Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-09
DiStrust of People.

slstP oh d Aereo4Iar1 BoNernmepI ~ Hiah-
aging the peoples Affairs, and he win tell
you-"Because the people are unable to
manage their affairs themselves" Every
menarchist's mind is filed with profound
distrust of the masses intelligence, wisdom
and virtue. If he be honest it cannot be
otherwise. s
Popular governments, on the contrary,
are based on popular confidence. All
popular administration proceeds from the
principle that the masses may be eonfded
in. If this be not an American idea in
its inception, it is American in its applica-
ton to practice. 1t may, therefore, be
called the american idea of Government.
Our, government has been for three
feurths of a century administered pro-
fessedlyi in accordance with this principle.
Has it been so administered in fact?
Have our statesmen uniformly shown that
confidence in the people that our institu-
tions pre-suppose2 Have the leaders of
the American people trusted in the Amer
lean idea?
On the whole these questions may be
answered in the affirmative; and yet
there are some exceptions not to be over
looked by the close observer of events.
But yet the most striking have been in
connection with the war. While Mr..
Lincoln, with almost uniform constancy
trusted the people, whose Executive he
was, on some occasions his distrust was re-
vealed. At the beginning of the war
how perceptible were the efforts TO con-
ceal temporarily from the country facts in
Erelation to disasters in the field. The
government clearly reasoned-a1t will not
do to lay before the country all the facts
at once" As a consequence, the one of
the dispatches relating to some of the
greatest battles of the war, sent on the
sixth day thereafter, we're at variance with
the tone of those sent on the first. How
slowly the trath sometimes came OUT
Such distrust was unworthy of those who
entertained it. 1t did the American peo-
pie great injustice. But in course of time
the Administration learned better. 1t
came t see that the constancy of the peo7
pie was so great that they could be trusted.
How much more reliable were the bulle-
tins of 1864 than those of 1851 Thepeo-
pie in every instance justified the increased
confidence.
A similar distrust was discernible in
some of the political measures of the same
administration. 1t did not dare remove
Mcclellan from command, for fear of the
people! History will decide that the
Emancipation Proclamation was too long
delayed because its author feared to issue
it in advance of the public sentiment.
Probably Mr.. Lincoln never got over his
political distrust of the people as he did
his military.
Certain it is there is too much of the
same sort left in the country after his death.
Take as an instance the treatment the
great question of Equal Rights has received
at the hands of politicians. Why did not
the Convention that put General Cox in
nomination commit itself to the support
IF negro suffrage? Was it because that
convention believed it wrong in principle ?
On the contrary a strong majority con-
fessedly thought it right. Why, then, did
hey not in unmistakable language say so2
The reason was-distrust of the people.
This was the specious but sophistical
argument IF we go to the State upon
his issue we shall be beaten. Thousands
who have been with us hitherto will join
,ur adversaries. We had better triumph
md not take this advanced ground than
ike it and be beaten" The result has
own that the fears of the Convention
roundless. During the canvass the DEM
or; us constantly charged the Union par
18th faYoring negro suffrage. There was
o h earty denial of the charge throughout
lie canvass and yet, in the very districts
hen they should have fallen of, our ma
'rities were greatly increased, thus
that the citizens of Ohio might
ave been trusted with the question of
quail Rights, precisely as they could be
listed with the truth in regard to the
of the war.
By appealing to the existing prejudicss
10 opposition made all the capital they
by the position we saw fit to take !.
e put it beyond our power to expose their
IL aims or to put forward the arguments
y which negro suffrage is indicated. By
~cOwardice and distrust a grand oppor-
nifty of advancing the cause of Humane
was lost.
When will Americans learn that all {
Ich reasoning as that by which it was {
ught to defend the action of the State {,
invention discredits the very principle I
pom which our government is based? t
TheniwiH our political leaders learn that |
II intelligent people can be trusted with !
TRUTH When will public journalists !
arm that the Right only asks a chance to c
itseif2 When will nen learn J
at mans heart is loyal, and c~heerfully =
elds to the force of honest conviction ? !
Preparing for the Cholera. \