Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-19
THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT.

nc ooCiaib anu especially the pOHtlcal lnStl-
tutlons of the United States, have, for the
whole of the current century, been the subject
In Europe, not merely of curious speculation,
but OF the deepest interest. We have been re-
garded as engaged in trying great expert
ment, involving not merely the future fate and
welfare of this Western continent, but the
hopes and prospects OF the whole human race.
Is it possible for Government to be perma-
nently maintained without privileged classes,
without standing army, and without heredi-
tary or self-appointed rulers Is the demo-
cratic principle of equal rights, general suf-
frage. and government by majority, capable
OF being carried into practical operation. and
that, too, over large extent of country?
The more populous and wealthy the United
States have become, and the higher the posi-
tion to VIII they have risen in the scale of
national importance, with the greater conf
dence has it been maintained, on the one
hand, that our institutions rest on a solid and
permanent basis, and on the other, that they
are destitute of inherent strength and cohe-
sion, and that the time of explosion and dis
ruption is rapidly approaching.
1t cannot be doubted that the news Of the
present extraordinary position of affairs in the
Southern States, consequent upon the result of
the late Presidential election, will produce a.
mong the European advocates of democratic
government and popular rights very serious a.
larms as to what is to become of us while a.
mong the advocates of monarchy and aristoc-
racy, the threatened secession of the Cotton,
if not of the entire body of the Slaveholdng
States, will be regarded as the first step to-
ward the entire breakdown of our whole sys-
tenn OF republican government.
1t ought, however, to be borne in mind that
the threatened disruption of the Union doey
not originate at all from the democratic ele-
ment OF our politics social condition. 1t is
the element OF negro slavery, confined exclu-
sively to a portion only, and that the smaller
portion, of the States, that has given occasion
to all the existing trouble. This element of
negro slavery not only conflicts with the DEM
ocratic idea by stripping the negro population
OF all rights whatsoever; but at the same time
1t paralyzes and degrades the great mass of the
white population so that, whatever may be
the letter OF constitutions and laws, it creates
a narrow aristocracy, which, in the local affairs
OF the Slaveholding States, has everything its
own way. Not content to rule at home, this
slaveholding aristocracy now undertakes to
dictate to the other States also, not merely
their laws and their Presidential candidates,
but even their opinions on questions of reli-
giOn and morals, so far, at least, as the ques-
tion of slaveholding is concerned. It is not
the development of democratic ideas or insti-
tutions that has brought on the present diff
culties it is the collision which has taken
place between democracy on the one hand,
cratical institution of negro slavery on the 9TH
er. Suppose it should turn out that, under
these circumstances, the Slaveholding States
should determine to separate from the Union.
That might prove the incompatbility of Sla-
very with the wel-wvrking of q Government
based on democratic principles, but it would
be very far from proving, or even indicating,
the failure of our American experiment.
Whatever happened to the Slaveholding States
after this separation, in the broad extent of the
Free Labor States the experiment of repub-
lican government on democratic principles
would still go on; nor is there anything in
our past history or present position to induce
serious misgivings as to the result.
1t has often been urged that with the in
crease of wealth and population our existing
popular system OF government would become
impracticable, and that great class would a
rise, of mere laborers, destitute of property,
to whom the right of suffrage could not be
safely entrusted. Our experience thus far does
not give any countenance to this view. Take
the State of Massachusetts,, for instance: With
3 constant increase in population and wealth,
her institutions and government have conform
ed more and more to the democratic idea ;
nor does there seem any danger to her exist
ing political institutions, even if that increase
should continue indefinitely.-N Y. Trib.