The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-07-17
Continued from first page.

everything; by natural laws it is
gradual and imperceptible, unless
surprised by sudden storm or vol
csnic action. Changes in the practi-
cal operations of governments are
sometimes violent and convulsiye:
blood has often profnsely flown be-
fore great ideas could settle into ae.
tusl institutions. or before the yearn-
ings of humanity could become re.
alities.
This democratic republican consti-
tntional form of government which
, now guards the liberties of more than
orty millions Of people is in the
keeping Of those people and, remem-
Der, history proves that the multi
tudes too often follow passion in pref
4erence to principle OF reason.
In republican form of govern
rnent the impulses of the social body
ARE agitated by every passion; the
people are acquainted with their true
interest, but their impulses and pas
sions displace, in times of excitement,
the throne Of reason. This is histo-
~, natural as we'll as political, aud /
quote from De Tocquiville
1.-THE Democracy Of France, chok-
ed in its course, or abandoned to its
iawless passions, has overthrown
whatever crossed its path, and has
shaken all that it has not destroyed.
Its control over society has been grad
ually introduced and peaceable es-
tablished, but it has constantly adj
vanced in the midst of disorder and
the agitation of a conflict. In the
heat ofthe struggle each partisan is
hurried beyond the limits of his opin-
ions by the excuses of his opponents,
until he loses sight ofthe end of his
exertions, and holds a language
which DISCUSSES his real sentiments or
secret instincts
A democratic government is in
principle just and true; it is both
necessary and desirable that
the government of democrat
ic people should be active and
powerful. The object of the freemen
of America should not be to render
it weak, or indolent, but to prevent
it from abusing or misapplying its
strength. Freemer require a strong
government; liberty, to be preserv-
ed, demands constant restraint; it is
restraint, moral, social, and political,
that ctn and will preserve the pure
democratic representative principles
of American liberty.
Bv virtue of the constitution of the
United States, "The United States
shall guarantee to every State in the
Union republican form Of govern
ment."
The Federaltst has spoken with
much force and propriety on this SUBJ
ject. 1t says: "In confederacy
founded on republican principles, and
composed of republican members,
the experimenting government
ought clearly to possess authority to
defend the sytem against aristocratic
or monarchical innovations.
Justice Story says; "Ifa despotic
or monarchical government were es-
tablished in one State, it would bring
ON the ruin of the whole republic"
A vast amount of learning as well as
practical wisdom has been developed
and published on this clause of the
constitution. But it is for the States
to insure for the protection of their
republican form of governments, a re-
publican form of government accord
ing to the constitution of the United
States; and to see by the correct ad-
ninistration of the laws, and due
appreciation of republican liberty,
that the United States government
does not endanger the liberty of the
citizens by departing from its consti-
tutional duties, or losing its constitu-
tional capacity to insure to the States
"a republican form of government"
and in doing this let the wards say
to the guardian, "We will restrain
you by preserving the spirit as well
as the form of republican govern
ment;; ;" and there is more danger of
this ON the part of the United States
than ofthe States in departing from
the principles Of republican or demo
cratic government, and over-stepping
the bounds of constitutional liberty.
The Rubicon was but narrow stream
and when Cesar had prepared the
way by training the minds of the Ro-
man people, he merely stepped across
the little branch, and Roman repubG-
can liberty was in his grasp.
Let us now change our theme. No
..aaa..I - II, hirAot.1t 1Irnc