The Placer herald., 1867-05-18
Monarchy Against Democracy.

Union shall be entitled to vote for delegates"
The above is the test adopted by the DEM
ocra,ic State Central Committee on the 18th
Of April last. The necessity which called
forth the adoption of such test, shows that
the issue is narrowed down in the United
States to a choice between the only two
forms of government, by which man has
been governed from the earliest period to
the present day--the Sumner and Stephens
Congress-, denying tho right Of selfgoyern-
and the democracy maintaining it.
A pure Monarchy is where one man has
the power to direct what community shall
do or shall not DO, where the will Of one man
is the law Of the land, where that one man
has the power to take as much rs he pleases
of the proceeds of the labor Of all the rest.
Such govern ment is Russia, China or
Ashantee. All the nations. and tribes of
the yellow and black races of mon are now,
and have been from the dawn of history,
governed by absolute Monarchs. These
races comprise over two.thirds of the whole
population Of the earth. We have authentic
history of considerable portion Of the earth
for over three thousand years; and in all
that time it seems that the idea never enter
ed the head of the yellow or black man, that
all the members of the community had equal
rights. These races have never entered into
the discussion of the two anagonistic p:inci-
plea of Monarchy aud Democracy.
The white race have had much controver,
sy on this subject for over two thousand five
hundred years. and that controversy is, per-
haps, moro general and sc,ive now than it
has been at any former period. The highly
enlightened Englishmsn or Frenchmsp, or
German, stoutly defends against the srgu-
ments OF the American Democrat. Not,
withsanding the great diffusion of knowl'
edge 10 Europe, Monarchy still has greater
majority. Why does this majority exist
against US, amidst this glare of enighten-
ment? TO settle this question we must look
to the faculties, the powers, the qusliies of
man--the passions and appetites of man
all Of which are given by our Creator. No
man is content to be just rs rich and as wise
as his neighbor. He must be richer and wiser
or he s unhappy. No woman is content to
be dressed in the same kind Of clothes as
those of her neighbor. She must be dressed
finer, or she is miserable. Upon this equai'
ty---the disposition to excelI--civilization is
bail; but by it, man has has been slave
from the beginning. Every one desires to be
citizen ofthe "grandest" nation in the world.
All the crimes of individuals and of nations,
have been committed in obedience to this
one necessary, God-giv quality. Ifit were
possible for each individual of the whole hu,
man family to become perfectly willing that
every other individual should become his
eona, there would be no motive whatever to
commit crime, but such was not the will
of the Great Creator.
The great error of all our trancendental-
lists, from Robert Owen to Wendell Philips
is that they take men as they ought to be,
not as they are, Their schemes are imprac'
,icable, because they are are not based upon
the existing principles Of human nature. One
man feeling within himself the disposition to
subject another to his WILL very properly
concludes that the other would, if in his pow
er. lord it over him; and therefore he com
bines with others, perhaps, at first only for
selfdefence, but, finding that he has formed
a combination sufficiently strong be becomes
aggressive. This aggressive spirit animated
the ancient Republic of Rome. 1t animates
all Monarchies. The principle of human ma
ture above stated induces every king to ac
ouire broader dominions, to impose his will
and pleasure upon greater number OF men.
It is the first duty Of every citizen of free
government 10 guard against this spirit of
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The burning eloquence of
Patrick Henry warned the people against
"erand government" He said be wished
to sec rich and prosperous citizen, but
plain, cheap and simple government. Our
ancestors invited Canada and Cuba to join
them and enjoy their freedom and equal
rights. but would have scorned to accept
them as provinces. The great principles Of
self government-equal rights, equal bu'th'
ems, equal representation aud equal taxation
were epgraven upon the bearts of the
whole people. Their defendants acquired
Louisiana, Texas, California and Arizona,
only to furnish homes for our citizens, and
to add to our family offree, independent and
co-equal States
The monstrous idea of excluding one or
more of these sister States from representation
was conceived by Sumner and Stephens, who
controlled the majority faction in both
Houses of Congress. This being the first
total abandonment of the principle of self
government in the United States, it became
necessary that all questions of policy and
minor principles, should be temporarily aban-
doned for the purpose of uniting all the friends
of equal rights, in opposition to the kngIy
powers exercised by Sumner and Stephens.
The great Democratic party, whose positive
and progressive policy for over seventy years,
produced a nation whose prosperity and har.
piness has no parallel in history, is now forc'
ed into negative or defensive position. In
stead Of giving the word Of command 10 our
hosts to advance, we are forced to call upon
the people to rally, to turn and face the
enemies of free government. The Puritans
of New England, merely by force Of and i'm
temperate zeal, and the clamor from the pull
pit and press, have maddened the people;
have excited them to self destruction. There
is no instance on record where the people