The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-03-06
IssTANCEsOF ISDIyIDIAL row
I'm IN AMERICAN HISTORY


to control the furions political parties
of the period and mould the crude ma
terial Il his own purposes. Had Napo-
leon not existed, no man can tell
into what the revolution would have
developed or what would lie the nature
Of the French government to-day.
Julius Caesar was essential TO his age
and nation, he turned the tide of Ro-
man history, and thereby changed the
course Of human events through all
coming time. Cromwell WIS necessary
TO the success Of Tepublicanism in Eng
land and her present constitutional
monarchy may be owing TO his skill
as exhibited al Naseby and and Mar
s,on Moore.
But the above are are instances.
Very few men, no matter how promi-
nent they may be in public affairs, are
essential either 20 the existence or even
the welfare Of a government. They
might die, but the affairs Of the nation
would still flourish and the machinery
Of government go on unchecked. In
our own country no man now living is
necessary either 10 preserve u insti-
tutions or pe~rpetuate them. Only
once, OF at most, twice, has b nation
been 50 situated as 10 depend on the
efforts OF any individual for its eXis-
tence. Washington, the first general
OF our army, the first president and the
only man entitled to the appellation OF
the Father of his country" was in a
degree, the creator Of the republic. II
Washington had never existed, or some
other had been appointed &c the COM
mand OF the continental army, the re-
suit OF the war might have been less
fortunate, or even had our independ-
nee been achieved, the resulting form
Of government might have been entire
ly different. Washington was request
cd by some OF his officers TO make him
self dictator or king, he WAS actually
vested with d%ictatorial honors during
six months OF the war. A large pro
portion OF the people were indifferent %
the form Of government established, or
preferred a constitutional monarchy
which would OF course, II adopted, have
placed Washington Pm the throne.
Nine men out OF ten, yes, ninety
nine out Of IA hundred would, under
such circumstances, have opposed the
constitution as 1t now is, and by their
influence, seconded the adoption of one
placing al hereditary king instead OF a
president Ia the executive department.
The constitution was bitterly opposed
and violently assailed, being at last
adopted rs a mere compromise between
the extreme parties, giving satisfaction
to neither. An INSCRIPTIONS man in
w~ashington's place might have defeat
ed il, thus changing the nature OF u
government and the current Of all our
subsequent history. About the year
1880 the existence of the union was
seriously endangered by the action OF
the nullihers OF South Carolina, who
~endeavored to put into practical opera
tion the doctrine Of Mr. Calhoun. Had
South Carolina seeded rs she then
threatened to do, and been Joined as
she probably would have been by other
discontented states, the dissolution
of the Union would have been the
inevitable result. At that time
the north would have been utterly
unable 10 maintain the Union
by coerciye Forty years ago
there was no marked disparity in the
wealth and population between the Sec
lions separated by Mason & Dixon's
line. Since that period the growth, In
power and influence, has been IN favor
of the north. AT that time the gov
eminent. with AS good hope OF success,
could have sent an expedition TO engage
the Russian empire. ms 10 have sent an
army TO force the southern states to re-
turn IN their allegiance. Secession in
C~,,bop,,s time meant the destruction
NJ tho Government The only measure
I. .o.,o,ama,,
U. sa'e's ~ y
OF the eVii uay, until tue io!ai states
should be prepared to encounter il.
| That postponement was effected through
,ho oaar,s =, n,n;.i vebs,.r who bv
~
MS Wohueriui poWets prsSeiNeu t"aseoh-
stitutinn. which Washington had been