, 1869-05-21
.wb.o ne wicked Rule. the People Nourn.''

aWhen the Wicked Rule. the People Mourn"
II has been true 10 all times of the worlds 8
history, that the wickedness OF those who are
set up as rulers and governors is the chief
and great, If not really the only cause OF the
suiIcrings of the people. And twas 10 avoid
the perma.ency Of wicked rulers, moresthau
for any other thing, that the idea ofgovern-
ment BY the people was successfully estab'
li,hed 10 the Western world. The Eastern
world had given to the Western its bloody
and mournfu lessons upon this subject. and
it waa 10 place the power in the hands OF the
people as a protection of the people against
power. that our patriot fathers conceived the
American system Of "government by the
consent Of the governed" 1t was to protect
the people that il was ordained that a wick 4,
ed ruler might be spared the people his per-
petual rule, aud that they might be permr>
ted to choose often and to hold power. But
with all their wisdom, with all the guarantees.
with all the checks and balances, with all
the protective bulwarks set about the temple
Of popular liberty. the principle has been
overriddeu, and democratic government vir-
tually set at naught, aud we are to>day as
people, as closely hedged in by power wrung
from us. and held by usurpaton, as are the
people Of any of the unhappy despotisms Of
the Eastern world. We are now permitted
to mourn with the millions and hundreds Of
millions, who have mourned the wickedness
of wicked rulers, aud the grief Of this people
should be all the keener, that they once pos
sessed and voluntarily surrendered that lib
erty, and happiness, and future, which no
h..v lah a
been subjects and slaves of power, never
having enjoyed sovereignty and liberty and
been the source of power itself, our grief
might haze been that dull quality which
seeks expression only in hours of great suf-
frring, such as the MORNINGS of the subjects
of the perpetual despotisms of Europe in the
throes of dying dynasties from whose wombs
come despotsms all the more oppressive and
odiOuo, that they are younger aud more viz
orous. Then, again, slavery under drspo-
ti>m like Russia, Austria, Prussia, and the
older ronarchies of Europe, is slavery with
the assurance of something like evennesS
and stability while the slavery which >tare-
this people in the face, is one without law
or precedent, and will be oppressive to the
extent Of the license Of the hour and the
whim Of the moment, 1t will be a de>pol>nl
of party-of class-of wealth over industry
of unlicensed aud unbridled power over a
weak, unresisting, and subdued people. 1t
will be & licentous monarchism without law
built upon runs, with an nus,.ie foundation,
and a hopeless future, subject to 90 down
aud rise up each fortnight, as the many mon
archial republics that live about Us with
/ = b. nj
| die periodically with the kuiic. \ republic
On the monarchial principle, is republic
without law, and such government is the
most ndiOus, criminal, and ddnDablr, which
can afilict any ps0ple A monarchial rcpub-
lie is such one as has obtained in this coun-
| try during the past decade. 1t is the one
I which with the hollow form of democracy
| is in reality monarchy, holding conquered
provinces without law, which puts its heavy
foot upon the people, tearing away thei'
governments aud lave, de.yinS their will,
and .usurping their prerogatiVes, 1t is the
full monarchial principle, which disrrgards
the equality OF c0mmOnwcalths or persons,
aud makes decrces cira rOce, TO be executed
by arms. 1t is government which is deaf
to the protests aud prayers of the people,
and blind TO the condition of the ruled
Such character of government is to be fed
from, as the wayfarer on the highways oil
Ilinddstan wouldafy from the erouching
tiger
What this people have lost they will learn,
a'as all too late When power is establish
ed firmly. as it is even now consummAting
all too plainly, they will mourn. not alone
the wickedness of their rulers. for God knows
there Is sufficient cause for mourning on that
score now, but also their own cowardice 1t
is sad spectacle that future which is even
now unfolding for the American people J.
Democrdtic IKokhman.
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