New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-06
A FUNNY DEMOCRAT.

The PlcdyAne processes to be demo-
cratic. Now democracy means the gov
eminent Of the people by the people. It
does not signify government of the peo-
pie by corporation. whether called a
State or otherwise. nor yet a government
of the people by an executive; yet the
Picayuoe has of late condemned the gov
eminent Of the whole people Of the United
States by the whole people Of the United
States. This, whether Just view Of the
State and federal relations or not, is GER
tainly not democratic. The Picay.,ne says:
The tendency of the legislative branch
of the government to absorb all the pow
ers which are designed to be distributed
between Itself and the executive and the
judiciary, struck the prophetic mind of Jet
ferson as the chief danger that prudent
men should guard against in our republican
system.
Now. we question whether any advocacy
of the executive department can be found
in all the writings of Jefferson. He dis
played republican jealousy Of the
''single person" as the old English re-
publicans always called the executive.
He displayed an unlimited confidence in
the people. not only as the source OF all
power, but as best qualified to administer
their own powers. He labored to qualify
the people for the trust. but in none Of
his writings has he ever intimated the
superior capacity of king or President
to enact or administer laws for the gov
eminent of the people. For ourselves. We
prefer intrusting defined powers to the rep
resentatiyes Of the people. amenable direct
ly to the people, and We deem any system
inconsistent with republican principles
which intrusts more power. patronage, or
discretion to the executive than is abso-
lutely indispensable to execute the will OF
the people. as expressed through their
representatives. History tells us where
the modern Democracy broke off from the
Republicans. 1t was when the President
asserted discretion to construe the laws,
which the constitution awards to the judi
ciary. It was when the President. to
execute a policy Of his own, took the rev.
enues of government from a place OF
deposit designated by the representatives
IF the people. The Republican element.
true to those anti-monarchical principles.
opposed this exercise of power. TIE ele-
ment that distrusted the people and aivo-
Gated the discretion of the executive. sUs-
tanned the President. This much contro-
verted act was characterized at the time
as "a union of the purse and sword in
the same hand"
The independence Of the Judiciary is a
figurative phrase. Judges are nominated
by an executive and confirmed by SEN
ate, or they are elected by representative
body or by the people direct. but in either
and in all cases they are chosen upon their
general conformity to the politica! opin-
ions of the power that appoints them. A
Democrat. therefore. who distrusts his
peoples representatives. who would prete:
IAN honest military despotism." Or prefers
to intrust power to corporation called
State. to its exercise by the whole body O..
the people. would be funny anomaly.
but for one thing-he would be seeking
to acquire power in the name of his peo-
pie. to be administered by executive
discretion Or by the corporate clique OF
State administration. We trust tie peo-
pie will be on the lookout for this Democ-
racy that distrusts the people. and that
only asks power at the hands Of the peo-
pie to exclude the people from controlling
the administration Of their own trusts.