The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-02
AS OTHERS SEE Us.

Hor nearly a century the friends Of free institu.
lions everywhere have been pointing With pride
to the United States Of America for splendid
realization of the great problem of o pure
1 democracv. We furnished Republicans all over the
{: world. with standing frst-class illustration IN
the science of government And so complete had
been our success, that the mere statement of the
fact carried conviction to every mind. Foreign
statesmen were wo1t to make the tour OF the Uni
ted States, to see for themselves the actual work
ing Of our Utopian institutions. VoN RAUhER, DE
ToouEvu1E and others, philosophical thinkers,
and public men of notion, spent years here dor
this purpose, and went away gratified They haye
left record Of their Impressions, stating their
conviction, that ours WAS n model government pro
yided the Constitution was properly respected and
its provisions duly executed. They possessed sufi-
cent sagacity to SEQ that this could only be done,
If the people retained that modicum Of virtue they
we're thought to possess at the time the govern
ment was framed. Every public writer, free from
bias made the same observation, viz: that upon
this deoended tho success OF failure Of the great
problem Of democracy.
Soinvulnerable were We considered in our govern
to time, and wero manifestly prejudiced against
us,-contented themselves with ridiculinG our
manners; decrying our literature; belitting our
great men; laughing at hyper boical eloquence
and patting on a general patronizing air. But
these sallies and ISLANDERS of HALL, MARYA-r,
DICKENS, Mrs. TRoLIoPE, HARRIET MART1NFAu,
ard the rest of them, could not injure us; and,
knowing them to be in great measure unjust,
the American people became more and more
Indifferent to European criticism.
The opponents of popular institutions hail our
present political imbroglio with great delight.
They now at last sec q fulflment Of their fvelong
prophecies. The Constitution 30 much vaunted
is being deliberately set aside. irresponsible pow
er rules tho day, caring nothing for the rights OF
tho minority. But nothing has awakened such
widespread interest, such universal dread, we
may say, as the proposed impeachment of the
President. And well may the world be aghast at
this gigantic political iniqnity. United States
bon is and securities, !" fiye-twenties," etc are
largely held in Europe; and those old fnanciers in
Frankfort, Paris, London and Vienna, know from
long experience that impeachment means revolu-
tion civil war, and universal bankruptcy. Hence
their anxiety.
The causes that led to our war were also but lit
tie understood by the generality OF European
writer's and this was doubtless due to general
belief that tho great questions that agtated this
country, and divided political parties, we're Of
purely local choracter,-lnere petty squabbling;
and before they were aware of the existence OF
any real grievance or difficulty, they heard the dis
tant cannon's echoing roar. Tho war, from begin
ming to end, was puzzle to thonl. There can
now be little doubt that France, and perhaps Eng
land, also, would have recognized the late Confed-
erato States, had they been cognizant Of the
true position OF affairs. The magnitude Of the
struggle, however, excited universal attention. and
the events that have transpirod since the war, as
vol as those now in progress, arc being watched
with deep interest, in other countries, by men OF
every cast Of political opinion.
But there are others concerned and alarmed at
the future before us, whose motives are OF q loss
mercenary character. The lover of liberty, the
friend Of mankind, cannot look on with Indifference
at the deliberate destruction of the nasniti-
cent temple of American liberty. The London
Times, for January IL, has o very able article
on this subject, of which the following is the col
Guiding paragraph:
s:The Senate and the House of Representatives
are now united in opposition to tho President; but
they represent different principles, which may
hereafter como into collision. The Senate has
hitherto been the more powerful body, both in
itself and in popular estimation. This was inevi-
table so long as the Central Government WAS
itself weak, as the Senate is the Representative
and guardian of separate State rights. But the fu-
sion of the North into one community which was
effected in the face of common dangers, in
Strengthening the Government at Washington
as WHOLE has strengthened the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes to an especial degree Its character is
more distinctly national, and it necessarily repre-
sents with greater fidelity than the Senate, the uc-
tuations of popular opinion. It is not difficult to
foresee which way tie victory must incline should
a struggle hereafter arise betwecn the two sec
tons of Congress- It would seem that the
natural consequence of the change through which
the Union is passing is I'M increase of the power
OF the more popular body Of the Legislature until
it becomes supreme. This result may or may not
be i'll Itself desirable but it would be mistake to
argue that it must be SO from the analogy Of our
own Constitution. The electoral machine of the
Union differs so much from our own that it is
scarcely possible the House Of Representatives can
ever fill tue place OF the House Of Commons, and
it is plain that the absence OF the Federal Minis
ters ttpm the House Of Representatives is in itself
the cause Of radical difference between the two.
we need not however, tiwell upon the future; lit
Is sutlclcnt to note the phase through which the
american Constitution appears to be passing, the
danger that the artificial balance Of powers, the
checks upon impulsive legislation, the indepond-
encc OF the Executive Government contemplated
by the founders Of the Republic win all bc swept
away.