New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-10
The Spirit Of Republican Government.

Tue spirit OF Republican Government.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
A republic" according to Webster, is "a
State in which the sovereign power is exer-
cised by representatives elected by the
people; common wealth" And the same
authority says that Commonwealth is
"a free State; popular government; whole
body OF people in . Stste.' Again, ire
publican" is defined as relating to, or con.
sonsnt with the principles of, republic
one who prefers republic" Mr.. Webster
also says that democracy" is govern
ment in which the supreme power is in the
hands of the people" and that democrat"
is IAN adherent of democracy" We have
entitled this article "The Spirit Of Repub-
lican Government" because we deem it
more in keeping with our form Of govern
ment, and more consistent with the spirit
of our institutions, than the word or name
democracy In theory and practice the
principle embodied in the word "repub.
lican" is more applicable to perfect govern
ment than the word democracy" The
principle represented BY ''republicanism'
can be practioed and perfected in the form
of government, while democracy" will
forever remain only theory and sound
Our object is not tO discuss the merits or
dement's Of names at this time, but 1.-The
spirit of republican government"
We have endeavored to show, in q few.
words as possible, the meaning of ''repub-
lcanism" and democracy" and the differ
enoe between the essential or principal OBJ
ject involved in their practical or real ap-
p!ioation. Now let Us inquire Of Mr.. Web
ster what is the meaning of the word "gov
ernmentl' Government: act Of Cover n
ing; system of polity in State; authority ::
the ruling power: the administration Ac-
cording to this, Republicans have q grand
theory for thought and noble principle
for practice, the conception Of which, when
properly studied, surpasses all other efforts
of the human mind, and is next in rank to
that ordained by the Creator for the govern
ment of the first object Of man, tho saving
Of his soul God created in rs pure spirit
like unto Himself; and because Of this like
ness, We are heirs to the kingdom of eternal
glory prepared for US from the beginning.
God also endowed Us with knowledge and
tree will To exercise our knowledge and
curb our free will, and make US sensible of
His dominion and power, He prepared for
| us government, in the way of commands /,
which he charged US to obey, under penalty
| of His displeasure and consequent punish
ment.
And God said 'Let US make man to our
| image and likeness and let him have do
| minion over the fishes of the sea- and the
fowls of the air, and the beasts and the
whole earth, and every creeping creature
| that moveth upon the earth
| And the Lord God took man, and put him
into the paradise of pleasure, to dress it,
and to keep it; and he commanded him,
| saving: "Of every tree of Paradise thou
shalt eat But of the tree Of knowledge, of
good and evil, thou shalt not eat; for in
| what day soever thou shalt eat Of it, thou
shalt die the death.'
Thus we learn in the first part Of the
book of Genesis that notwithstanding man
was piven command and dominion over all
a governor, he was also given to understand
that there was government, and Gov.
ernor, whose authority was superior to his,
and whose laws he could not break at will
Did Adam govern within the realm OF
| limits prescribed tor him' Did he obey the
laws superior to his own! History answers
| he was the first rebel, and he has transm it
ted the sin of his treason and his rebelli0uf
spirit to all mankind. To protect himself
and restrain this spirit, man has found il
necessary to adhere to the commands OF
God, and enforce rules for his government,
and protection And this brings as back
again to the spirit Of republican govern
ment. In it we have all the latitude pos
sible for the proper exercise OF the knowl-
edge and free will given to Us by the Divine
Father of all Here the citizen, the man
stands pre-eminently in all his splendor ani
power the rational being, the first of Gods
creatures, acknowledging no superior bu
his Divine Author. But he IMAM wants
q government. And for what doet
man want a government! Because he
was created q subject, and made
amenable to laws. Because notwithstand
ing he was made to govern, he, also
must be governed, that his passions may be
restrained and the object of his creation
kept in view by holding out to him reward
and puuishments There are other legiri
mate, pure and commendable objects Of
government looking also toward the ma
| terial affairs of man. And for these objects
also, government for man by man is insti
tuted, but the material is only auxiliary
and subordinate to the primary or trs
| great cause.
dence say: ''We hold these truths to b.
self-evident that all men are created equal
: that they are endowed by their Creator will
certain inalienable rights; that among thes
are life, liberty and the pursuit OF happl
ness. That to secure these rights govern
ments are instituted among men, deriving
their lust powers from the consent OF tn
governed" It is admitted by all tina
the above declared rights are anon!
and that the governed consent to tn
: government, or to be governed, no san
man will deny. We mean this il
its general and proper sense; for in tn
strict or technical sense no govern
ment can be organized that will b
acceptable to all the people. The gov
eminent of Heaven was not Acceptable
or acquiesced in bv the fallen angels
nor viii the government Of man be sui
mitted to any longer than the ambitieu
, spirit Of power forses the sword to cut IN
, eordian knot of authority. The govern
ment is of our own choosing. in fact it is Q
our own making, and it only remains t
, give obedience to the laws we have mad
, for the common protection, and support
the power we have inaugurated to enfore
them. When we fail to do this, we simpi
. repudate our contract with our fellow me
, and neightors, WAC have contracted wit