The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-31
nlisfellanp.
Give us a Fair Trial.

L
1t is quite evident that our incliuations
have great influence upon our opinions
This we conjecture is one reason why some
European writers are ready to jump to the
conclusion that our experiment in self gov.
ernment has proved failure. The Pittsford
Advocate thus replies to writer in the Lo7a-
dom Literary Reriew for July who attempts
| to show that democratic institutions in this
country are exploded. The reviewer re-
peats, and makes his own, language uttered
originally by Sir John Ramsdon: The
great republican bubble has burst" at has
collapsed, as its predecessors have done, into
chaos of anarchy and bloodshed. The end
has come quicker than it did to the democra-
cies of Athens and Rome, slower than it did
to the democracies of France and 81 anisl
America; but the same event awaits them
ALL" "That this ideal republic has collap-
sed is a fact which few are bold enough to
contradict" With such sentiments the re-
view abounds. 1t takes for granted that the
Union is hopelessIy dissolved. Dcmocrrcy
! has caused the present civil war, has shatter-
ed into fragments the Federal Union, and will
renew the same mischieis ia the Northern
Federation that is yet to lie. All this is very
cool, but at the same time very unreasonable.
The reviewer prejudges the case. Democra-
cy is on trial The trial is now going on
Jurors are en.panneled, witnesses are sum-
moned, the presiding judge is in the chair,
and the counsel for and against Democracy
are ready to proceed wi the trial ; when 10 !!
uprising in august majesty, the London re-
viewer appears, anticipating and forestalling
the action of court, and announces that De-
mocracy has proved failure. The annunci-
alton may be prophetic, but is not historic !;
it may exp ess the reviewers wishes but it
misrepresents the condition Of the Federal
Government. The historic fact is that De-
mocracy, during all its trial in this country.
has been confronted by an open and deadly
foe. Tne radical principle in our Declara-
ton of Independence, that all men are
created equal, and are endowed by the Crea-
tor with certain inalienable rights, among
which are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap.
pincss' has ever been in fierce and irreconci-
liable hostility with African slavery. The
two have stood together during eighty-five
years of national existence only by compro-
mise and mutual concessions. Their mutual
hostility has abated not tlthe. 1t has indeed
grown with the revolving years. 1t was al
ways determined aud relentless but since the
times of j ohm {. Calhoun it has become bit.
ter, fierce, threatening. This is tho democra.
cy that is oa trial-a democracy confronted
by an irreconcilablc antagonist, and giving
rise by consequence 10 the so called ire
prcssible conflict" That our cardinal princi.
pie of self-govel elnment by the people has pre-
served Itself unimpalred, and guided the ma
tion over s. years Of compromise aud mutual
concession, speaks much In It's praise, and
affords substantial promise Of what 1t will do
when untrammeled by an antagonist so fierce
and relentless. Whether Democratic in
stitutions in this country are to rise superior
to the mighty incubus which has so long
pressed them to the earth, is question now
in process of solution. The London reviewer,
in asserting that the question is already
settled-that democracy is o ailuce-tlat
the republican bubble has burst-has faIsifed
history. The English Government, he is
compelled to admit, has frequently been in
danger from insurreclon at home and abroad.
And it has only survived to this hour, and
suppressed such instructions, by employing
the war power of the nation. The monarchial
bubble has often burst in England il the
same sense in which the reviewer represents
the republican bubble to have burst iu this
country. And just as England repeatedly
saved the bubble of monarchy after it was re-
ported as exploded by irresponsible journal.
lists, so will the United States Government
save the bubble of republicanism, and transmit
it to coming generations We trust the LON
don reviewer will not die for few months,
and we agine that he will find his assertions
and prophecies all falsifed by the event.
Democratic institutions, under the blessings
OF God, will come out Of the present trial pu-
rifed, and with promise of a sublime career
in the future. The close of the present de-
cade will see the national Government as
much as ever honored at home and respected
abroad. All this will happen, We trust, be-
fore tho London reviewer quits the stage OF
this life for the quiet of the grave.
1t is widely known that mems thought are
more or less affected by their likipgs and dis
ikiugs. Impartial historians of their own
times are seldom found. The London review
er is certainly not the man. His judgments
ire tiuged and deeply colored by his passions.
He is partial to monarchies; and we have no
reason to complain of this. He is bitter