Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-18
Self Government.

The theory upon which our State and
Federal Constitutions are constructed is,
that man is capable of self government,
and that it is his inalienable right to ex-
ercise that capacity" AS our charter of
liberty 1.-THE Declaration of Independ
ence"-expresses it, "All men are created
equal Governments derive
their Just powers from the consent of
the governed. And the people
have the right TO alter and to institute
new governments in such form as to
them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness" Such is
our national theory of Democratic Re
publicanism, which we have for hun
dred years been practically testing, and
with marked success, notwithstanding
the many difficult elements that have
from time to time threatened our exist
ence.
But the problem is not yet definitely
solved in the affirmative, many states
men, some even in our own country of
the Republican party. holding TO the
conclusion that IMAM is not capable of
self government, and needs to be gov
erned. This opinion finds its support in
the aristocratic maxim that education
and intelligence of a high order are es
sential factors in the science of political
administration" -qualities confined to a
few. and. not within the compass of the
many. There is plausibility in this argu-
ment, but our practical experience of
popular intelligence has so fer success
fully contradicted it. For comparing our
brief history of ninety-three years under
our Constitution with the record of every
other country known to US, we find that
in the stability of our institutions, and
in moral, mental and industrial attain
ment and progress, we are in the front
rank, and second to no people on the
globe.
Undoubtedly, we have been favored in
a measure by our geographical position
and by the sparseness of our population
in proportion to the extent of our terri
tory-two conditions which steam, cleo
tricity and immigration are now visibly
affecting; and which will force upon the
Republic eventually the final test of
mans capacity for ruling himself. We
have gone safely through a civil war
that would have crushed any other peo-
| pie, and are now in contention with the
evils and corrupt intrigues incident to it.
Shall the Republic triumph also over
these2 This is the issue now presented
to us, depending for favorable solution
upon the peoples intelligence and in
tegrity, as illustrated by their conven
tions, the exponents.of popular will, and
in the purity of their elections of State
and Federal officers.
Unfortunately the vices of human
nature are continually threatening to
substitute for these a variety of intrigues
to achieve individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
compelling incessant watchfulness on
iiSthe part of honest Democrats for the
preservation Of Democratic Republican
principles and practices These dangers
are inevitable in all human organiza-
tions, and being so, demand care in the
selections of delegates, who are neces-
sarily, by our political system, supposed
induces OF the popular voice. To their
intelligence and honor the people look
/ for upright and just dealing, the only
securities they have in their representa-
tives for the general welfare and the per.
manence of Democracy. We have I'M
questionably before US perpetual great
future, if we shall be true to our form of
government and to ourselves, in our
primaries, mass meetings, conventions
and elections. Shall it be realizedl