The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-07-06
McGREG0R, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1854.
An Am erican MOnarchy.

An American Monarchy.
The human mind once diverted frcm the
ordinary consideration of accepted truths,
and once launched upon the waters of
speculation, runs into many surprising
theories. 1t has been remarked, and we
suppose with truth, that in many cases
when men who for years have accepted
with unquestioning faith certain religious
doctrines, become suddenly convinced that
they have been deluded, such conversions
generally end in confirmed infidelity.
Some minds cannot bear the change that
follows an explosion of these cherished
theories. We venture to say that if a vote
by secret ballot could be taken TO- day in
the United States as to the form of govern
ment most desired by the people, there
would be vote in favor of monarchical
government, so strong as to astonish the
arrant demagogueS who believe they can
hold captive the judgments of the people
by timscy eulogies OF constitution, and
panygyrics upon the glories of the Union.
Three years of civil war, and the certain
prospect Of long period of unprecedented
taxation, has destroyed many a mans no.
tions as to tho stability Of popular govern
ments, and their capacity to preserve for
any heightened period even the liberty
of the citizen. Tyranny and oppression
have become possible even under a popular
government, and the people are ground to
as fine powder in their own name as it is
possible to be done under the sway of any
other despot.
We do not suppose there is man in the
United States whose love Of popular gov.
ernments, faithfully executed, has dmin-
ished in the least; but the universal Amer.
ican idea that such government could
not be destroyed, could not become cor
rupt, could not sink into the basest despot-
ism, and could MT be made the instrument
of its annihilation, has been terribly shorn
Of its beauty and majesty. The condition
Of the United States is the truest commen.
tary upon the incorrcctness of that once
worshipped idea of the American people.
Twenty years ago the American people
were peaceful and happy; the nation was
expanding in all the elements Of greatness
and power. The little spcck Of war that
threatened disruption of the national
peace concerning the north. west boundary,
was happily dsp.lled. Domestic industry
of all kinds was flourishing, and under the
just principle Of the tariff Of 1916, Our for
eign commerce commenced those gigantic
strides which in later years made US sec
ond to no other nation in that respect The
Mexican war commt need war commenced
by Mexico, through the miserable schemes
of those OF her politicians who, after having
destroyed her government and made them
selves masters of the once happy republic,
plunged tnat country and this into that
war, the Effects of which still curse both
That war resulted in wrestling from Mexico
some of her northern states, including Cal.
itornia. California was the brightest gem
that any conQueror ever placed in his
country's treasury. But California and the
other possessions obtained with her served
to arouse passions and engender feelings
which eventually by being encouraged by
faction, have reduced the United States to
their present helpless condition. There
was nothing for men to quarrel about
The era of good feeling which existed in
Mr.. Monroes administration seemed to be
about to return, when the cursed evil head
OF the African was thrust into the politics
Of the country, and from the mere fact Of
being too happy and TOO prosperous, the
American people resolved to make them.
selves miserable, discontcnted, angry and
excited about the unfortunate negro who
personally had no interest or though con.
corning the politics of the country.
Then commenced a controversy which
has been gaining in bitterness and hatred
to the present day, a controversy whose
malgnity is best and most conclusively al
tested by the hundreds of thousands Of
graves where rcpose the bodies
of the young men of the country,
who have fallen in deadly strife during this
civil war. Never was there palmer case
of self. destruction than is told by the his
tory of the American people. Should sla-
very go to the possessions acquired from
Mexico? 1t was not enough to demonstrate
that law, climate, anG interest excluded
slavery from these regions; one side de-
manded that slavery should be free to go
there if it would, and the other side de-
manded that slavery should not 90 there if
it could. On that issue, not of fact, but an
issue framed as it would seem for the mere
purpose Of atfording pretext to destroy
the universal peace, harmony, and prosper.
ity under which the nation lived, commenc
ed popular warfare, encouraged by the
people themselves, which has gone on from
bad to worse. until it has reduced both sec
tions to beggary. robbed the country of its
young men, loaded the entire people with
debt that will last for century, separated
States once linked in fraternal love, and
made them theatres Of unlawful rapine and
desolation; destroyed the constitution.
broken the Union, erected military des-
potism, and, unless by speedy and merci
ful interposition of Providence, will, within
a short time, hand the once proud Ameri.
can Union over to anarchy.
Is it surprising, then, that in these dark
and desolate days, with such history of
popular government written by the people
themselves. that men will turn back to the
lights and experiences Of the past, and rea-
sOning that as a monarchy has succeeded
every republic that has ever existed but
ours, that such may be the fate in store for
US; and that, as there has necessarily been
some reason for such result in the past,
that reason may be that that form Of gov.
ernment possesses some Of those vital char
acteristics necessary for stability, which
popular governments do not possess, and,
therefore, is, Of necessity, the best govern
ment Of the two.- Chicago Post.
SANTA ANNA.-Gcn. Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna, has concluded to play the part
of lacquey to the new Emperor Maxim ilian
the First, who has graciously condesct nded
II. 4