Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-28

" eNNANA WIN NAN WY shANN'N
learner concerns himself solely with
the problem of tracing any impor-
tant phenomenon TO lis real cause,
1t is fitting on an occasion like
the present that we, abandoning
for the moment our sense of con-
tent produced by Il government so
nearly perfect that we are oblivious
to its eNistense, should make in
quiry Of the experts to ascertain
whether all is ~ well us it seems.
1t is fitting that we should learn all
that is possible of the age and state
of civilization in which oul nation
had its origin, and whether i'll its
process of evolution there has not
been Il constant and active tendency
to "rcvertn to more ancient, but less
desirable forms. 1t is fitting that
we should place side hy side the
the men who founded the Republic,
and the men who are now admin
istering its affairs, in order that a
comparison may be made ot
actions and motives. II is fitting
that we consult the oracles TO asccr-
tain what in the existing condition
of affairs, our own course should be.
The dawn of the seventeenth
century found Europe in 4 fcverish
state of unrest. Might was the
only recognized right, and long and
bitter were the contests between
the different nations to determine
which possessed this dcsidcratum
in the highest degree Spain's
greed of territory was already
equallcd by her greed of gold and
Il groveling ambition for wealth
became i potent factor III the pro.
cess of national decay. France, cX.
hausted of her resources by constant
drains occasioncd by costly sacri.
fees to the Moloch of war; yet vigl-
liant 10 seize every advantage afford
ed by the mistakes OF the misior-
tunes of her neighbors, was rncon'
sciously sowing the seeds which
terminated under the fostering care
Of Richelieu, subsequently bloomcd
into the Empire of lie Grand
Monargue, and ripencd eventually
into the terrible harvest of the Rev.
olution. England had just lost Eliza.
beth. Her people had been taught
by her reign no less than by that o.
her unnatural father how 10 nc
quiesce in the dictates of n sovereign
with a strong will and they had
learned too, that certain rights might
inhere in the peoplc-rights which D
wise ruler might recognize, and yet
suffer no compromise of authority
Elizabeth was dead, and Stuart
was on the throne. While James
had all the obstinacy that eharac
terized his predecessors, and more
than was necessary for good king
he was deficient in common sense
To him and his defendants thu
..ivine right Of kings had no limit
Blinded by ignorance of the ten
denotes of the popular sentiment by
the adulation of fovorites, and by
their own preconceivcd notions o
kingly prerogative, they dcfied {
public opinion which wise states
men would have conciliated. They
thus gave to Englishmen the op
portunity to yindicate popular
rights, and to secure a degree o
liberty for the masses unexamplec
at that time by any other country
An opportunity reached by othei
peoples only after the lapse Of lapse
Of slow rolling centuries.
This was the period that deyel
oped the germ from which grew
after many years, the liberty and
independence Of the American
nation. This was the era in which
kingcraft lost for Englishmen it,
sacred character. The reverence
with which superstition and tho
force Of long established custom
had enshrouded the persoa 81
the monarch was dispelled by
/ the determined resistance of an
outraged people. From this class
these men who demolished the doc.