The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-02
a FREE EMPIRE.
From the Imperialist, May 2a.]

From the Imperialist May 2al
Some OF our most thoughtful and consider
. ate contemporaries complain that the tmperl
ment as the only cure for the troubles OF tn
nation, does 30 in vague and general terms
without explaining fully what we propose. Th
complaint is in part just, but only in part.
It is difficult, in the outset Of discussion
involving such vast, varied and complicated
interests, to determine its limits or declare 1T
results. We have, in short, no ''cut and dried
Utopia to offer or describe, and prefer TO dea
simply with great central ideas. We re9art
| the cause Of good government IL Europe as pro
crossing favorably, but not only the origin
and past history OF the existing empires
the Old World, but their present condition arr
such as to preclude Us from referring to any
VI them, except as to particular features, for ex
amples OF the successful working Of our prtnci
| ples Like our own nation, they are too hea
vily encumbered with the wrecks and rubbish
Of the past, and, like them, We shall find oul
own development the slow and painful result O
thought and labor. Tho business to which
the Imperialist has set itself is the pure an6
patriotic purpose of calling the thoughtful
men Of the Western Empire to the careful dis
cussion which alone can 30 prepare the way as
to render sudden and disastrous convulsions
unnecessary.
As sort OF starting point for such discus
Our government ls not now what our fathers
intended, nor what The present generation
would have it.
1t has ceased to be in any true sense re-
public. It is "oaucus government" as dis
tinguished from an autocracy, q limited mon.
archy, or the represe NATIVE from which we
intended to establish.
We have lost individual freedom and self
government, without securing the strength
which is our due in the councils Of the world,
OF obtaining pure and vigorous afministra-
ton Of our home affairs. -.
Our people are no longer fitted for self.
government-themkelve fully recognizing that
faot-and have not only voluntarily surrendered
that prerogatiye but have ceased to educate
themselves therefor.
| The venality and CORFU otion in every depart
ment Of public administration, the extrava-
gance, oppression and lawlessness, have
reached point that is uncomfortable, while
nothing in our present system offers us any
hope for the future.
| growing worse, with prospect Of receiving
from Asia greater evils than We have 80 indus.
triously imported from Europe. Such people
cannot, in any true sense, be represented
| by men selected under the caucus method.
Thus far We have little fear OF any contradic-
ton from thinkipg and observing men; but we
must 20 further.
/
ply tyranny, caste distinctions than the
recognition Of individual merit and such in
beritance thereof as now exists aud is newt
able-nor does it require the abandonment by
| the people OF all such control OF their own To-
cal affairs as they are competent and willing to
exercise.
We care very little for Names for compari-
son OF our condition with that OF ,eas.-- pAa-
pies too clsarly chow US their want OF value.
We desire the establishment OF central gov
| ernment which will be strong enough to hold
| this continent together. and steadily adjust
the now jarriDg interests Of the different sec
tions and races. Such government should
have supreme control OF our foreign relations
and Of all administration not purely local and
municipal.
The determination OF the. limits OF its power
and the methods Of its action must be left for
future deliberation, but is an important theme
for present discussion.
eminent We should secure more substantial
and beneficial representation Of all classes and
al interests than is possible under the present
caucus system.
The rights of minorities would be more Be-
ssad sSd S1 ss Of ha
The individual character of the ruler for the
time being is Of far less importance than the
nature OF the institutions OF whion he would
Emperor-in clse he should be 30 named
happened to be weak or bad man, he would
be far less powerful for evil than vicious
President or q turbulent and venal Congress,
nor could he by any means escape perpetual
responsibility to the people. His realm would
be too vast for the exercise OF the minute op-
pressions which we now eroan under, and hls
reign might be truly said to continue during
good behavior"
Amope the benefits Of such form Of govern
ment w6believe we should secure pure judi
ciary; asimplifcation and reduction OF taxa
ton; an economical administration Of the en-
lire civil service; more extended and judi
cious system Of internal improvement, and an
accelerated national growth and development,
with q careful protection OF the nations honor.
at home and abroad. In return for these q AZ
many more advantages wa should surrender
nothing but the Yankee boys traditional
chance Of becoming President, and the insane
delusions that We govern ourselves and live IN
o Republic.
From years Of careful observation, combined
with large experience In the administrat OF
public affairs, we have arrived at the definite
conclusion that our country is steadily and
surely Advancing toward point whero the con-
tinuance Of the existing frauds will become no
longer possible, and an Empire. in some
shape, inevitable. To our minds this PROPOSE
lion hardly admits of argument, 30 clearly
manifest are the signs Of the times.
It is our aim, therefore. in The work to
which We are devoting 30 much time and
money, and in which we are running such
| risks Of personal obloquy. II not OF mob vio-
lenoe, to begin course OF agitation which
shall accustom our tellow-citizens 10 look the
truth in the face and to make such wide prepa-
tions for the coming change rs shall cause it to
be gradual. peaceful, and unaccompanied by
convulslon.
We see before us still. in spite Of the fear
ful evils which grow so riotously from the ra lk
corruption OF the day, the possibility Of the
creation OF the most perfect and durable gov
ernme Mt which the world has yet seen-one
whose freedom would prevent us from envying
the days Of W,shinRton, and whose duration
might yet throw into the shade the gathered
years OF China. Centuries will be required for
the assimilation Of the conglomerate popula-
tion OF this continent and the ajustment OF its
vast and varied interests, and for that develop
ment those centuries must cover an era Of
comparative internal peace and wise admins
tratioo. That peace is no longer, il it ever has
been, attainable under our persent SYSTEM
and We demand ard shall work for the aboli-
tion of This 'thipg OF shreds and patches, and
the establishment of power which shall bo
feared and honoIed abroad, at the same time
that it is loved and respected at homo.
Such newspapers as have found fault with u5
for "ylguenesS," and all others who are brave
enough to do 30, are invited to copy this
srtcIa