The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-06-28
Popular Discussions.

Popular Discussions.
John Stuart Mill, the prince of
Free Traders, could find in the Gin
cinnati Platform all the practical op-
portunity that he has claimed for his
doctrines. Some of his American
followers do not seem to appreciate
the opportunity. They have based
their theory Of Free Trade upon the
faith that government should not in
terfere with the people, and upon
the faith that communities should
allow the development of the great-
est individual freedom. With this
theory, they could not, Of course, in
sist that political party, hoping to
obtain the power Of the Government
for the sake of simplifying and re-
forming it, should dogmatize and
force upon the people the system of
Free Trade or the system of Protec-
ton.
In the Cincinnati Platform, the
doctrine of laisses5aire finds it's gold
en- opportunity. The discussion of
the respective systems of Protection
and of Free Trade is left to the
masses, whom they most affect
Never before in the history of poll
tics did party forego so much pow
er, or interfere so little with individ-
ual freedom. 1t is scarcely a year
since Democratic editor despaired
Of seeing the principles Of Free
Trade have any practical effect until
by some commercial or industrial
revulsion the apprehension and the
decision of the question should be
forced upon the people yet it has
come to pass that a party, instead of
drawing issue pa the subject between
two Or three political parties, does
force it home upon the masses in the
local districts. The plank is demo-
cratic, educatiye, liberal, and WISE
De Tocqueville thought that the
worth Of democracy in America de-
pended upon the responsibility Of To-
cal townships in political affairs.
The Cincinnati Platform has recog-
nized and developed that RESPONSE
bility, by giving to the districts a
question Of vast importance. Not
only are the people of local commu-
mites to vote for particular candi-
dates OF their own choosing, but
they are to decide what laws those
candidates, when they become Con-
gressmen, shall make. At present
Free Traders must address their ar.
guments to candidates who usually
vote, not for the people, but with the
party. The Free Trade League
could not have wished the drawing
of more distinct line of division OF
the questions of Protection and Free
Trade among the people. We have
declared Burke's policy, that, nc
matter what may be the intellectual
[ theory of a statesman, the people
, shall at all events have what they
: demand. For many years local pol
itics have depended very great.
+ upon the instructions Of Govern
: ment officials. The Internal Reve
, nue. Assessors and Collectors, tn
!, Registers and Postmasters hav'
, welded district affairs (; and thei
power has been carried to so grea
' a length that, when small politi
. clan in remote country distric
t could not hope to become one of tn
local officials, he was satisfied ant
9 purchased by a position in the New
York Customhouse. The decline G
the Internal Revenue Assessors AM
: Collectors has left room for reac
8 ton which the people are not slo,
2 to take advantage Of.
e The first great intellectual ehec
+ of the Cincinnati movement is tina
y men begin to discuss questions with
9 out regard to party restrictions, an
j. the second great effect will be tina
y they must decide upon question
i and arguments of their own raising
" This is the effort of Democrac
e agaisnt centralism, an effort whic