The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-09

Is Ref BiicaN GovEeSlTST AFAuTRE - TIE
political coniusion into which this country aas
fallen, the severance OF tbe cotton states from
The Uaon, ana the perplexites waioh ember-
rass the administration at Was bingtor, are loos-
ed upon in Europe as unmistakeahle evidence
OF The failure OF a republican torn OF COVE cn-
ment. Ana, JaGging Of these events ia lie light
oil monsiohcal principles and with the Euro
pean idea of Whist constitutes "a government We
must confess that IT is apparently true. So lar
a. least a. the character of our Executive for
some years past is concerned it cannot BE- De.
nice rhat there mas been a FAD falling oil ana
perhaps sad failure. The admins lratiou oi
the government has fallen into the hands Of a
SET OF unpi,ne,pIeo politicians, for the most par
NEE adventures ana scounoIels, without stake
10 the country, and utterly destitute OF honor
or patriotism. To this extent IL may be adDi-
ted that republ,caDism has suffered rrievously
III the eyes o. the world but taen the principle
OF ee't-g oyeIpme al aas met with no failure, In
spite OF the absolute want of every qualification
for good goveInmen at in all our dcpaI tmeuts-
both Sta.e ana national, 10 toe Executive, the
Legislatures Congresses ard corporatio0s-the
county has b,en preserved from utter ana IN
cqpivocei anarchy and confusion, b. the inhe
rent principle OF reli government which dweils
in the community. The country has grown
prosperous ano great 10 the very teeth OF poll
tical corruption such AS toe older nations OF the
worlc never expert, need. IL Is not the men
wno have contributed 10 the greatness OF this
country, IL intellect in wealth, in wisdom, and
every other qualification calculated 70 build Up
a reepe cted natluD, who are elected to the high
est Offices in tn to positions when IN
Europe are considered synonymous with what
ID called government; but, on the contrary, q
class OF men the very reverse of thus IS to be
fouDo III the Tost exalted stations--mere poll
ticians-and that word in our vocabulary is
syIony nous with charlatan or adyenturer.
But look al The administration OF Law and jus
ice in our criminal and civil courts and we
will find that there, aided by voluntary in
stitutious--such IA the chli ch religious con1uu-
nlries, ana an Independent newspaper press
the country IL preserved tIoui anarchy and the
stGtuS Of society is maintained IL spite OF the
HistTdplt JlHhe"Igs " tue pDltlCldns. ILrre
is deep orner loving and moral sentiment IL
the people which manitests itself with the most
saving Effects even III our present trials and
difficulties; but no such sentiment is to oe
found or Hoped for among the politicians Let
al attempt at local resurrection oe mace ID any
Of our large Cities aud we would see at once the
immense power OF this principle. The move
ment going on at the South cannot be regard
ed as on insurrection: it is q revolution, not 10
like that OF ITS in its objects and purposes;
but should al insuuection be attempted IN
New York, the largest and most populcus city
in the country, or in any other large city, or
should any conspi acy against the peace and
welfare Of the country assume the tangible
shape of mob violence, our militia regiments
would crush 1t out III al hour.
This is view Of the matter which is NO. un.
derstood in Europe Their idea OF government
is more concentrate and centralized than ours.
Self government diffuses itself, and is its own
safeguard everywhere; and in thr respect al
though according to monaTch.al principles our
republican government may appear to have
proved failure, toe principle Of seli-govern-
ment still nobly yindicates ana sustains itself.