The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-04-20

8S6kevVesb LA,
THURSDAY, ::::::::::::::::::::::lApRlL 20, 1882.
Liberty and Government supple
ment each other. Their due recip-
rocal adjustment constitutes the
civil state in its highest and best
development. Each is an ancient
principle. History is in great part
q record of the constant conflict of
these two political elements, which
it is the glory of our American Re-
public, first among the nations Of the
earth, to havereconciled and brought
into harmonious accord. For it was
in the New World, unembarrassed
by the bias Of fendal or monarchial
traditions, that u1ankind at length
was free, as if translated to another
sphere, 10 build the Commonwealth
afresh and to realize the dream of
the ideal realm. In the G Constitutions
adopted by the Colonies moro than
q hundred years ago, contemporaries
ously with their union in concerted
resistance to the British Crown and
as . necessity Of that craftsmanship
Of war which 20 greatly contributed
to the success of the Revolution,
was found the very first practical
illustration in the authentic annals
Of the human race of the Social Con.
tract, hitherto existing merely as an
ingenious theory or regarded as a
bold and fancifnl vagary of poets
and philosophers. The doctrine of
limiting the constituted authorities
By . written fundamental instru-
ment had been considered visionary
in Europe, where, indeed it was i'm
practicable. The notion of q social
compact, whereby q part Of the
natural liberty Of the individual is
surrendered in order to the better
security Of the community, had been
dreamily discoursed Of by Plato and
Cicero. They, however, referred its
actual existence to that mythical
golden age wherein mankind was
conjsotnred to have been originally
placed, and TO which they finally
hoped for . return. But our wise
and heroic forefathers made this
conception Of classic antiquity q
present fact. Preparatory TO that
momentous and irreyocable step, the
Declaration Of Independence, the
Continental Congress proposed to
the Provincial Assemblies and Con-
venfions b adopt republican Con-
situations for their domestic govern
menu and the Recommendation was
premptly acted upon by the Colo
mes. already contemplating them
selves 40 independent States. And
closely following upon this action
came the federation compact Of the
sold thirteen The underlying prin-
ciple, in both the municipal and ma
tiensl contracts, was that oil sover.
eighty intrinsically resided in the
people ~ the original source of L.
climate political power.
Tia doctrine Of absolutism, of
which the limited monarchies of
Europe were and are but modihca.
tons, claimed the divine right Of
kings a. the fountain Of all authori-
y. Is regarded the liberty Of the
individual, not - normal and origi-
nal, bat ~ . matter Of grant or con-
cession By the Grown. Magma Charta
wa bat . grant extorted by the
barons Of England from King John.
An tho vannted CELEBRITIES Of Eng
lishmen,' in fact, were but conces-
franchises, and mot inherent
rights. In every European nation
the royal prerogative was primary
and paramount. Local self-govern-
ment, - exersised BY the medieval
municipalities, together with all in.
dividaal freedom, was but priyi-
lege aceorded By the autocraticruler.