The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-06-13

The Power Of Public Sentiment-Repub-
Ifcan Sovereignty-The People Re-
sponsfbIe-weaIthD Dominant Only by


sponsfble-Wealfh Dominant Only by
Permission.
Especial Correspondence of the SENTINEL
WASHINGTON, June 4.-Orders from head
quarters usually have authority, and senti-
ments from the same source should certainly
have the greater bearing, because it is natur-
ally supposed that such locality is Il proper
standpoint for correct observation, as well as
for sound knowledge. This city
is the gathering place of the
leading spirits of the government
of the men who make political economy
their study and who usually lead off in the
creation and rule of public sentiment. In
fact they largely run the government. and
to accomplish their purposes they mold the
people to their will and manipulate them
to the shackles of their party. This is patent
to every intelligent observer. While the
average voter may fail to see it he, by his
suffrage, is building up an empire of
costly officials to rule the country at
the expense of the sweat and toll
and financial embarrassments of the vot
ing masses. The poor man enjoys
the glorious liberty of voting at the pools,
and thinks it great privilege; but does he
imagine that in doing so be is only carrying
out the plans aud orders of his masters?
But few of our people, comparatively, are
thinkers, and but few of them act in gov
eminent matters from their own personal
:
but they seem not to know that hands be-
hind the throne give the impetus; and
hence the forms of the ballot-box evince too
often only the mere theory of republic.
The plannings and results of elections are the
work of designing and interested politicians.
We talk of the power of public sentiment
and of the talismanic results of the ballot
box but where does this public sentiment
originate? Who creates it? Who rules its
reGulte2 How often ia If the paop that 0ur
great excitements are gotten up to carry a
campaign, and to secure the success of men
who after their election care only for them
selves. The true interests of the public well
fare are not considered. Political selfisbness
rules as law while the ignorance and pride
OF party spirit are all that is left as the heri-
tage of the people. What is termed public
sentiment is often only the sim
pie creation of leading and de-
signing men who want Jobs
for themselves, or-wish to occupy some
place or office that will fill their Golfers and
add to the arm of their strength in further
ruling the people. Even the theory is
wrong and always wrong, and the sooner the
people wake up to it the better This is not
government of rulers, but of the people.
They are the sovereigns and the legitimate
creators of public sentiment, and as such
they should see to it that their own senti
ments rule in all government affairs, and
that their public servants obey them and
carry out their orders TO the letter. They
should not suffer themselves to be cajoled
by political or moral tricksters, for
litical slavery and the other will
only seduce them to the igorant subordina-
ton of blind fanaticism. the union of
these two classes of demagogues has often
done great harm in our government, and as
yet their power has never been fully check
ed by the voice of the people. Sectionalism
has taken the place of patriotism, and sec
tartan fanaticism has done its best to hold
dominancy over the policy of the govern
lnent. 1t is not a matter of wonder, then,
that the people are everywhere complaining
of dull times, of official extravaganza and of
civil tyranny. These are the legitimate re-
suits of their own carelessness, and of their
own political delinquencies. They
have trusted the affairs of the
government TO the management
of selfish tricksters, designing demagogues
and moral mountebanks, who have shaped
the outlines of our national partyism,
and created an order of government wholly
incompatible with the genius of the repub-
lie and in direct conflict with the best inter
ests of the people. For all these things,
however, we hold the people responsible.
They are to blame, because they are the
guardians of their own rights and the pro-
lCSIOio VI llCAA OWu Ii luCg
fer from false rule they surely are TO blame
for no one can exercise official power with
out their consent and if, through neglect or
indifference or fanatical partisanship, they
let selfish demagogues get into power
they must reap the penalties
of misgoverned republic. In govern
ment like ours this responsibility can not be
shifted from the hands of the people with
out public injury, for the rule of the many
~ 70 io ha lrv Of
government
1t is often said that wealth rules all gov
ernments and that it is an easy matter to
buy up the masses to any desirable or covet-
ed policy. This has, indeed, been done, as
we are aware; but that 1t should obtain in
government like ours, where the people are
the guardians of their own rights and priv
ileges, is certainly the manifestation of a
strange self-stu ratification, such as no think
ing people would long submit to
under any party name or un-
der any circumstances whatever
The American people at this sine are COM
planning loudly and everywhere of the inan-
cial economy of this government. But who
made this government? we would ask. Are
not the people the arbiters of the nations
destiny? Can any policy long exist without
their consent? II they do not submit to
the tyranny of rulers, can they be ruled at
all?
The very idea of free people sitting still
and complaining of the oppressive policy of
the government when the whole thing is in
their own hands is, to say the least of it,
simply ludicrous. Let them be up and
doing; let them speak out, and let them
teach their public servants to do their will
and if they do not comply, let the voice of
the ballot-box call others to serve them, and
then they will see redeemed republic and
prosperous people. o. p. Q.