New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-20
TIE ADDRESS,.
nation.

The notion seems to be more or less def
! intciy held that in civil government men may invent
any institutions they please unchecked by any such
s:ralnts govern mechanical inventions. II seems to
believed Also that the Of political science Is to
| invcit some scheme OF goveTnmcnt which, when
found will put end to all troubles In the art OF
! ernmcnt, and being universally introduced vii! mako
| all men happy forever after. The notion seems to be
still more widely held that is possible for us to make
changes in political institutions to hold last all the
advantages have gained and by successive amend
mcns advance toward perfection. 1t seems to be be-
lievcd, furthermore that any may easily Invent
political institutions devise improvements on old
oups without any particular trouble.
must preface what have TO say about Democ-
racy and Responsible Govemment by denying tho truth
OF any of these notions because they viii be apt,
wherever they exist prevent correct understanding
| OF what have to say.
II IS only IN UtOpias that have invented new
political institutions They have put their Utopan
institutions the experiment. for the simple
thar every Utopia begins with the posUlate that tho
world be made again from it ia into that
Kind of q world which the Utopia needs IN order be
practicable. Tie priort philosophers who began with
q state of nature aad assumed such state aud such
men In ii suited their notions, far rs 20 try-in
the French Revolution, for instance-to put some OF
their plans into practice. Those plans failed however,
and their failure involved disaster. Many people be-
lieve that American Institutions invented by the
fathers and presume that this IL reason why tho
belief strong that men can invent institutions OF
civil government The truth is that the fathers devised
some expcdens in governmental machinery all II which
have failed of the objects they aimed at have been
distorted to others; but American institutions arc
striking illustrations OF doctrine that political nst
tutiOs which endure and thrive always arc the product
development and growth, that they out OF the
national character AID the national circumstances. md
that the efforts man control limit them
imff5 10
mense exeIi0n OF force the results attained even at
! that This fact with regard to American institutions
will demand our attention further on.
We must also abandon al hopes OF finding abso-
lutely hest" sy-cm OF government, which viii
alter any of tie conditions Of human life, except by
doing the mischief which mistaken effort may have done.
| If we study human nature aud human history, find
that civil institutions only better" and "best"
relatively the people tor whom they exist, and that
they be called only they are more closely adj
used to tie circumstances Of the nation III question.
The p,ior philosophers have lei men a,tray by their
assumptions and spcculati0ns. teaching them TO look
into the clouds for dreams and impossibcs Instead OF
studying The world and life they ere, to learn
how make the best OF them We shall discover or in
vent system of government which we carry from
nation nation, counting uniform action and re-
suits everywhere do, for instance, with steam
| engine a telescope.
GREAT PRINCIPLES.
In this view worst political discussions IS
| that dogmatism which takes its stand great prin
cples or assumptions cad of standing
examination OF things they and human nature ~
The commoucst form of this is tat which
arises discomfort with things they An ideal
Is formed of higher better state OF things
than now exists, and almost uuconsclonsy the IDEAL Is
assumed as already existing and made the basis OF specu
latons which have root. Al other times doctrine
winch IN measure true its author intended
it, is converted into popular dogma and made the sub
iect oi mschevous differences. Thus have heard
who ana nos Know wadt syIlOsisih was lesoh Ihat =
city ought give work tOnncmployod aboreis rs follows
Isn't government for the greatest good Of the greatest
nImbcrf We are the greatest namler ana th9reIo.e IL
| Is fOr as Oiher examples OF 9osnatisln Dtsed on
great principles" which are either falaees or ms
cheyous nall truths, emf ~ phrases which people
to lorce To rigorous realzi ton, are common IN
French history ana III our own shall nave To refer 10
experience OF them again only Wish 10 say al uls
point, the social yet the stronghold
of all this pcmicious d0gmatsm, and nowhere does s
dO more harm ia n IN politics. The whole method OK
abstract speculation on oeal topics is vicious. IL -
popular because II is easy. II is easier To imauc new
world than learn Suow this II is easier To
than study tine history ofrtaes and institutions 10
catch popular do2ma than 1t II t. analJ
1t to see whether Is True or not All tbis 'id 20 c'u
uSlon the dominion Of phrases and patiiudes, 10
much dls puung but ite gain IN Tie prosperity o M
tons Tue science oil pOhucs CONSISTS IN sucn sluy Oh
history stall discern the nature and laws Of civil So
cety and the general principles Tor ATTAINING its ends
lue a., politics consists Ia finding the ends
Of clyi society a. the n-es arise, under the general
long ana wide experience Ia ls practical business IN
which special training, tact, skill, sagacity, aud scunen
are ytuablc they the other practical afdirs
of lie Poetry, romance tradition. feeling and emotion,
nave much weight IN national life aud in the develop
ncnt Of political institutions, Dut DathOs rodOnontaoe,
ytuperave dee amatlon. ana ghtteing geheraues arc
| only vicious.
SOCIAL EQUALITY.
The first colons,s OF the United states found them
selves on "a substantial equally regards property,
education, aud social anteccdents. There oppor
tuny any TO secure the position Of landlords there
was no need for any to peasant laborers The in-
herited traditions liberty here found application
The need for political regulation slight as 1t
be IN civilized community. All were alike proprie
tary The republican method Of eecng public
officers offered itself only suitable method of
tanning such officers. There lew Old traditions.
venerable preiudces, vested interests inherited
abuses to block the to tine reest possible organ
cation of society The political institutions the colo
mes therefore democratic IN their character.
publican their they could moi be thing elsa.
There place Tor any mOntrci"a ms tutons here
AD als0cracy Of ttlc aEJ descent Nud have been
| suTd under the circumstances.
Tne Constitution OF the United States Is much an
historical growth a. any political institution IN eXis
teuce. Its Trainers did not invent II at all They
what lay beorrtnein. The Union fact, ana
shy. No dared % bleaA up aud leave the thirteen
colonies 10 gct as best they could iudcp, ndent
mc,Abcre NE family OF nations Ihere ground
in history iOr the notion thai hey evOyed OF incl
! own wisdom the form Of government under gnlch wa
| live. I.ey really showed their wisdom by throwing
aside all uOutcal dUghatisu ami maAiug plain, pr.c-
tic4 plan or attaining the neccss rs ends OF civil uy-
docin4s. phrases, geuerantes We have not m,
deed. been nee rom pOhdoa. dOg.aatlsn
Take, tDr iusttucc, the latest political dogma
tisIn. The nisgOy, .uncut become
bic aud Il has beer, proposed Ia give properly e,,, 4
power In mnnci.ai affair, IN order cheek tae sb.s,
This II OPPOSED on Do gOuad tDdt II would limit tue
suifrpg" The dJginat assumption herv s thai tbs
msio,aple and aDeoue isht, wnlch the State may NJ,
infringe upon ANY GROUNDS Ol expediency. In fra.n
there are no such absniG l-h ~ all III the
The community has RICH, 20 GOOD government TINS ia
tue fixed anu paramount consideration IN po.ics ani