Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-01-27
Is Democracy the Best Form Of Gov
ernment2
The National View.


In the midst of the structures which
we as a people have built up, and which
hides our weakness from the world at
large, let us in the name Of truth be
honest with ourselves and fearlessly
ask those questions of which the an
swers lie all about us like the voices
under the altar crying day and night,
How long, oh! Lord, how long?"
We have shrouded our nationality in
Il swathing of words and self-gloritica-
tion, which d few may from their con-
slant repetition believe, but it is time
the limbs of this god be exposed, be
they giant or pigmy.
The right arm of this newborn gov
ernment was the idea Of universal suf-
frage. Look at the 'disfranchised citi-
zens, north and south; at the thousand
methods of defeating the ends OF the
ballot, and tell us if this right arm be
not withered to the shoulder Uncoy-
er the limb and let the surges of
truth renew its dried sinews or let us
bury it with the dead lies to which 1t
otherwise belongs.
Is democracy the best form of gov
ernment? Then in Gods name let us
have it, and no longer swathe the bloat-
ed limbs of corruption, of malice, OF
diplomatic lies and the farce of elect
ing by the people man who is solely
the instrument of party. Looking at
the past of this country and its present
condition, looking upon it as an expert
ment in democratic government, we
boldly ask, if this be democracy and if
these are its results?
Is democracy the best form Of gov
crnment? Looking at the lies of the
ballot, at the subversion of the will OF
the people, at the corruption of CAM
paigns, we also ask, if this be the end
Of universal suffrage.
Is not the theory universal suffrage
failure in practice?
Is the experiment OF democratic
government success?
Can that be considered successful
experiment which in one century has
left the country barren of political hon
esty, in which every desired end must
be gained through such highways of
moral turpitude, through frauds, per-
iuries, hypocrisy, and such unclean-
ness Of every sort as to make the capl-
tai of the nation the political brothel OF
its pronigate politicians?
Is that system which makes men cor
rupt at home and abroad, which teach
es them to cheat each other and call ii
fneSSe. which makes mans smile the
sign of his malignity, which brings in.
to public transactions the motives OF
individual selfshness; the system
through which every public mans
alternative, is to cheat or be cheated
is such system that for which man
kind has waited and suffered, sinct
Christ upon the cross deilied the doc
tline of individual responsibility, ant
individual freedom, the sovereignty o
man over custom and the right of nil
over brute power?
Meyer, never! If this were all, ant
these indeed the results of a rea
democracy, we would cry, away wit
it; level the dome which rises heaven
ward to testify to this lie of false gods
and in the name of befooled and be
trayed mankind sweep from the cont
nent the last vestige of the glitterln
lie!
1t is not democracy, nor have w
from the first congress which assen
bled to rule thirteen states, to the las
which fastens the old-time lie on tn
bowed necks of 50,000,0O0 people, ha
Il truly democratic government, 1t ha
lived in idea; it has never lived i
practice. America has been in ever
branch of her government a weakene
copy of ancient traditions.
Americans glorify their belief thi
this is n government of the people, b
the people, for the people. 1t is a lii
this government, since Washington
feeling his inadequacy to cope with a
mighty power of popular will, whic
the events of the revolution had il
voked, sought by force of his persons
prestige to limit and hedge it to su
the narrow boundaries Of what he CO..
ceived to be popular sovereignty-sin'
old federals tried to hedge for artist
cratic precedence-this country hi
been government of the people
party for the party; and whicher sit
has been uppermost the governmel
has been for its several branches, II
once for the people. Who believes tn
Washington, Hamilton, or even Jeffe
son, who came nearest of all beil
toIchcd with prophetic fire-who L
lieves that they had any adequate co
ccption of what their movement
ward independence involved? Th
were each and every one unable
grasp theforces which their stroke up,
the growing years had unloosened, al
they tried to bind the lightning Of Coz
everlasting truth with the strings
their hald theories, and to make thu
penny trumpets outblast the music
Jehovah's spheres. They cried, "T
voice of the people is the voice
God" instead of, "The voice of G
shall be the voice Of the people" a
turning a deaf ear to the tones viii
spoke freedo, thought they h
rounded santeg" which should r,
by base aattefyeo oblsbing with viii
they were utterlyur club list. !
us have done with take adyan- 4 %
ton of these men, they ing up N ia
the truth out of the wOrlG, ,tf the
Those men were abreast III tn
time; they were not equal to this tin
Theirs was a time of theorizing; thi
time of practice. Their governm'
cannot Justly be called even an expt
mcnt, because the idea was but p
italy applied and the result has bt
confusion, corruption, and utter dive
ence from the real principles of dem
racy,
We believe in true democra
We accept it as the fundamental L
Of the universe. 1t means moveme
growth and harmony. 1t means org
lied action of organic life. 1t me
life and vigor to the least as well as
greatest. Democracy in society is
mOcracy in politics; you cannot sc
rate one from the other. A govenm
as certainly shows the quality of