill
adapted. 1t is sufficient for the wants and the
means of rural and moral population, for it re-
uuires virtuous conduct for its basis but it pre-
sents in its practical operation charms for any
one above the yeoman, for in proportion the
people are simple and rustic, so is refinement want
ing That is generated only in more polished cir
cles for where all men equal by law, by ma
ture and by compact, the highest must be reduced,
and the lowest raised and the level is inevitable
mediocrity. ."-HaLiburton'J 5 ~ The English in Ane-
Ticd."