The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-04
TOO MUCH GOVERNED.

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ernments generally, or to draw parallels be-
tween the different forms of the established
governments of the world, but deem it moi
inopportune at this time, our state legisla-
ture being in session, to submit few thought!
on the subject. Two theories of government
obtain in our country, and have obtsinet
from its foundation. One of these theories
is, that government should be paterna, as Il
were, looking after tho citizenry as the pa
rent or guardian cares for the child Of
ward. The great exponent and lead
or of this idea in the ear
lily days of the republic wal
Alexander Hamilton, and upon and
about it he founded snl concreted the great
federal party. The other theory, the very
opposite of this, is that the citizenry the
people, should govern themselves, and that
the state, but political body, has being
DOLLY for those purposes the citizen, in his in
dividuslity, cannot accomplish, as the quell-
ing of iAsurrections, the repelling Of inva-
sons by foreign powers and the protection
of life and property, BY preventing and pun-
ishing crime. Thomas Jefferson, in the
crucible of whose mighty intellect the
American declaration of independence
was wrought, and even as fine gold,
was given forth as the basis ard The
formula for tho liberties of the
American people, WAS originator
The axiom of his life. and which
he maintained with all the force
of logic and of The example of his own he
tions, YVES that "the world is too much gov.
@ Under the Hamiltonian theory, The
self respect and self-relance Of the citizon is
calculated to be repressed, and he forms th,
habit of leaning upon the government, look
ing to higher power for everything HC
negIects to think and arrive al conclusions o.
his own and no comes to believe, if not that
"whatever is, is right" why certainly to be-
lievo whatever the government dictates snd
does, is right and hes! for him in
all things. This leads, by however
slow the degree may be, surely TO despot.
ism. Tho JeiIersoniau doctrine, holding as
it does that the citizen is in himself soyor-
eign, and should 10 uutrammeled and left
FREQ in the pursuit Of happiness in his ova
way and after the dictates of his own CON
science and judgment, provided always of
course, that he does not infringe upon the
same rights in Others engendera strong
feeling Of aelf-respoc!, Of Independence, Of
sef.conildenL characteristics of tho Amer
lean people to m eminent degree two decades
ago, but now, alasl we fear becoming less
marked under prevalent iulu-
encos. With tho Jeh6rsonian theory
dominant every man in this country feels
that he is jus. al good as any other man, the
equal ofanybody, and he therefore considers
that he has a3 much at stake in tho pre5erya
tion Of FREQ and equal institutions as any ono
can have. AS Consequence there could
never be a putocracy or any species Of
arissocracy III the land to lord it over any
classes Of the people. Such sentiments as
these and such y state of facts begets most
intense and lfsRcridcing patriotism and
the citizen feels that when tho state is en-
dangered or iasultcd or ia any manne7 inter
tered with, that he individually is endangered,
insuIte1 or interfered with. Following
out this parallel Of the two
theories of government, we SEQ that whore
there Is too much government demoral.
izing influence is brought TO bear upon ind-
vidual character, aud We fad, too, that i. is
extremely burthensome in the taxation
which Its mainlenaaco imposes upon the
people 1t isa sato rule to lay down that
whatever is done by the government is done
at much greater COS than if done by the
individual, and for tho sake of economy
there should lie jus. rs little legislation Y
tho state as possible. An omiuen! gonte-
man in this State, gentleman occupying an
exalted Judicial position, and who is noted faf
tho perspicuily of HIS intellect and tb
profuDdity of his thought, Az
who with0l, is . JehMsonian democrat "oi
the most strctest sect, :" remarked but shof.
time ago, that tho constitution, the FL nda-
mental law of the state, should be as brief
and a5 simple an instrument as could posi-
bly, DO framed, containing beside the bill Of
rights and the formulas for tho different
branches ofthe government, but few pos.
tive mandatory clauses, such Us are absolute.
ly necessary for the maintenance of society
Now if this suggestion. be wise, ia so far ss
the constitution is concerned, would it no
be the superlative of wisdom in the
matter of statutory law? In other word.
do We not have too many statui,
laws! Ia there no. too much legislation
Arc we not too much governed? Our state
constitution says that Only one-four,h of tho
general revenue shall be appropriated for the
support OF an efficient free school system.
We do not presume to say that one-fourth ot
the general revenue NOT o. much as under n
prudens and economical administration of
the state ought to be appropriated for the
purpose, but why have any restriction as to
amounN Why SAY 10 the sovereign people
ofthis state you shall do this or you shall not
do that, when neither life. tho