Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-04

ence. There is residum of aborinal
Indians, entirely uueduoated, and a mix
cd race with the vices of two continents.
these causes are at the bottom of the
lnischlef, but republicanism has not prov
cd Itself cure.
IL we survey the whole American con-
einene We see five bright spots where law
Is INDICATED, order maintained, pros
geri'y progressive, and liberty secured.
Ahese are republics-United States, Chilli,
anu 'he argentine confederation. Two
are honarchles-Canada and Brazil. OF
sI'e repuolics 1t must be said that two of
'hem are the most conservative and the
ieas6 democratic ID the world. Chilli has
RESTRICTED suffrage, and is practically
fuleo oy It's arIstocTacy. The constitu.
ton of the United States bristles as NJ
Bryce points out, with strong securities
against the impulses of the oeople-se-
cnr1tles that many liberals would like
to see adopted here. Brazil, the onlv
monarchy in South America, has had
history differing in almost every respect
from that of the neighboring republics.
1t has had only two emperors since 1924.
while some of the republics have had
twenty or thirty political adventures
called presidents. 1t has made steady
progress IN every respect, ana within the
last few years have decreed the entire
abolition of slavery. As to Europe, the
| republican system can boast of Switzer.
land as an old and respectable instance
of people happy under elected rulers.
But then the Swiss are an exceptional
people in an exceptional position, and
the preservation of their independence
for the ages has been due to physical
circumstances and peculiar Quail
les of race rather than TO their
political institutions. Frsnce remains.
1t is a republic and has been SO now for
eighteen years-having had ten years.
trial of the same form of government in
the last century, and four years expert
ment from 184S to 1852. It's permanent
success, however, is not yet proved. We
should like to see one of its duly elected
presidents fulfill his legal term of office
and hand over his power to a duly elected
successor. That interesting incident of
republican institutions has not yet been
transacted In Paris, and if General Bou-
LANCER succeeds, may never come TO pass.
1t cannot be said therefore that repubii-
canlsm can congratulate itself greatly on
Its present position in the world. In
theory 1t is beautiful form of govern
menu. Inc Idea Is that wise people
elect the best man to rule them and sup
ply him with parliament of wise coun-
selors; that worth, not birth, governs the
gift of offices, and that honesty, not rank,
receives respect. Is this vision realizedP
Once upon time lord mayor of Lon
don cancelled an invitation 60 a minister
from Honduras because that little state
had not paid its debts. Had the same
principle of prohibition been applied in
Paris trecently there would have been at
least six Banquo chairs among the seats
set for the thirteen republics. We can
not therefore say that public virtue and
American republicanism are exactly the
same thing; and though monarohial in
situations are often sailed effete they
seem to foster both here and across the
seas old fashioned ideas of personal hon
or, public order, steady progress, and
financial morality.