The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-02
Republic or MONARCHY.

All Western Europe is discussing, with more
or less energy, the possible outcome OF the
Spanish revolution and the shape the new gov
eminent will take. VIII it be a republic or
monarchy? Viewing the practical operation
of several Of the greater governments of the
world we are disposed to doubt whether there
is really so much difference between the tive
as to justify all the discussion, and whether
the question of republic and monarchy is not
mostly q matter of words. In all countries
tnat feel the civilizing and progressive inau-
ences OF contemporary thought government has
nnaiiy taken such shape that it may be ana
iyzed into nearly identical quantities. There
are in each legislature, tribunal to define
and declare the full effect and limit of the
utterances of the legislature, and an authority
charged with the power and duty Of enforcing
the DEGREES of the legislature and furnishing
the violation of these DEGREES. This collection
of political elements and the mutual relations
of each are what is meant by the word govern
ment in France, in Italy, in England, in Prus-
STA and in the United States, without regard to
the words monarchy and republic. a.
In all nations that recognize these elements
practically or theoretically as the basis of gov
eminent the legislature stands as the true
source of vitality, and this admits that the
people are the ultimate sovereign power.
Even in those countries that are nearest to
despotic power, where the king may do the
most of his own will, the same admission
comes in very practically whenever the king
finds that his decree has more respect if issued
through legislature and passed upon the pee
pie asa decree framed indirectly by themselves,
and the fact that kings find it worth while to
adopt this plan indicates the exact limit to
which monarchy can go in its departure from
the principle that is the basis of republics. In
countries where royalty judges it wise to put
forth the notion that its DEGREES are inspired
by the popular voice it is evident that the
popular voice is thing that will command
attention when really heard. 1t is the popular
voice, therefore, as heard in the legislature
that is the real power in modern governments,
whether called republics or monarchies, and
the rest is the accident of history, prejudice
climate. Whether the legislature be the
French or Italian Chambers, the British House
Of Commons or our own Congress- it is the
same; it is the popular will, written In the
law by whatever organ that gives the govern
ment its character.
BY these practical examples we see, then,
that the great difference between republics and
monarchies, as monarchies stand now, ID
merely difference in the tenure of the execu.
tive-a difference in one Of the adjuncts only
of government. Thus in the United States We
have king for four years-only we do not
call him king, because Of a prejudice against
that word. In England they have queen OF
king, who holds the position during good be-
havior. In countries where the executive
holds during good behavior there is always apt
to be difference of opinion as to the beha.
vior that justiiies removal, and so it gene
rally takes civil war to make change. 1t
seldom occurs that a whole people are so well
agreed on such topic as the Spaniards were
this time. And this difficulty in getting rid OF
the executive is the defect Of the European
system. Our plan, that makes the executive
regularly amenable to the popular voice, 10
theoretically correct aud practically much the
better of the two. We think the Spaniards
would be wiser in choosing this plan but
they will be safe enough with either, since,
whichever they may choose, they sacrifice no
vital principle of national life.
FRANK BLAIR's FAREWELL ADDRESS in the
East, en- route to st. Louis, was delivered at
Jersey City on Saturday night to a rousing
turn out of the unterrifed, and his last dis-
charge was parting shot at Coltax. Blair
goes one way and Seymour another, and 80
they have not come together since July, and
may, perhaps, never meet again. Charge 1t to
the Tammany Convention.
SOMETHING TO RE THANKFUL. FoR--That
under the universal law Of an end TO all
earthly things there comes at last an ending
to the electioneering fuss and fury, and wrath
and vengeance, and all the annoyances Of .
Presidential contest