The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-05-28
The s.Esise and Growth of Re-
publicanfsnl.o

z z huo i a " lit eAlSIeQ,
monarchical or otherwise, that has not con-
tributed something toward the growth of free
institutions. Mans capabilities of improve
ment are innate. The condition of our early
ancestors was rude-they were guided by in
%stinct, which grew into intelligence. In the
way of government, they had first the family,
then the tribe, which soon expanded into Or
ganized government. AS they became more
populous, migrations of all the races took place
at different times, and in different directions
from the original nome about the Caspian
Sea in Asia. Thus countries were peo-
pied and governments established, principally
monarchies, over all the then known world.
Change of place, intercourse and action, md
war, were the principal early educators. 1so-
lated nations, not having the advantages ofthe
intercourse and action, being the eddies, as it
were, of the stream of progress, if they did not
entirely cease to improve, improved more slow
ly.
What was known of Asia at the beginning of
written history, was a vast battlefield, on
whose western border, appeared the Jewish
nation, which while be-taught or punished by
the neighboring powers, was slowly expanding
the Christian religion, that religion destined
to become the guiding star of the just and vir-
tuous of all nations. This nation, that gave
us this free institution, gave us also the first
example of free government.
The greatest improvement was about and
westward of the original home of the races,
and continued in a western direction, along
the Mediterranean over western Europe, to
"new and free America"
The Aryan race, noted for its activity and
enterprise, and which gave to us the grand
noble and civilizing institution, the family,
based upon Monogamic marriage, took this
direction in their migration, and became the
very foremost in the arts and sciences, either
OF peace or war.
The heroes of Greek mythology, as pictured
by their poets, served as examples for the imi-
tation of the Greeks, and were remembered
with wonder and reverence, as if decended
from the gods. Every community had its
devine hero. All recognized the tie that united
them asOne race, but they never would allow
it to deprive them of local independence. In
deed the division of their country by mount
aims, and indentations of the coast had a ten
dency to produce this result. About the mid
die of the eighth century b. c., most of these
states set aside their kings, and established
republican forms of government, and where
this was not the case, the kings were left with
but little power. "The struggle between liber-
ty and authority" says Mill twas the most
conspicuous feature of the portions of history
with which we are earliest familiar, especially
in that of Greece, Rome and England" The
Greeks did not understand the character of
liberty in that age, as we do in this-there
was much violence and blood-shed. Yet they
were earnest and active in the studies they
pursued, so that their pioneer work was useful
to future generations, their mistakes for warn
ing, their successes for instruction.
| About this era, colonization around the Med
itterranean was at its height. Also a spirit
OF adventure seems to pervade all nations. In
1913 b. g., Rome was founded, and received
her population largely from the surrounding
| countries.
At first, the Roman government consisted
only of the Senate and King. The Senate was
chosen from the body of citizens and repre-
scented them. In the course of time, the de-
scendents of the first people become the aris-
tocracy, particians who enjoyed great privi-
leges.
class was gradually formed, the plebeians,
or common people, which for some time had no
share in the government. But the
wishing to share a portion of these privileges.
took advantage of circumstances, and conse-
quently, by their prudence, without conflict,
without violating the laws or constitution,
gradually effected changes until their infu-
ence was duly noticed and felt by the patri-
clans. The triumph of the commons of Rome
was a new lesson to mankind, and one that has
had great influence upon the good order of
society, and free government in all later times.
The Roman government was notably superior
to that of any proceeding nation in one respect
viz: The establishment of order. No other
nation had ever conceived the idea of a definite
constitution, which should always command
the respect of their rulers, and serve as a
check to oppression. The Romans formed
their state for conquest. That idea controlled
the kingdom, the republic, and the empire
Morally the example they set was entirely
wrong according to the standard of national
rights excepted in our days. They, and many
a nation after them, had to work out the evil
consequences of the doctrine, that "Might
makes right" before the universal sense of
mankind would recoil from it. This was the
accepted doctrine of the ancients, and Of more
modern kings, and 10! has not yet disappeared
from the world.
In the early days of the "empire," the sub
lime teachings of Christianity were proclaim
ed to the Romans. We would suppose that
they had only to be heard, to be adopted, and
become the leading influence in the work of
the future. But the Romans could not pro-
coed in conquest and robbery of other nations,
nor in the vices and crimes of their own, and
at the same time, practice the principles of
Christianity. Some accepted its doctrines,
and were bitterly prosecuted; but persecution
drew public attention to it; so it continued to
spread and finally to such an extent. that their
emperor Constantine deemed it polite, to
make it the state religion, place himself at its
head, and, instead of guiding politics by the
"6right light" of Christianity, guided Chris
tianity by the "dim light" of politics.
Neither the character of the Romans, their
government, nor the lessons they taught, had,
as yet, manifested much, if any influence up
on the people north and west of them, except
those in Gaul, whom they had held in unwill-
ing subj ction. They had yet to improve their
institutions by intercourse and action and
by the additional eight" of Christianity.
The individualism of the Teutonic race
built up feudalism, which extended over al
most all Europe during the time from the 5th
to the 18th century. Excepting the kingdom
of the Franks, no centralized government ex-
listed. In III A. D., Charlemagne succeeded to
the throne of this kingdom, who, by his wars,
produced the mingling ofraces, and by his en-
enlargement of learning, modern civilization
took its first step in western Europe. This
feudal system seems to have held all the ele-
ments of socity in suspense,-progress was
very slow; butthe outburst of events and re-
suits that appeared from 1000 to 1900 A. D.,
proves that the influences of advancement
were silently at work. The "age of Chivalry''
shows that Christianity was gradually affect
ing the character of the new nations; the
"Crusades" loosened the bonds of feudalism,
and taught the rulers and people to act in
common. 1t was about this period 1915 A. D.,
that the "Magua Charta," the foundation of
English constitutional liberty, was produced;
that the "Hauseatic League and Free Cities
began to furnish in Germany; that the "com-
mercial republic of Genoa, Venice and Flor
ence arose in Italy; and that the communal
corporations of France sprung up. Corpora
tions and cities, which had obtained their
rights of feudal propritors, employed them for
the purpose of self government, and so used
an instrument of oppression to shield and sus-
tain a virtual democracy. The invention of
printing, producing rapid diffusion of knowl-
edge; the coincident revival of learning and
the foundation of modern science, most favor
ed the liberties of the people. The era of Col
umbus came. The use of the compass, the
| science of astronomy and better reasoning all
commenced their career just before or just
after him. The great painters, whose works
are now so much priced, were all living in 1900.
Copernicus discovered the true condition of
the planetary system in the year Columbus
died. The Reformation, from which Indirect
ly sprung modern Republicanism, was begun
by Luther in 1917. The "Reform'' spread
"north and west" and in the long contest, it
became evident that full religious liberty was
not then attainable in Europe. The English
people progressed in laying the foundation of
a free constitution from the time of the "Ma-
gina Charta." They became strongly Protest
ant, and finally the mmon engaged in con-
test with their king for popular rights, and a
republic was established, but ceased to exist
: after their great leader. Cromwell. died Roy