The Portland daily press., 1873-03-17
Prussia's Reception of Gen. Grants Sec
Ond Inaugural.

The mNst ofus have more than once asked
ourselves Ihy the combined monarchies OF
Europe never thought it worth while to
crush out republicanism in America, while
it was weak and helpless. We have asked
ourselves if the time would not yet come,
after the infectious nature of democracy had
fully established itself, when such combina-
ton would be formed and assume an aS-
Qressive attitude in self-defense. For The
yery first law of democracy is that hereditary
ruler. have no right to be. Rel ublicanism
means that the kings, queens, emperors,
ears, su tAns, princes and mobiles that make
up nearly the entire body of the ruling class
in Europe are usurpers whose existence is
incompatible with the safety and happiness
of society. How does it happen that aris-
tocracies, having he power to repress demo
cratic agitation, temporarily at least, in all
parts of the world, have not done so? At
the close of the last century the monarchies
wers indeed sufficiently jealous of demo-
cratic neighbor, to decree that France should
not enjoy popular government. But they
permitted the great experiment to go on in
the United States, not realizing probably
that success here meant the ultimate free
dom Of the world. And up to the present
time we have been on terms of extraordinary
amity with the governments of the Gear and
Sultan. Only last summer the Emperor Of
Germany gave an extraordinary expression
of his frien, illness by deciding the San Juan
controversy in our favor. But nevertheless
no one could ra ionally conclude that the in
evitable struggle between the two irrecon-
cilable notions Of government that now pre-
vail could be forever avoided. Human ma
ture must change before the ruling families
of Russia, Germany, Italy, Austria and Scan
dinavia will view with indifference the spread
of self-g yenment in territory contiguous to
their own. - 9 7s
Taking these facts into consideration, the
violence with which the Berlin jou mails OBJ
ject to the statement in President Grants
second inaugural that there is growing ten
dency to free government in all parts of the
world, is most significant and, if these papers
reflect, as they probably do, the opinions of
the government, portentous. 1t may be that
Grants simple, unpretending address, which
seemed to attract little attention until this
fierce echo cane back from over the wafer,
may be The means Of precipitating a conflict
. which has been threatening for many de
cades. The proposition to suspend diplo
matte intercourse with the United States,
though made by mere unofficial newspapers,
shows how nervous the privileged classes
have become at the sudden erection of repub-
lies on the ruins of both the French and
Spanish thrones. If Italy alone, where dem.
ocracy has always had stIong foothold
could shake off its royal burden, the whols
Latin race would be republicanized. Those
who still sit on thrones and sway the desti
nies of millions with view to their own in.
terests and ag ,randizement may well fear thai
friends of free government may presently be
come strong enough to make common cause
and to mutually aid one another
It is one of the traditions of this govern
ment that in no event will it permit itself TO
become entansled in the controversies of
>aon nations, When the French or other