Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-07-13

great body and enact laws. On the con-
trary they elect delegates to represent
them in our legislatures; and our theory
supposes these delegates. Representatives
and senators, to be The most upright and
intelligent members OF the community,
and this we claim to be a provision
against ignorance and wee.
True, our senators hold their places
for a longer period than our representa-
tivcS, and this was intended to be a Sc
curity against the effect of sudden popu-
lar commotion.
True, our laws must be discussed and
by two separate legislative
bodies and aiterward by the executive.
ard this was supposed to induce rehec-
ton and caution, aud greater wisdom in
the enactment Of laws.
True, the executive. legislative and
Judicial functions are contided each to q
separate maglstracy i'll order,it possible,
to guard against conspiracy and faction,
and the great injustice resulting from
them. 1t is true that we have one gem
eral government, charged with the ex-
ercise of national but limited powers,
and state governments, with more num-
erous pewers, Independent in their
sphere OF local administration. in the
hope that we might thereby avoid that
despotism which is the necessary Incl
dent OF any government SO distant as to
be Indifferent to or incapable of compre-
hending the local wants of the people.
FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF RIGHT.
1t is true that IN all modern systems
o republican government we have con-
sttutions which define and limit the
us,s Of power. These constitutions are
supposed to lay down the great iunda-
mclal rules of right. without which
good government can not be assured,
and rlese great rules are theoretically
the ii>ed barriers beyond which legis-
latIon uust never pass But, notwith-
slandin. all this, gentlemen, you OBJ
serve hat the handspring OF the ma
chine, the originating and the moving
power II the Will OF the people. II is
the pcolie who must touch the machine
before itmoves. 1t is the people who
must re,train its motion when it Is
too rapid-increase it when 1t IS too slow
In worl, it is the people who are to
regulate, manage, control this whole
complicated and delicate instrument OF
ours. known as the American demo-
cratic republic. 1t is manifest that in
such a government there may be pressure
aggressive forces against the checks
and balance. of the constitution. In
deed we have seen OF late years the
rocky barriers so-called of the consti-
tuition itself disappear with wonderful
rapidity, the popular will sweeping
them away like the waves OF the ocean
are accustomed to overwhelm and de-
moli>h the tilmcst impediments opposed
10 them.
Again. there may be popular inact-
tivity. Indifference. want OF interest
in the workings of the government, and
q disregard OF the duties III citizens in
respect of public affairs. These effects
proceed naturally and logically from the
nature 81 the institution. HE whole
people being the rulers in the state. no one
class can be looked 10 to shape the
course of events 1t is not the inlelll-
gent and the virtuuus only, whose will dI-
reefs, bu. the ignorant and the viclou,
also are at liberty to express their voices
with the lest The very worst class OF
citizens as well rs the best, contribute
their part to that aggregate political
quantity which constitutes the popular
sovereignty--the vital principle OF our
system And just here is the part of
the system which demands watchiul
care 1t was in this connection that
Mr.. Jefferson said The price OF liberty
is eternal vigilance.
DUTY OF CITIZENS.
1t is the duty of every citizen to take
care of the state. And that which is
every body's business, gentlemen, is lia-
bic to be considered nobody;s business,
and therefore said Mr. Jefferson,
Power is always stealing away from
the many into the hands OF the few"
And yet. gentlemen, our theory is
we can do no better than to trust the
people. the whole people, just as they
are with all tn cir merits and dement's.
Our hope Is that the intelligent will con-
troll the ignorant; the virtuous will con-
troll vicious that the people intend to do
right. and if they get wrong to-day,
they will come right tomorrow. We
have deliberately chosen this form of
government, not because it is perfect
-for nothing human is pertect-but as
the best for US under all circumstances.
We framed our government on the
basis OF popular sovereignty. the col
lective voice of the whole people. be-
cause we were unwilling to accept the
government of one man or the govern
ment OF few men. Our fathers would
have no despot, no monarch no ariSto-
crat 90 rule over them.
John Adams reasoned about it in this
way: II there Is a government in this
world based on the intelligence and vir-
tue of the people, it is q republic. No
government can be better than one
which trusts to the virtue and lntelli
gcncc OF the people. A republic there
fore is the best form of government in
the world.
1t was thus that our fathers were in
duced to set up on this side OF the At
lantic ocean government OF the peo-
pie when there was no such govern
ment elsewhere.
ELEVATION OF THE PFOrLE.
In basing their system on the col
lectivc will OF the people they assumed
to raise the people to an exalted po-
sition. Other systems depend upon
force or trand, the divine right OF kings
and lords, privileged classes. Ours was
to be upheld by reason and justice, by
the operation OF the honest and gener-
Gus instincts of men. Our fathers said
the people were competent to decide
what is best IN every cmergcncy-com-
petent to select able and faithful repre-
sentatlves to speak their voice and re-
fleet their judgement; the people would
always be ready and willing to bestow
upon the public affairs every necessary
consideration the people would see
that the representatives they selected
obeyed their will and respected their in
terests. | need not tell you that these
grand and noble conceptions ofthe rights,
powers, duties and capabilities of the
people thus boldly conceived and boldly
expressed by the founders of our Ameri-
can republics walked mp the Old World;
that they commanded the admiration OF
statesmen. and philosophers, orators and
poets; nor that they loused the jealousy
and ire of monarchists and ari>tocrats
wherever found.
Gentlemen. we ali ageed with Mr..
Adams, ana with Washington, jefferson
and Madison, and all those phiIanthropic
and patriotic men who laid the founda-
ton OF liberty upon the virtue and in
telligence OF the people, that republic
is the best form of government in the
world. We love republican institutions
because they are no respecters OF per-
sons; because they intend the great
est good to the greatest number because
they open the way for every man to rise.
The poor boys of tho country. the Ben.
Franklins. the Robert Fultons. the