The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-15
Popular DespotIsm.

holds that government 10 hee
is popular In form. A government 10 more
or less free according to the lees or greater
amount of power which it yields. Nowhere
in the world probably can be found mere
degraded and abject set of white slaves tnsn
tho Russian people. And 1t is precisely 10
Russia that the most absolute power 10
vested in the government; but 1t must be
rememb ered that this absolutism hoids
good as we'll in its municipal popular gov
ernmsnts as in its general imperial govern
ment. 1t is not by any means the |zsf
only that sends people to Siberia; 1t is the
neighborhood vote as well.
There is throughout the country separ-
alton into villages. Each village is mu-
nicipality of which the government ia
called the Mir" This assembly is rep
resentative on the Democratic principle,
and, yet, observe it's power. No man can
absent himself from the village bounds
without permi scion from this Mir" and
upon it's simple decree he may be- cent to
Siberia. The Gear is not more absolute in
his universal sway than the village Com
mune in its limited sphere. 1t lie mere
matter of taste whether one would prefer
trusting his destiny to the educat... uespot
ism of prince, or to the boorsh caprice of
besotted peasantry.
The despotism consists in the ertent OF
the power, not in its mode of exercise, and
the only advantage of a popular govern
ment is it's Acknowledged right to limit
the power of it's rulers. 1.-THE people think
they have given too mach authority to the
government, they can hold convention,
change the Constitution and cut off powers
which have been, or may be, abused. If
the Constitutions of Louisiana, for instance,
recognized that all the property within it's
limits belonged to the State, that the Leg
slature could redistribute it every year,
that no man could travel beyond mile
from his house without the consent Of the
police jury, that upon the secret order Of
that police jury and without trial, any
citizen could be sent to live at the Rigo-
lets without q mosquito bar, would it not
be rightly considered an Infamous despo-
tism although every officer in the State
were elected by popular vote. The des-
POSleLA III eASn u CA9o WOu1 Oo 40 SAih0tbS
and insupportable as though the Governors
Office were hereditary.
Designing men would obtain control Of
these vast powers, rings Of the most poten
and Influential intriguers would surround
every function Of government, they woult
nae the money of the State to corrupt 1T
suffrage and abuse for personal ends th'
| authority go foolishly lavished on them by
conAding people. The only real point o
advantage in such situation over Rus
sian despotism would be that the peopl
could constitntionaily and without rebel
lion modify tbeir organic law, and lop OF
ali rupeltfuous power.
Z But there il such thing as an instins
Of despotism, just es there 10 an Instinct I
murder, and the fiercess republicans can
fpnnd eager to organise despotiSm und'
1.-THE popular fOrma to which they are wedde,
such people are fAs more numerous than OF
woula suppose possible IL taking only :
exsFems yiaw 81 the cass IKE that just IN
aEinea. In csheT words, there are MAJ
good neR who thsrnt after g ss1one 60
ernmsnt, e they can Il. These so
! folks psruasde themselvss shat there is
4 kind 81 alviulty IL National govsFnnnes
thae every ahIng ii done tsstars more viz
& II. 1ase eesneAA leaily s nspFe ftlys by So
sfnnf6as On eial gsll3enl shan bys q
tsse sat1xsss nsry ont tbnlk shecsy n
Fea slssr not sna y & 8vas sEk szsisnlss !
q knrsane xAisssAye, e6vespiassb men
s fot tho pn1iale j. ~ oss eeyeRnEns
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