The Portland daily press., 1865-05-01

Military Despotism,
1t used to be urged as ole of the objections
against a government purely representative
that it must afford greater opportunities ior
the unprincipled ambition Of military adven-
turers than they could hnd under strong mon
archical forms. Even among the true friends
Of free institutions it was felt that there was
force IN this objection, that the passions Of
the multitude were so easily swayed by art
ful den,agogues and their enthusiasm SO easily
kindled by splendid personal qualities or mill
tary success as to make this a real danger.
But the events Of the past four years, which
have wrought SO many changes In the senti-
ment Of the world at large, have had also the
effect to sweep this theory into the rubbish of
the past. Despite the many instancess on
record where the liberties OF republics have
been overthrow by the ascendancy which
the military power has been allowed to. at
tain, it is now apparent that the true difficulty
in such cases lay not in the representative
forms but in the deficient intelligence of
those who welded them. 1t has been abun-
dainty demonstrated that the masses, the
"plain people, are ct to be trusted with lib
erty, that they not only are capable Of using
without abusing it, but also that they are ca
pabie OF guarding and defending it against
every aggression. Ifever q state of things
existed in q republic which could expose it
to such danger as we speak Of, it must have
been found in ours during the last four years.
With a government shaken to its foundations
by all thepowes ofrebellion; country not only
torn by civil war but, even In the loyal portions
distracted by political differences of the most
virulent bitterness; armies such as the world
never saw before, surging backward and
forward across q continent, trampling in
blood the soil Of hundred fierce battlenelds,
and commanded by leaders who have awaken.
ed devotion and personal attachment never:
surpassed. The achievements of these lead
ers 10 the Geld have been hailed by the peo-
f. pie also with the widest acciamations. 1t
would seem, at FIRST sight, that their power
must be immense, that il ever opportunity
aWere offered for its abuse by the attempt to
grasp at more, this was the time. Butthe
2 has never been moment when such designs,
&, had they been cherished, would have been
other than utterly futile. The Republic, al
waysready to crown its heroes, yet holds them
!. to q strict accountability. The Judgment
Of the people, watchfui Of their liberties, and
jealous Of any act on the part Of their public
servants which looks like excess OF preroga-
tive, visits every such act with an instant and
imperative denunciation more terrible than
that Of any single ruler. More than one man
hava uo saan narrtoA M, Or, tho x;So ~ ,,,,li;o
favor to the position of something very like a
popular idol, who, the moment it became ap.
parent that his elevation was inimical to the
safety Of the State. has been swept from his
pedestal not only with the acquiesence but
with the fall approval Of the people. They
will not tolerate any derelietion from the
strict line of duty, OR any assumption Of I'M
lawful power even in the chiefest of their ia
vorites. A notable instance Of this spirit i.
Of SO recent occurrence that 1t must quick
-iy suggest itself to every mind. Scarcely
man In the country has SO nobly earned and
a 50 largely received the admiration and ap
plause Of his countrymen as General Sherman
Not only gratitude for his Invaluable .sarrsese-
appreciation OF the sP5andk6ds m nhil Eavs
Deen literally bestowed on him. It is doubt
full II even the far seeing and indomitable
Grant had gained more enviable place in the
regard of the people. But when mislead BY
some error OF judgement which it is left fol
the future to explain, he is induced to step be
yond the strict line of his duty and assume
* functions which the people had placed in other
hands, one instantaneous and universal express
sion OF rebuke ID heard on every side. Our
estimate Of General Sherman, founded upon
q observation of his past career, is such that we
feel confident that his conduct will be shown
TO have been upright in intention though sad
~ mistaken in judgement, but that is a sub
Ject which we leave for the present. The
point we wish to make Is simply this, that the
intelligence Of the people is a sufficient guar
antee against any danger arising from, the un-
que ascendancy Of popular favorites, or from
the abuse Of military power Does any one
imagine that II the people Of the South hat
been as intelligent and well informed as those
Of the North, 1t would have been in the BOW
or Of an impudent armed oligarchy to set it,
heel upon theirnecks as we have seen in these
four years. and, in truth long beforea None
eau De so Dllnd. nHabftroI via,
Inc danger then. Is not in too much free.
dom for the masses, but in too much igno.
!. rance. Secure to the Southern people. rich
and poor, an efficient and universal system. q
education and the republican form of gov.
eminent" which the Constitution Of the Uni.
ted States guarantees TO all under its authori.
ty will not be difficult to maintain.
Ideas ripen fast in such an age of events as
the present The fearful struggle through
which we nave passed has been fruitful OF
good not to us only but to all mankind,
Notthe least among the blessings which grow
out OF 1t may we reckon the destruction Of
this bug bear Of military despotlsm as the
special bane Of republics, which has been held
up before the eyes Of the lovers OF liberty for
30 many years. The world moves.
M. I