National Republican., 1877-02-13

Sunday morning. It will be . newspaper In
every sense.
WILL THE DEMOCRACY INVITE AN
ARCHY.
We yesterday cited sad page Of his
tory, showing the experience Of the Roman
republic when deprived Of executive su-
thority by the failure TO qualify . success.
cor TO the consulship, which, viewed a. an
example Of the fruits Of anarchy, should
point moral to any In our own country, |
now disposed 70 SOW it, seeds. A tunult. |
uous and corrupt election resulted in .
contest which was not determined at the
expiration of the current term, and the
functions Of the ONCE being suspended In
consequence. the leaders Of faction became
90 violent that, through fear Of anarchy,
the soundest statesmen were constrained to |
assent to an arbitrary choice Of consul by
the senate, without reference to the popu
lar will. And this was . step In accord.
ance with the purposes Of crafty disorganis-
ers, who had striven to Torment dlscord and
promote confusion, a. o means Of bring
ing about the exertion Of irregular and
questionable power by the representa-
tives OF the government; for 1t II the uni.
form practice Of ambitious mon seeking
supremacy in all countries, to impede and
interrupt the regular movements of consti.
tuted government by melting opposition
and spreading evil beyond the reach Of
sanctioned means TO control 1t. Mono
know better than they the weighty truth
which has become the settled maxim Of
historians, that 1t il but one step from an.
archy to absolute power. Soint this case the
exercise by the Senate of the unusual and
unwarranted power to which II was driven,
to protect the people against anarchy
was seized upon by the friends and par
tizans of those who had stood for the con.
sulship at the election as an excuse for dis.
orderly acts in contempt Of the authority
thus set up; and upon the plea that the
republic was already oveithrown, mill
tary chieftains overcame the State, and
CksAR assumed the throne, in respect Of all
its essential prerogatives. Thus through
the obstructions thrown In the way Of con-
stitutional authority by those aiming at
unlimited power. the senate was compelled
TO do that which placed 1t in false stti-
tude toward the laws, and afforded the
very opportunity sought by the rsvolu-
tionists to repudiate the government and
erect . monarchy.
Now. we do not charge the Democracy
with any present intention to produce
anarchy for the purpose Of establhhiAg .
different form Of government; but We do
e6irm that they arc, nevertheless, doing
their utmost to inaugurate that condition,
unwittingly perhaps. but none the less Of.
fectively, and that when once existing,
they will be as powerless to control it, Gle.
ments as they have been unable to restrain
their own excesses; and that, therefore, II
introduced, the only legitimate end to be
predicted, a. suggested by the lessons OF
the past IL revolution, resulting sooner or
later In the extinction of liberty BY the fat
Of absolutism. This is the natural course,
ss shown by the experience Of other
nations as wise. a. moderate and as virtu
Gus as our own, and we cannot expect to
be more fortunate than they when We are
not more deserving. Hence the danger h,
no. slight II the Democracy shall deter
mine TO await the decision Of the Commis,
sion In the Louisiana case, ind If that be
against them, to prevent final action until
after the 4th OF March, and the contin gency
arises, and they shall be able to accom-
plish that result, then We shall have en-
tered upon the first stage Of anarchy, which
will be advanced 70 the second stage by the
necessary irregular action of the Senate. by
its President, in declaring HAYKs elected
at the proper time. Whether the third and
lsststsge shall be reached will depend upon
theaction of the people at this junesure.
II they shall think that, under the circum-
stances. the Senate should be sustained In
its action, although contrary to the pre-
scribed forms, and proceed amicably to
provide against the recurrence Of such an
emergency, we shall be saved ss by fsitr,
But If otherwise, and the contest now rag
ing in the forum Is transferred to the field
and the question OF right is given over tc
be determined by the predominanos o.
might, we shall strsightway have ouI
CESAR, and the doctrines OF the Constitu
ton will pass out Of mind with the memory
Of electoral counts. If the Democracy, OF
such of them as advocated the course indl.
Gated. can find comfort IN the prospect, a
consolation in the reflection that II 1t comes
TO this it will be the consequence Of thsil
struggle to maintain the right. they will
have more complscency than conscience.
OPPOIsNG THE DECISION.
The Florida case worried the Demo.
cracv of the Houae vesterdAy II WAS n