The national Republican., 1861-09-07
pssPARAGEMENT OF REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTIONS. '.'

In an article in recent number of the Lon
don Times, the following passage occurs among
others of the same sort:
IF the Americans wish to know the truth,
which points the remarks Of Englishmen on |
their civil war and Its incidents: It Is not that
they are any worse, or more foolish, or more |
Incorporate than was to be expected under the
trials to which they have been exposed, but
that they have been held up to our admiration
by a certain party among us as people In
whose counsels no intemperance or folly would
ever be likely to prevail. They suffer from the
pansgyrics of their friends. Our extreme lib.
erals would have shaped the course Of all
British legislation exclusively by the Ameri-
can pattern and, owing, indeed to the posi-
tion of parties, they did actually succeed In
imparting now and then Q transatlantic smack
to the policy Of the Government When We
look, therefore, at the operation Of American
institutions we are contemplating the results
of principles which 1t was sought to force upon
ourselves. Such q lesson we cannot afford to
lose. Our criticisms are suggested, not by any
Joy over American troubles, but by feelings OF
the deepest and most immediate selfinterest.
When we see that unlimited democracy con
veys not the slightest security against the
worst Of wars and the most reckless extrava.
gapce, we may epply the moral at home, and
congratulate ourselves that the old British
Consultation has not been precipitately re.
modelled after a Manchester design"
The Times is the intelligent organ Of the
British arstocracy, and has here stated In
nutshell, the true carse of their and its OWE
exultation over the disasters with which this
country is struggling. 1t is not national ami.
mostly, bat that instinct of sell: preservation,
which teaches them that the success of repub
inc tint oil of In flan IL
jeopardizes the security of their own class
privileges and prerogatves American pros
perity under selfgovernment was continually
urged as an example in favor of enlarging
popular rights In England. This is what the
British aristocracy saw, with fear and tem-
bling, and it is because our Southern rebellion
tends to bring free Governments into disrepute
that they exult over It, infame 1t by en-
couragement, and exaggerate its actual import
ance. Itis not malignity against us, but theil
own " immediate self interest" which prompts
this conduct on their part.
The sequel will show, that those who desir,
an example of the Inherent weakness of repub
lican forms of polity, are destined to sigma
disappointment, 20 far as the UnDsi States are
concerned. The history of this rebellion, when
it is finished, as 1t soon will be, will demon.
strate, not the weakness, but the invincible
strength, of our Government. 1t Is impossible
to prevent conspiracies, but nowhere has there
been an exhibition Of resources in putting down
conspiracy, greater, or more inexhaustible,
than are now being displayed by the American
Government
The paragraph we have quoted from the
Times. illustrates the truth, that the contest in
which we are engaged, is contest for repub-
lican principles not merely here and now, but
for the whole world and for all time. If the
United States can be Mexicanized by sue
cessful armed resistance to the result of an
election, both the form and substance of pop
ular power are lost, and the experiment of
self-government thus falling where only it has
succeeded at all, will have failed finally. If
the people of the United States, with all their
advantages of education and political training,
cannot elect President without civil war,
no sane man will ever recommend anything
but monarchy anywhere.