The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-03-11
democracy and Aristocracy'
RY l. T. MAYNARp.

DemOcracy,aS pFiuclple,is Iho po"0l ono
right of the people to govern themselves,
as opposed to all other ferns of govern
ment which would rule without the con-
sent of the governed. Here in America
this is the trial hour of the power of the
people. Our government is Republic.
The power aud will of the people speaks
through their representatives., In all the
departments of government. Our rulers
have no hereditary pride to display, no
tinsel and glitter of equipage, but respect
ed in their place for their faithful dis
charge of duty, their robes of Office rep,
resent the majesty of the people. Every
man, poor or rich, stands equal before the
law, with his rights of property, liberty
and life fully protected. The Offices un-
der the government are open for the CON-
petition of all The only qualification for
Office: sis he honest,is be capable?' Such
is the model Republic, the government Of
the United States But this great TEN
pie of Liberty which the people reared,is
sought to be overthrown by Government
claiming to have the foundation Of its
power resting upon Slavery. The privi-
legged few, by the accident of birth, the
claim of property and place, to rule the
many, who have no certain rights in assu-
rance, but only at the will and capricious
pleasure of their rulers. From the two
adverse principles, that are at war in
this consent it is thus clearly seen, that
as the one or the other triumphs, will
effect the rights and liberties of every
citizen in the United States. Yea further
the result of this great struggle for a
principle of Government is bounded only
by the walls of the great world, it is a
contest Of Infinite moment 1t takes hold
Of all mankind 1t has a sublimitv that
fixes the earnest eyes of all nations upon
the contest They are interested specta.
tors not merely from curiosity, but from
an interest as the one or the other princi,
Piles of the government prevail, that may
, effect their own immediate condition.
They may find themselves interested par
ties in very deed before they are aware
Should foreign war grow out of this
strife it will be a universal war. On the
one side will be arrayed all the power of
the usurpation of the rights of the people
as represented under whatever form of
intoerent government; and on the other
side the Representatives of the Democra-
tic idea, "that governments instituted
among men derive their just powers from
f the consent of the governed" as the out
spoken sentiment of all the struggling
masses for their liberty throughout the
world. These treacherous enemies iu our
own household, are not only our enemies
but are instinctively felt to be the enemies
of the people who would obtain their lost
rights in ali nations Hence those great
patriots, Garibaldi. Kossuth, Mazzini and
thattrue hearted Englishman j JohnBright,
are the ardent, earnest champions Of our
, national cause. While all those who
: know ''their craft to be in danger" their
E usurpations of power in robbery OF the
, rights of the people, have all their sym
pathies alive as the natural allies of the
Shareholders rebellion.
e That this conflict has long been matur
i ing, is apparent to every thinking mind
f 1t is not thing that has suddenly sprung
D up. That there should be set up anC
: maintained here upon the Western Con
e tinent "a government of the people fo
n three quarters of century, which shoulC
J. assert and maintain the natural rights
! with which God has endowed men, anC
s which should prove so eTinenty success
. ful as to advance people in SO short
o time in everything that could be condu
Give to their prosperity and happiness be
l. yond any precedent known i'll thG world
history. THIS new power of governmen
;, was not to be endured, if possible over
II thrown by those robber tyrants who have
J ever sought to rob their fellow man OF hi
. natural rights. Yes, say they, this light
. house Of liberty in the New World. Thi
! Pharos of the Nations! must have IFS ligh
put out-must be destroyed.
y But courage, strong courage to ever,
, patriot heart in our Own land and through
4 out the world Does any human hear
,f beat for liberty! the pulsalion Of that hear
. is from a Divine influence, and that infu
= ence is never to fail The cause in wLicl
!, true men are engaged, is the cause of God
= 1t is the cause of the many millions of th
. human race against the powerful few, TIL
. rich and strong who would Cypress them
! Aud this cause Of the millions is to hav
an assured triumph. The masses of th
4 people in the old world have seen th
J illumination of our conflict in the Wester
- sky and are awakening to the importanc
: of the struggle. Many years ago in Asi
10 and Europe the leavcn was hidden II
- three measures of meal" by a power hiehe
- than that of man, and the work Of it
"a now beginning to appear. There Is
- pulse of new life beating in the world
q L.