The New York herald., 1878-10-12
"DEMOCRACY'S BEST ESTATE"

POLITICAL SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN SCIENCE
MALL-soME DIFFERENCES oY OPINION
Mr. Charles A. wsshburn iscsured in Science Hall.
Eighth street. last evening on ..Democracy It's Best
Estate" The speaker In The nrst portion OF bis dis
course deprecated the present system OF political con
veniions This system he argued does not secure the
best men tor public positions. Our legislative bodies
centan able men, bat they have dssenerated from
the legislative bodies OF iorty years ago The condi
tions under which men arc elected by legislative
bodies OF traditional character, and, as rule,
whom mistakes made the incumhents are allowed
10 retire to an obscurty IRON which they should
mover have emerged. Goldwin Smith, speaking IRON
an Eagsn point OF view, shows the disadvan-
tages Upper House IN the legislature by rsmov-
ing from the Lower House mon who understand the
popular ieelng and who spriDg directly from Tue peo-
Pile. Ii may be Lard down as safe maxim that gov
ernmeDt should not engage In composition win In.
dividual enterprise. This particularly applies
TO the postal service, concsrnipg which thsrs
10 widespread complaint that u cnos 70
she centrailzation OF power. Il has come 10
pass that postmasiefs are not only o0hglng
officials. but active politicians, and this . another
argument that there much power lodged In the
inistraon. The telegraph should Dc 10 Inc hanos
of the aoverumsnL The Western Union Is the giant
abuse OF the present day. The lines OF one CON-
pany be controlled At cheaper rates than Two or
more, but II the control is lett IN tue hands OF one
corporation II becomes o monopoly. II would be .
source Of danger, however II lett IN the hands Of the
administration
Sections select fer popular representatives, those
have been honored directly by tho people, such
as governors and attorneys general. Under such q
system, he said. We never could have sueh men as
Wiuneld Scott ana General Fremont thrown 10 the
surface We should not be guided IN our selection by
popular passion. or cnthugiasm, or military success.
Acling tins principle would arrive at tue per-
lection oil governmepk by the democracy In its purest
stAla
THE LECTURER REDUKED.
At tho close OF The lecturers discourse there
free discussion. Mr.. A. l. Dawson differed from tn 0
view by Mr.. WashbuPn IN his del niton OF true
cy and charged that the lsct urer misapped
tho term. Ii the Republic 10 10 60 down II Will
Do through too much voting. He was opposed
the election OF judges by the people. The JUDGES
should not be dependent on tho inhuence VI any
party, but should hold their Office curing good be-
nsvior and In this way perfect Justice could 10 done
between and man. He ridicuied the maxim,
"Vox poruii Uoz Del"
Miss Bodgett hero stepped forward and combated
tho position by the lecturer saying that instead
OF trying 10 establish Q pure democracy he was
aiming at q pure aristocracy and, bis argu-
ments tended tho establishment oil q
dynasty OF kings This sentiment WAS greeted
with loud applause. Other speakers followed,
and one gentleman created some sensation by de-
claring that government, like chemistry. was .
science, that people were not d. and should
not allowed TO choose their own rulers. The maxim
the OF the people Is the voice OF God should
be reversed, aud should be read, A." The voice VI sns
people Is voice OF tho devil"
Several gentlemen here arose and left the hall, and
the meeting closed