The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-10-29
THE DYING REPUBLIC.
The Soul OF American Democracy Has
lieen Crushed Out or Our In.
situations.
From the Chicago Exnress ]

From the Chicago Expressl
The tendency Of our republican in
stitutions to merge into all the outward
forms of royalty, and the steady and
rapid strides our Government is MAX
ing toward the monarchical systems Of
the old world, are not only exciting the
fears and apprehcnsions Of the friends
of democracy III this country, but are
attracting the attention Of disinterested
observers in the old world.
The Government of any nation must
correspond to the social condition OF its
people. Political democracy can flour
ish only when planted in the soil Of
social democracy.
Any course which will root out social
democracy, and build up caste in socie-
ty; that will dig gulf between the rich
and poor, or that tends to create ex-
tremes OF wealth and poverty, will as
surely root out political democracy,
and establish such form Of government
as will enable those who are socially
exalted to become and remain political
~ exalted above their fellows. Aristoc-
racy Of power goes hand in hand with
aristocracy of wealth. They are insep-
arable. Men who will not mingle with
poverty in the social circle will soon
disdain to sit in the councils Of the ma
ton with publicans and sinners. Men
who resort to plush, powder, and liv-
cried servants to distinguish themselves
from common mortals will soon yearn
for the titles of honor and armorial
bearings of genuine royalty.
Aristotle said two thousand years ago:
sDemocracies have almost an ire
sistible tendency to merge into plutoc-
racies, and that the existence Of opu-
lent families in republics leads natur-
ally in few years to craving for
monarchical institutions, with their en-
nobling titles and their aristocratic dis
tinctions."
During the first eighty years OF our
national existence we had no extremes
Of wealth and poverty. We had neith-
Or millionaires nor tramps.
In 1912, writing from Boston, Charles
Dickens wrote back to London:
SThere is not man in this town, nor
IN this State. who has not blazing
6re, and meat for dinner every day in
the year, nor would flaming sword in
the air attract so much attention as o
beggar in the Streets"
There was no aristocracy of wealth,
and no sub-stratum Of squalid pow
erty.
Democratic, socially, q republican
form of government was natural, and
rested equally and easily upon the
shoulders of society.
But great change has taken place
since Dickens wrote from Boston.
A London journal recently declared
that .there is not at this moment in
England SO wide gulf between tho
rich and poor as in the United States"
and adds, "there are rs many beggars
in each Of the great American cities as
there ever were Of nlendicants as
sembled about the steps of Roman
churches" This journal then con-
trasts the colossal fortunes of the
millionaires Of great cities, their gor-
geous mansions, brilliant and dazzling
balls and suppers, and elaborate dis
play Of costly diamonds and jewels, far
surprising royalty in brilliancy and
cost, and concludes that 'the United
States has demonstrated within o gem
Grafton that forms OF government have
nothing to do with the wealth or pow
erty of individuals
Thurlow Weed, seeing the tendency
of our Government. to merge into the
forms Of monarchy, said:
sour Government does not seem
strong enough to assert itself.
see every day, and with more and
more dismay, our assimilation to En-
glish habits, English ideas, and even
English costumes. There was once q
time when 10 free-horn American citi-
zen would condescead to wear the plush
Of liveried servant"
Referring TO the foregoing remarks
Of Mr.. Weed, the London Telegraph
says: ~
still more, were he aware of the fact
that every American citizen of reflection
who comes to England uplifts his
voice against the mischiefs Of universal
suffrage, and BIDS England beware Of
following an example which has been
pregnant with woe to the United
States"
Look over the sailing registers and
mark the names Of American citizens
sof reflection" who have visited Eng
land since and before Grants triumphal
reception at the royal courts Of the
world.
in conclusion, the London Telegraph
says: