The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-11
The Democratic Age.

: ring fidelity, makes sufficient pause II
the slow revolutions of its ponderous
wheels to disclose the distinctive linea
ments and essential characteristics of eacl
successive epoch in the march of human
destiny. This is essentially the Age o.
Democracy. The unmistakable tenden
cies of the past century to the enlarge
ment of popular influence, the overthrow
of prerogative and the curtailment of exc
cutive authority. are approaching an EN-
phatic and universal assertion OF radical
Democratic principles. Wherever oppor
tunity has invited the assault, Conserva
tism has fallen, after a protracted but tee
ble resistance, before the fierce, aggressive
spirit of Democracy, which boards with
inpunity the lion of Imperialism, and
prepare its approaches against the hither-
to impregnable strongholds of Absolutism
The first American Revolution was
mild assertion of the inalienable privilege
of selfgovernment, but it proved the pre-
cursor if not the significant impulse OF
that relentless tornado of passion which
swept over France, overturneda dynasty,
effaced every landmark of social fabric
which was the growth of centuries, del
uged nation in its best blood, and for
twenty years held Europe in the throes
of agitation The French Revolution,
the Reform agitations of Great Britain,
the Emancipation. of the Russian serts,
the ascendancy of Radical Democracy in
the United States, and other instances of
what are viewed as the healthfnl phe-
nomena Of the progress of Liberal ideas,
are merely phrases of the eflorescence OF
this characteristic of the age, the advance
iinent of ultra popular principles.
Everywhere are to be witnessed real
or pretended concessions of the demands
of the masses. Louis Napoleon main
tains the most splendid and compact
structure of Imperialism Of modern times,
in which the nominal existence of Re
publican party is tolerated and allowed
tree expression in the Legislative branch
Of the Government, while the great en-
gine of public influence, the Press, is
8 Ssedulously muzzled-in which the tax
catherer is as punctual and exacting,
though not so brutal, and the gems darn.ee
is as indispensable an adjunct as in the
.davs of the Bourbons-by al affectation
of paternal rather than royal supervision
of the interests of his subjects. A Tory
ministry coming into power upon the de-
feat of Russell and Gladstone on an issue
of Reform, trembles before the restless
clamor of the infuriate rabble of Lodnon.
Even Bismarck, the champion of Radical
Absolutism, who holds in hearty con-
tempt the virtue and intelligence of the
masses, pretends to promote popular en-
franchisement, to give privileges and the
ballot for the bullet so Loyalty used in de-
fence of Fatherland and the sdivine right"
of Frederick William.
The obvious consummation OF the eX-
cessive Democratic tendency of the age
as reflected by the precedent and exam
pie abundantly provided by history, is
conspicuously foreshadowed in the vari-
ous phrases of its manifestations in differ
emit nations. The historical no less than
logical sequence of Democracy is An
archy-a condition of political disorder
which makes Military Despotism not
only necessity, but Providentlal bless
ing. There has never been an instance
of q thorough triumph and establishment
of Radical Democracy from which we may
not trace the ultimate result OF autocracy
as that worst species of despotism after
the brutal sway of mob, the intrigues,
lettres de cachet, secret arrests and assas-
sinations of an oligarchy. The more un-
restricted popular license, the more sup
pfe and efficient instruments the masses
become in the hands Of ambitious and de-
signing politicians. The triumph of Gun
bridled Democracy" is the saturnalia OF
demagogues and trimmers. Every con-
cession Of Louis Napoleon to popular SEN
timent, every display to crafty popular
vanity is successful bid for popular sup.
mort, and assists to seat him more firmly
upon his throne-to confirm the tounda-
tions of Imperialism in France. A Bona
parte can find no friends save among the
French people; and as the enemy OF the
Orleanists and aristocracy, whom the
people also hate, the masses assist the
Emperor every day to the more etfectua
possession Of their liberties. But it If
Bismarck, that consummate diplomat
shrewd, astute and crafty, most reticent
when he appears most communicative
penetrating the secrets of others to whom
he seems confding his own; cold, unsym
pathetic and ambitious; who promises
the most striking illustration of the mis-
sion of the poor deluded masses, who are
ever destined to be the unconscious in
strmments of those who fiatter them mos
and serve them least; in whom they mos
confde and by whom they are always be
trayed. When he has accomplished Tn
consolidation of Northern Germany AM
firmly established that grand Prussla1