National Republican., 1878-01-04
Is This a Republic L?

oHe Vi tle HllsSiOns cItiIntu US peCuliarly
the prerogativs of this Republic is that it
secures the greatest amount of good to the
greatest number Of its people. In other
words, it is Government Of the people, for
the people, and by the people. 1t now be-
comes a serious question, in view OF the gen
eral condition of the country, whether this
mission is being faithfully performed True,
it is contended that this Government is now
administered for the people, hut the facts
are that the untrammeled voice of the peo-
pie does not prevail in declaring who shall
be at the head of public affairs. Four mil
lions of the American people are practically
dislrRnchiscd. They are not left to free
and untrammeled exercise Of the right of
suffrage. No matter how strongly this
statement may be denied by those who are
engaged in the work Of embarrassing, con-
trolling and shaping suffrage to meet their
own peculiar views and purposes, il is
substantially true, and hence so far the Gov
ernment is not Of the people. The people
do not speak with an independent and un-
trammelled voice, if they speak at all, while
large class remain silent through fear of
proscriptive measures which menace their
interests, their property, and even their
lives. No matter in what section of the
Republic these things exist, the funda-
mental principles Of a republican form of
government are outraged by them wherever
they prevail.
Is this government for the people? Let
us see. If it is for the people its blessings
are vouchsafed to all the governed irrespec-
tive of class or condition. 1t is the peculiar
mission of Government which has been
formed for the people to guard every in
terest with peculiar and impartial care-to
study the necessities of the people, and as
far as possible to provide for them, to
cqualize benefits and alleviate distress,
to study the wellale of rich and poor alike,
and guard agaiue. privileged classes, which
inevitably bring oppression and injustice in
their train, and to so balance the admins
tration Of affairs that equal and exact JUS
tice shall be done to all the people. Then
the Government is for the people, other
wise ii is a delusion.
The nation is to-day suffering in its ma
teTial interests us it never suffered before
The long list of commercial disasters which
and the prospect of a rapid accession to the
list follow ing the advent of 1873 should ad-
monish those in charge of the Government
in its various branches that the machine is
not now being run for the people. On the
one hand there is wealth and luxury, on
the other poverty and intense suffering, and
between these is the charnel house OF
bankruptcy, wherein the people are rapidly
passing from prosperity to ruin, under the
irresistible forces of our Governmental pol
icy Those who are sheltered by the Gov
ernment within its own charmed circle Of
public functionaries of course cannot real
ize the true condition of suffering people
They are comfortable and happy in thei
own lot, and, reasoning from their own stand
points, regard the entire people of the ma
ton as basking in the same sunshine O.
! prosperity that cnshrouds them. This il
more natural than wise, just, or intelligent
1t is simply the result Of seiishnes
which seldom extends its vision beyond it
own peculiar surroundings. 1t is tina
which engcndcrs n spirit Of indifference
within Government that is based upoI
the principle that it is for the people, and
leads to neglect Of the necessities ant
miscrics Of those who think they govern
when really they do not.
The people, who are bearing the burthcl
and expenses of this Government -salaiic
and all-and who are in deep pccuniar
distress, look to Congress and the cXccutiv
for relief. They send in their petitions, be
seeching the Government TO afford ther
some aid. These are followed by protest
from the money power and the bOnd-holdel
against the coveted succor so much neede
and so mploringly asked for. The rich Q
once array themselves against the poverty
stricken of the land, and the Governmtr
stands with marked indifference lookin