Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-30
REVOLUTION

REVOLUTION,
An government. is for the benefit of
the people. The old theory OF divine
rch, 20 rule wa, rudely brushed away by
our ancestors. both in England and IN the
thirteen colonies. Under the old diSPcn-
,arou. when "a people became dissatisfied
with 10, rulers. they arose. hurled their
sovereign from power. executed him, took
control of tine government and conducted
il, affairs until a new sovereign was duly
cu.hroucd The people never Thought 1t
possible 90 maintain themselves without
King. This method OF expressing the
popular Will was found 20 be very cNpcn-
,iye and unsatisfactory Al each uprl>-
m.. there was a bloody conflict between
the l.rclue soldier, OF the king and the
people. Many lives were lost and much
property was destroyed This was rc'o-
luton In o.dcu time; and results, some
times satisfactory and sometimes unsa'ls-
factory. followed in lis train Generally
tho people were SO thoroughly trained ~
thc doctrine of uou-rc>i>;aucc, that they
did no, NOV, uut. grievous.y wrongcd,
and. "a, a result. revolution, were san
Culinary beyond description.
A., bv degrees, civilization progressed,
and the pcvp.c became les, waT-ikc IN
their habits. they sought for some means
bv which they might uumis;akably cN-
press ,hl.r vil. without employing such
harsh measures. ~ q result OF this
search. we have representative govern
mea, In Europe the king is still. retain
"a as "a iisurc-hcad; but In, ministers and
hi, parliament are accountable 90 the peo-
u.e tor Encouragement OF Tor bad gov
eminent. In this country, the king has
been entirely dispensed with. and all our
ruler, So called. are accountable direct
Is 20 the people. for their acts. Our rul-
er, are simply our servants, put IN posi-
ton 90 see that our viii is carried ont.
Under representative government, when
the people become dissatisfied with tine
conduct OF affairs. they revolt and LuI!
their ruler, from power, not by the oayo-
net or sword. as of old. but by the ball
la. Once in four year, the people OF
this great American republic say, by their
votes. well done, good aud faithful
servants. or depart from Us. We work
er, OF niquity. Ii the people are dis
satisfied. they inaugurate a bloodlcss rev.
olution and change the administration.
II should alwav, be borne in mind that
this Is revolution turning over OF things
that exist
When the people adopted this method
of b.00dlcss revolution. they did not by
any means Law aside their inherent night
20 correct abuses. by force, If necessary.
Rulers in limited monarchicS have, of
late. thought It advisable, in the light Of
more ancient history, 20 obey the viii OF
the people as peacefully expressed at the
polls They have evidently thought II
would save them a whole neck as well as
O whole empire. Still. if king in mod
ern Europe. should decline TO dismiss his
ministers when they became unpopular,
or should attemp, 70 enforce a policy re-
pugnaut 10 the people, he would soon find
his kingdom gone from him, and his life
In Jeopardy. The latest Napoleon. IN
France. saw this state of affairs take
place in few brief Notwithstanding
that the temper Of modern civilization Is
only softened. not crushed.
II has never occurred 10 the citizens of
this republic that their viii expressed at
the polls. in q peaceful and bloodless rev.
olution. could be set aside by small mi
uoritv of their number who had been
placed in positions of trust. Being Of
the people. and in no way raised above
them bv high titles or legendary preroga-
,iyes. It has always been supposed that
such men would heed the voice of their
compatriots. and retire gracefully from
those positions in which they had been
placed. This has been the invariable re-
Sult 20 this day The people OF Maine
had, for twenty years, given place and
power to men of the Republican party.
Last wear they declared themselves dis
satisfied. and ordered change. These
men who had so long been considered
leaders and rulers, heard the summons,
and both gracefully and cheerfully resign
ed TO their successors. After one year Of
trial. the people discovered and none too
soon. that they had not made change
for the better Last September they or
dered again to the front those men who
had so long done honor to their State.
Now we 6pd the State in distressing
condition. These men, who are OF US
and vet not Of us, resase 70 obey the will
of the people. and decline to retire rom /
public life. They virtually say at IS :