The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-11
ConstitutEOnaI Government In the East Of
FurOnp

II
circGmscribins the desporc power of the 5altau
by local institutions, and by educating his
subjects IN the practice of self government,
viii h, when united with an independent Judi
rature forms o surer foundation for oonstitu-
tioual liberty than all the written constitutions
OF France slrce the year 1871. Even the Pa'hs-
King Suzeraiu OF Egypt has PACKED represen-
fatiye as emily, and made his dominion bear
the same relation 10 constitutional monarchy
that hypocrisy bears to virtue. The once un-
ebapgeable East Is walking onward at aquick
pace and bv unknown paths, to political
hture Greece became q constitutional state
in 1922, and IS now ruled by generation born
lo freedom. Whatever may be the shortcOm ugs
NJ he cor sitntional ates 10 the East, their
Goyernments are greatly superior to the arbi,
tIAry administration of the Turkish Pashas aud
Greek Hos podars; and bripandage ltseu appears
10 destroy less pr perty aud oder aver impeti-
ments 10 the progress OF society than Arnaont
tsY-gatnerers and unrestralned desponc po Fer
H. ls often said, however, tnat some nations
are nnht for constitutional government, ana IL
is an undOubted aud FAD trdth that many
nations are not IN condition TO make good
u-eOf T.. A clio * is OF no use TO those who do
MOI kno how to wind 1t up, or who wind 1t up
with such violence that it stops. There are
na,ions az present unfit to make good use of
an EQUITABLE judicial system, bat nobody would
as that 1t is not necessary to give these nations
courts OF justice. Constitutional government,
like the human frame, has its childhood, and
II l. long OF attaining strength and Vigor. 1t Is
a fabric that requires to be constructed with
habits forms, aud institutions, and its founda-
tions REQ qurethell lDse Of more than ouegeneratiou
to consolidate them. In tue East 1t has still to
contend with the prejudice that might Is the
nearest thing TO right, and with the delusion
tb az the strongest government is practically
the best government for the actual state OF So
ciety. Many who hate single personal tyrant
are 30 convinced that tyranny must be that they
are advocates for a democratic despotsn.
Constitutional government is supposed
PEs resist the possess dsmocrac power Which,
De Tocqueville regarded as ding. in the
present condition OF our civilization, to become
an irresistible despotism. As we see, however,
that the widest passions of human nature can
be disciplined by laws, surely law can become
powerful enough to restrain the most demo-
cratic governments with the aid of constttu-
immediate problem for constitutional nations
in the East is how to orgaLize the people
so that a democrats power shall respect the
government it constitutes. No system of gov
erDment can give any strong security tnat
society repudiates revolution until both the
law of the land and the constitution OF the
Safe place the judicature above the executive.
The kIngd ON Of Greece has been hotbed OF
revots, rebellons, and revolutions, yet the
working of constitutional government
nsEs 9son Of foSs Se DF4GGe % produces S
in Oriental society i'll very difficult circum-
stances. The habits and prepossessions of the
Greeks kept their opinions see-sawing between
despotism and lawessnesS, The earliest constt
tuition OF Greece promulgated on New Years
day, old style, 1922 reads like an antiouated
essay. 1t reflects the theories current in France
supposed would favorably influence public
opinion in the civilized world rather than what
could be practically applied IN Greece. The
consequence was that this constitution of 1922
was a dead letter; neither the Government nor
even the representatives of the pc ople paid any
attention 10 what they had enacted. Still 1T
could be observed during the War of lndepen-
dence. amidst scenes OF destruction, anarchy,
and suffering without parallel in this century.
A party existed intoxicating the necessity for
settled principles of government and torms OF
administration In oppo sltion to the arbitrary
personal power assumed by party leaders
and military chiefs. Unfortunately, no
MIaoules, appeared to possess mind with the
capacity for making his executive activity cou-
form TO general laws; and Miaoules being an
Albanian of Hydra, imperiectly acquainted
with the Greek language, was undt for becom-
ing the Washington OF a nation of pedanIs.
Count Capsdistrlas, who might have lai1 the
foundations OF national institutions, made every
principle OF liberty and law subordinate to
might in order to establish his Vn personal
government. In 1882 Greece was made king
dom by Great Britain, France and Russia, and
the crown was conferred on Prince Ohio OF
Bavaria, then seventeen years OF age. Ia 1833
Immediately on their rival in Greece, the B4-
VaIian Regency abolished the Constitution, in
direct violation of the promises given both by
the King of Bavaria and by the three protect
ing powers, who have had reason to regret their
connlvance at this act OF royal larceny. After
IObbing the Greeks of their constitutional
rights aud incipient institutions, the Bavaran
Regents and King ONO governed the Greek
kngoom despotically for ten years;
During this period OF personal
government, the seeds of many pohHctl
and social evils were sown, which yielded a
rank and poisonous crop, and which still retard
the formation of good system OF government.
In l843 the patience of the people was eXhaus ed,
and q revolution expelled the Bavarians, put an
end to the despotic power OF KING Otho, and
framed q constitution on the continental model
of that time, with q salarled Senate OF veteran
officials, and a paid House of Representatives.
This constitution worked very i'll, yet it lasted
nineteen years. Toe Senator'S were named for
lite. King Otho tlled the Senate with men oi
moderate capacity and extreme servllity, and
encouraged jobbing and place-huntug as sure
means Of making the members who received
1avors devoted to his dynasty. The House o
Representatives was elected by universal sui
fraee and the country was div ded into large
electoral stricts. Personal chara ;ter and Loca
interests were sWamped IN bog of democracy
central authorities could pass securely EXDe
rience convinced the people that salarieJ
Senate of officials must be nest o
corruption, and that a House of Represen
tatives consisting OF nominees of the Execu
tive must be club of place hunters. Re-
less. Gradually, but slowly, the hatred of tht
nation concentrated itself on King 0tho's head
He was stlgmatZed as. the cOrrupter of TIT
Senate, the iobber of the House of Represeu
tatives, and the enemy of national improve
meut. The remedy was sought In anothe
Otho, condsca,ed the rights which the three
Drotectlug powers bad conferred on tn
Bavarian dynasty, abolished the saaried Senate
established a single Repres tatiVe Chamber
and endeavored to exclude Governmen
nominees and mere place hunters b
with the exceotion of Ministers an
military aud naval officers on half-pav, canuO