New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-07
DEMOCRACY DEFENDED.

DEMOCRACY DEFENDED.
The suppression Of the Rebellion would ap-
pear TO u to be of no positive value if it did
not logically demonstrate the strength and
the safety of Democratic forms of government.
The London Times urges Tin reply to Mr. W. Z.
Fo5ter) that il is clear that Democracy is as
,lr from perfection as any other form OF govern
ment and that all the evils of intestine strife,
civil war and ruinous expenditure, have, as a.
matter of fact, occurred under purely Demo
cratic Government" The notion Of The Times
is the well-known notion of DR.. johnson, stated
in an ot.rcpeatcd couplet contributed to Gold
smiths Traveller" the purport OF which Is that,
so far as human happiness is concerned, one
government is as good rs another. TO this II
may be pertnently replied, excluding all moral
considerations, that if there be nothing to choose
between despotism and democracy, mankind Is
entitled TO the latter as a0ording a certain
amount of social happiness, at least in tranquil
times All men, the strong as well rs the vale
tudlnarian, are liable, and, as We are taught,
equally liable. to die either by disease or non
naturally. But who would, therefore, urge that
a nan in weak health is quite as well oil as
hale man
Moreover, admitting that. dcspotisms and
democracies are equally far from perfection
il does no. follow that they are equally lar
from the best standard attainable by human
capacity The question is not OF perfection
at all, and, in setting up that as the test ny
which to compare the relative merits OF gov
ernments, this writer is guilty Of reprehensible
sophistry Some imperfection attaches to all
human effort. But it does not follow that there
are no desirable results to be struggled ior, hor
tina, truth and falschood are convertible terms.
A Democracy is not always safe from "lhte'-
tine strife and civil war;" Neitheris Monarchy
Neither is an Aristocracy. But, when the former
triumphs over It's difficulties, it remains Win all
the good of which it is capable. A tyrant
brushes his revolted slaves, and slaves they re-
main. Freemen encounter troubles, and over
come them. and are ireemen still This ia stating
the point with perfect nakedneSs. But our
whole case is UNNECESSARILY strengthened when
we take into account the facilities for Seli'pro-
lection, and the recuperative resources WHICH
frcemen always possess. slave wreslies ior
liberty (if at alb til letters upon his hmbs' I'D
tie blindness OF Ignorance, in the abJectness OF
poyerty. in tho physical degradation OF squalid
life, in the absence of the most stimulating
domestic associations, and under the ban OF a
position which, ii long continued. must
I've r,,al to all effective activity. posi-
bly, of body and probably of brain.
On the other hand, he who has been strength
cncd by long enjoyment of the bes me- Of a
liberal government. will probably be ntelll-
gent. will scarcely be pauper, Will be capable
of prolonged attack or resistance. will have
all worthy cnjoyments TO contend for and will
be able prudently and effectively to employ all
moral and material resources.
Finally. il will not 10 By any means to take
il for granted that immunity from intestine
strife and 4" civil war" is the blessing most fer
yenty to be cravcd by nation Peace is good,
br' it may cost too much. Death and cOrrnp-
tn are always quiet. Democracy, which is
the lite-blU of nation, may sometimes rush
with a fevo..sh impetuosity, and throw the
body -politic into temporary disorders; but this.
ait all, is significant of purpose; and nothing
good or bad can be predicated of it without
considering q Thousand circumstances OF race.
education, clinical character and political
forms. very sober man may give way to-
considerable heat in ejecting o trespasser from
his donnie but, as to all else except the expul-
sion, he remains sufficiently selt-possessed
Now this is particularly true Of our treatment
Of tho Davis conspiracy. We have warmed
well enough to the work in hand, and the heat
has been healthy; but in all other matters of
public interest We have kept the old serenity
and the sagacity for which we have been so
much sneered at. The war was q necessity,
and it hes certainly done us more good than
harm.
RECONSTRUCTlON