The New York herald., 1870-05-16
TEE TENDENCIES OF GOVERNMENT.
Victoria {. WOodhull's Last Lesson In
Political History.

| 4A.e following communication from the bamoral
| broKeress, Mrs. woodruff, who, az the public Is
] already informed has devoted herself TO The en-
| lightenment OF our statesmen on the question OF
government besides consenting to fll the office Of
President Of the United States, will be found quite
interesting reading any Of her previous letters
on the same subject This is Mrs. Woodhull's con-
| cuding letter on the tendencies OF government
In entering upon the next and third part OF the
subject we are conscious Of the imperfect cOnstruc'
t0n Of the second. IL must be remembered that the
historic detail. but TO mark such Special facts as
evidently show there was progressive and consecu
tive rise and fall Of nations. Without apology Tor
omissions and minor errors, we proceed TO the con-
siderati0n whether the facts elected from history
form consecutive chain of progress, by which the
world has been evolved from barbarism, and whether
this evolution has been according TO present phio-
sophie formulas. The first and most prominent fact
tnat becomes OBVIOUS 10 sne observer o.
| been from the east westward. The progress OF the
earth In It's daily rotation upon Its own axes and also
In Its orbal movement around the sun is toward me
| east. This IA believed to explain the order MAN.
| tained by the course OF empire Motion being In
the direction OF the least resistance. the general ten
dency Of the surface influence OF the earth must be
| west Counter side influences have at times caused
deviations nom straight ines but this only makes
as general proposition the course OF empire and or
civilization and population has always been west
ward.
II this proposition applied to prehistoric times
TO govern deductions regarding II, neither Assyna
powerful empire OF the world. 1t is known that In
them there existed a numerous and powerful people
posed origin the same is true Of all the surrounding
countries. In Europe, Asia ana Africa. II 1t Is
allowed mat has resulted from H. the
that China and India were the OF Assyra
and Egypt
tribal communities previous TO the historic age OF
Assyra and Egypt, 1t will be seen that population,
general civilization and improving government
crossed Asia westward and developed the Assyran
Empire, which Tor the same general reasons must
be held the predecessor OF Egypt.
The Assyran Empire attained its greatest power
under Semiramis, 2l5o years b. G., which was about
the beginning OF the historic age OF Egypt and 700
years before Sesosrs conquered the greater part OF
the known world. In whatever comparative light
the histories OF these two countries viewed Assy
ria must be deemed the more ancient empire IL
NAV be further observed, IL Nimrod was The first
King OF Assyria, and the father OF Minus, the hus
band Of Semirams, the empire came to its greatest
glory in exceedingly short time. Very many rea
sons can be assigned why Assyra must have been
an empire OF centuries when semiraniis regned
The Assyran Empire In the year z, 150 b. @. was
the great power OF the world, having sway over the
greater part Of Asia and Africa Seven hundred years
afterwards, l,49e b. C Egypthad risen to its
greatest glory. and under Sesostris acquired the
Assyran Empire, beside vast country in Europe
and Africa Semiranns mad never subdued. Out OF
the ruins OF As5yria Babylon, Uneven and Medea
were formed, and being consolidated, We're merged
into the famous Persian Empire by Cyrus $50 years
u. o. or $50 years after the proudest Egyptian
period. The Persian Empire absorbed the Indian
ana Egyptian and became the most splendid power
TISlfn
world. Grecian power being concentrated by Alex
ander OF Macedon, acquired the ascendancy over
the Persians and he became the worlds conqueror.
Numerous Grecian colonies following the general
tide Of influence westward formed powerful king
doms N various parts OF the Mediterranean coasts
and islands. Rome rising to power contcndea with
Carthage for supremacy In the west Carthage
being destroyed by the three Punic wars, the atten
tion OF Roman armies was turned eastward to gather
IN the elder empires that were verging on decay.
Greece 146 years d. C. became the Roman province
OF Achaia. Continuing It's conquesJs further, fifty
years b. Co. Rome became fuller OF greater part OF
the inhabited world than any OF the previous en-
pres, and existed In the utmost pomp and glory
several centuries, until the Northern barbarians
swept over and extlnguished 1t. No considerable
Power existed after 49, until Chariemagne, though
some influence attached to several Asatc countries
Civilized nations were extinct in Europe. From
Charlemagne, In 800 to 1900 civilization continued to
rear its blghted head in various parts OF Europe,
and mark the countries that should play the next
last act in the drama OF unceaSnX general progress
The historic aye Of the world then, has been occu-
pied thus: The Assyran Empire existed and was
the Persian which was destroyed by the Grecian,
which was compelled TO yield to the roman, which
numerous Kingdoms ana empires should arise TO ex-
ist together and TO spread over ana occupy the out
side world Rome had never known.
From this succession OF empire many deductions
might be drawn which would assist IN forming a
wellde1ned line OF progress. Many are so obvious
that IL would be snpernnous TO name them; there
fore we leave them with the general observation
that in each succeeding empire the condition OF the
people was more directly and distinctly recognized,
while each, In graspng for universal sway, and not
possessing the principles upon which universal gov
ernment was possible, exceeded the limits OF their
central strength and thereby fell. India and China
alone, OF all ancient nations survive, because they
have never sought to extend their limits, but have
expended their strength within their own, though 1t
often was in war.
Tie commercial greatness OF England, more than
any other present externally apparent power, is
promoting the general assimilation OF the world.
THIS influence Is producing very great and dif-
America, which are opening ana clearing the way
for more radical and general control. II Is in-
possible that the increasing power OF civilized and
enlightened IDEAS and customs IN India, China and
Asia generally should not revouti0nize those codn-
tries Many Chinese VIII return from this country,
carrying with them the solvent power OF the genius
OF Institutions, which, combining with all SINH
lar powers, viii ere long kindle the flame Of popu.
lar individual freedom. This dame VIII cause Tepub
lies to spring into existence where form Of gov
eminent has existed through historic lime over the
same defined limits OF Kingdom. Another great and
powerful influence Is being eyoved that cannot lall
TO exercise q tremendous modifying power over
Asia. Russia, the European giant, is slowly but
surely pusning into Asia from the west. II 1t con-
tinUes its present well consolidated home strength
it Will absorb Asia until it meets the absorbing
process proceeding westward, When Asia will be
Eugopeahized anu prepared FOR q still grander con-
summation.
in Europe Russian influence is also gaining the
ascendancy. Though one OF the youngest OF Eu-
ropean Kingdoms il seems possessed OF an inherent
strength superior TO them all, which Bonaparte win
all his terrible power and ambition could not scaJler
nor weaken, ana which stands ever ready 10 gather
under It's protecting WINGS the sickenIng adjacent
Kingdoms. AZ present Russia IS Diding her time
shall soon reacn out and grasp ali they can COM
pass
Prussia, meantime, is eypending Its strength in
the vain enoeavor TO consolidate a country under
absolute control that Is impossible OF people so
nnmerously and uiffusiveiy represented, III coun-
try where freedom IS the rule. Throughout South
ern, Central aud Southwestern Europe republican
ism impatiently awaits the lime to burst forth and
sweep from among The debris OF The past all traces
of nlonarchical control. The country over which
the Roman eagles triumphed VIII again be
under republican form OF government improved
y Y.
pertinent. Russia VIII Then occupy central posi-
ton between the republics OF Europe and Asia, and
Its emperors be the last to yield ther crowns Like
no other country Russia has vast possessions In the
unyielding frigd zone. which gives way but slowly
before the gradually equalzlng temperature OF the
globe and OF the character OF which Russian govern
ment naturally partakes
Though revolutionzed. Southeastern Asia wll re-
main; China and India, the ancient Assyrlan, Per-
sian and Grecian empires Will be resurrected under
the consolidated Russiau, while Africa VIII be LEFT
for Egyptian control the promise OF which begins to
be visible In the direction given TO ciyIliza-
ton and commerce by the successful accom-
plishment OF Nechos' defeated project Egypt