Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-19
on tho Amer.
lean Republic.
From sn Uainown Writer.

| l1Om an UaknOWn WHICH,
| And that great republic Of yours
What shall we prophesy otit7 Domino
ting a world. all its own, the two oceans
poured round its wide confines, and
fresh streams of blood pouring into The
heterogeneous mass Of ITS people, max
ing il still more heterogeneous. Mir
acle Of The ages-woudefful govern
meut. double, complex. delcate,' built
upon the virtue and intelligence ~ot the
people and standing still somc. faint
Image of its original self, after the
lapse Of one whole century. Gospel Of
Jean Jacques Rousseau watered b,
Thomas Jefferson, in actual, visible
practice near a abundred years; and only
one or two million throats cut in that
small WAT Of the secession. The
philosophers dream bodied forth,
envelopes America, and men walk in
liz, aud believe it real. One son Of this
new time said it was government Of
the people by, the people, and for the
prope. So, in less apt phrase, said
Frepch revolutionary philosophy and
American constitution makers at the
beginning of it. But when the people
Of third section--full third section,
remember-oftbis marvellous republic
said, Since government may only exist
by csnsent Of governed, We will with
draw our consent aud make new
government. same institutions, same
principles, same gospel Of Jacques and
Jefferson. only we will manage il alone
without aid Of other two-thirds'-then
swords leaped. lesions marched, ant
the great republic did knit itselftogethe,
with iren aud blood cement, like an,
monarchy net yet ctfete. And wat ole
world work 30 wild and terrible as this
OF the Joung republic, when ita con-
quest is done, and one third lies pinned
TO the other two-thirds with bayonets
Slaves turned loose /; Cuffce translated
from the eorn-row 10 the Legislature.
and made statesman of, his master pul
uGder his broad feet. They take the
hoe from his hand and give hlm instead
him properlyless. him signing with
his mark-the power of taxation, and
tell him to go on; Jacques aud Jeffer'
son for the nonce being of no moment
and the virtue aud intelligence of the
people, consent OF governed, scheoI
house and such like republican rubbish.
quite forgot until the republic shal
vndicate itself. To CufFee in the
Legislature. in chair Of state, and on
bench ofjustice comes the carpet. baggeI
AID doth do his writing for him.. anC
and doth teach him 10 tax. until al
property lies dead and prohtless, aad
universal bankruptcy puts an end to
the process. Meanwhile Cutfee aud The
carpet-bagger DO swagger forth together
surrounded by the bsvonets Of tht
great republic, and do occasionally
smuse themselves with elections
whereat bayonets are crossed over The
ballot boxes, and dIsfranchised native
ahites-they who acted on that strange
theory of government by the people
look on at respectful distance. Bu
great is bankruaicy. I,eveling up aud
Ievelling down, bankruptcy pu; fnal
end to spoliation. aud Cuiree retired tC
bootblacking, while hi, friend, the
carpet bagger, took him scslf OF to the
place from whence he came. And SC
closed that remarkable chapter in the
history of jacques selt-governmen
there. And yet not quite, for there re
mains the final leaf to write"
They have every four years in thal
country grand national. riot whlct
they call can yass, aud which ends 10 {
proceeding called election, whereby
choice i. said-to be made.of President
1t proceeds upon one, of the mos
beautiful theories ever spun from the
head Of a Rousseau or Jefferson
namely, that every adult male, whether
he hath aught else in this world or no
hath at least a most enlightened judg'
msnt concerning the conduct Of public
affairs, aud will 60 about most wisely
TO select a President for himself and
some forty million others. They open
boxes, and the cltisens walk up ant
placs therein their ballots-ballots for
the most part unread, contents un
known, citizen M ost frequently without
change OF shirt or other goods to speak
Of. The SUN Of the ballots is the
collective wisdom Of the nation, Voz
! PopuIc VoE Del. Now this interest,"
lug procvss had been executed duly ir
the year OF our Lord 1876, when 10
Voz Populi, Vor Dei, was found ex
tremely di.agreeabie to some who helI
power, and soitwss ssmoshered forth
with. nevcr,got further. than the box
but died there unheeded Forgs'
papers cams forward and got counted
Tor votes by the representatives OF 're'
Americans in Congress sssedAblei, Will
.ho.ted guns turned upon the capiso
and camps Of blue'ceated soldier
visible from every wlndow.aI Then q
man in ninsrity ofa million of white
voters and a quarter Of a million Of al
color., takes cath OF once 70 preserve
protect aud defend the Constitution,
which makes special provision for thi'
business Of the ballot box,Ilandi tb'
torger.. psrjurers and tbieyss selh1e anl M
hold all Offices. This, then, It seems t
"O,- r.s ts.Is.. L..l ! ~.