The national Republican., 1867-10-30
Interesting Reading ON Every Page.
SPREAD OF DEMOCRATIC IDEAS.


Not long since several English gentlemen who
were travelling in this country visited Washing
ton, and spent some days hero in looking sbou
the Capitol building and the different Depart
ments Of the Government. They expressed mue,
satisfaction at what they saw, thought our Par
Lament House was much superior TO theirs, ant
they seemed to be much pleased with every
thing except what they called our almost uni
vcrsal want Of reverence and respect for ou
high official dignitaries. They could not under
stand how it is that those who In this countr.
are ranked as the common people can spproaci
the governing classes with so much familiarity
They were given to understand that in thi
country tho people are the soversigns, and th,
rulers and officials are but the servants Of th,
masses. To them il was a novel sight that thu
White House, or the Palace, as they called It
should bc opened to all the people, and that the
President Oan bo approached BY the most hum
bic citizen with ease; that our great Captair
General GRANT moves about In citizens dress
walks the avenues, or rides In the street carr
like ordinary mOrtals, and does not hesitate Ia
meet and miDgle with the people as one Of them.
The wonder to them was how we can maintain q
due respect for law aud the dignity Of Official
position while this commingling Of classes char
actsrizes our society. They were given TO un.
dsrstand that herein lies the safety and the
advantages Of democratic institutions, and that
the time is not distant when these very same
ideas and practices will prevail In England and
elsewhere throughout the world.
The movements Of the free suffrage people in
England, and the agitation and conflict which 10
going on in the Colonial dependencies Of Great
Britain, give strong coloring Of truth to this
idea. The people Of many Of the Provinces Of
England are uneasy, and thore Is considerable
discomfort and classification with the home
government When we look to her colonies in
North America we see q restlessness that FORE
bOdes evil, unless the home government adopt
and pursue 4 very different policy from that 1t
is now carrying out. In the New Dominion on
our North, where all was to DO harmony and
peace, and everybody was to acquiesce in the
new condition Of things, the promised results
are far from being realized. The people Of Nova
Scotia are very far from accepting the situation
under the government Of the New Dominion. A
majority Of the people Of that Province would,
doubtless, be glad to be annexed to the United
States, or to adopt a government republican in
form. IN British Columbia they are carrying on
a very warm discussion upon the comparative
merits Of the British and American Govern ments
very large and influential party has sprung up
there, who advocate annexation to the United
States. Turning our attention to the East, we
find that the dependencies Of England in that
far.OG country are in q state Of excitement In
consequence Of the policy pursued towards then,
by the home government In Australia and in
New Zealand there is much conflict at what the
people there call the aggressiOns Of the mother
country. So in British India SO everywhere
throughout tho colonial dependencies Of Great
Britain.
II We inquire into tho causes which have pro.
dueed this state Of things we shall End no din.
Guilty in ascertaining the precise and evident rea-
sons which have brought about this spirit Of dis.
content and this dlspopition to throw of British
domination.
In the Grst place, then, the principal and
chief officials which the home government sends
cut to govern these colonies have been and are,
as general thing, men who feel no interest in
the countries which they misgovern. They have
nothing in common with the people, and, conse.
qusntly, no sympathy with them. They stop a
few years, make fortunes, and then return to
England to enjoy them. It is impossible to es,
tablish wise or safe government in times Liz,
these, upon such basis The rulers Of q fre,
people murt not cnly be among them, but the,
must be Of them and with them In hoart and Il
sympathy.
But the prime cause Of this dissatisfaction ant
discomfort may be looked for, as We have SAT-
in the caption Of this article, in the spread o
democratic ideas. The world moves and Is rap
idly throwing of and outgrowipg old and feuda
ideas. The Divine-right kings the notion tha
there must be governing Glasses, lifted above tn
people, born to ride the masses, booted an
spurred, can no longer obtain credence with re
fecting people anywhere who know their righti
America is the beacon for all nations-the Phs
ros that lifts itself above the stormy sea |
these troublesome times. Let the nations fol
low its light and be free.