The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-10-22
DANGERS TO POPULAR GOV
ERNMENT.

In ~ VI ELf l.
In the wide realm of nature, in
every department of human life, in
morals, in religion, in government, in
our physical existence, there are two
active forces, one to build up and grow,
the other to destroy and kill.
Our physical existence is struggle.
There are tremendous forces opposed
to human life disease in its multiplied
forms, accidents and the elements.
Under favorable conditions man lives
to be a hundred years old; but the de-
structive forces reduce the average of
human life to thirty-three years.
A Republican form Of government
is peculiarly exposed to dangers that
threaten its existence. The destruc-
tive forces are active and constant.
Absolute and monarchial forms of
government are termed strong because
they are prepared to quickly destroy
whatever menaces them. They are re-
lentless, too, and never stop short of
complete destruction. Republican
forms of government are, Gy the gen
eral assent of mankind, called weak
in comparison with despotic forms.
The popular will cannot be made to
act as quickly in destroying forces that
menace as the executive Will of a
despot. Past history proves the life
of past republics to be short in COM
parison with despotisms. The very
freedom by which popular government
exists is favorable to the growth of
whatever may spring up of destruc-
tive tendency. And it is only when
the destructive force has attained such
proportions and power that the repub-
lie must struggle desperately for its
life, that the popular will is alarmed,
and issues the mandate to strike.
Witness the growth of human slavery,
that sum Of all villainies, in a govern
ment, the corner stone of which is the
declaration that all men are created
free and equal (before the law and
have an inalienable right to life, liber-
ty and the pursuit of happiness. How
deeply we realize the fact that slavery
came nearly destroying this republic
before it had celebrated it's first CEN
fury. In defiance Of the will Of fifty
millions of people, in defiance of ma
tional statutes, in defiance of United
States courts and judges, polygamy,
the twin barbarism Of slavery, still
fiourishes in one of the fairest portions
of the national domain, and is spread
ing from Utah to contiguous territory.
Here we witness the growth of de-
structive force, terrible cancer on the
body polite, eating away at the vitals
of morality and purity, flourishing,
growing and increasing under the sun
light of freedom and famed by the vi
tai air of liberty.
1t is important, then, that citizens of
the grandeSt republic of ancient or
modern history should be awake to the
dangers that threaten to destroy it.
They should be awake, too, of the
means to be used and the efforts to be
made for its continued existence. One
of the dangers that threaten our exist
ence now is the apathy Of part of
our citizens. Many of them are so
engrossed with their farms, their mer-
chandiSing, their manufacturing and
Speculations, so absorbed in heaping
up wealth that they neglect to dis
charge the duties of good citizenship.
The primary and political meetings
are neglected They do not discuss
the issues of good and bad government:
they fail to go to the polls and vote.
In deSpotlc form OF government the
sovereignty of the nation is in the
ruler. He cannot be divided against
his every concern and act is
to strengthen his government and in
crease his power. In 4 republic the
sovereignty is equally divided among
all its citizens; the good and the bad |
share alike this power. If the intelli-
gent, virtuous citizen fails to exercise
MS power and represent his intelli-
5ence and virtue in the government,
lhe ignorant and immoral influences
will predominant, and good govern
nent will suffer.
In the present political contest we
lave the spectacle Of large party
moving earth and hell to gain control