The Washington critic., 1890-02-09

older Athens who, in an oratlon over
the bodies Of many young men killed
in battle, cried; "Thc year has lost its
springp
A7ERNI7y IN GOVERNMENT
Many Southern journals, prominently
among them the Nashville Americaa,
are poking fun at what they choose to
describe as Senator Blair's philanthropic
impetuosity. "NIr. Blair" says the
american, "seems to have got our
system of Government mixed up with
that Of the King of Siam This is not
paternal government, nor nation of
becgars; it Is republic" 1t may
not be out of place to remind the
Amoricdn that our boastcd republic
tolerates excuses the King of Siam,
happily, would not suffer to exist, and
that, although We are not nation of
begears, we are rapidly becoming u
nation of heartless brokers.
The political orphanage which urges
every fellow onward lost the devil catch
him at the fag end of the procession may
be ideal republicanism. So, too, may
It render our existence more endurable,
lovelier, happier, to drive philanthropy
out of our legislative halls and bid the
mob trample it to death in the streets
as they might usurper,
What are philanthropy and paternity
to government that men should condemn
them so frcely2 Neither has done the
world or society any harm. The one is
the application of religious truths, an
appeal to enforce conditions we admit
in our conscience to be just and good;
the other is affectionate concern for the
welfare of the political family, growing
out of the knowledge Of the latter's
weaknesses. Men speak disdainfully
Of paternal government, forgetting that,
in their controversy, Burke was not
less right than Paine. The decree Of
the tribune that the democrat would
attain his highest and happiest estate
when given perfect freedom was hushed
by the groans from the guillotine. 1t was
ridiculed by the very demand of Paine
in the French Assembly for the head
of king who had furnished at his So
| licitation, money and soldiers for the
battle of freedom in the American col
onies.
All succeeding shocks and expert
ences show that the democratic man
must be governed like any other. Gov
ernment that proceeds from himself is
disposed to betray its origin. 1t begins
with the family, or the domestic im-
pulse, and ends in individualism or the
struggle for survival. If democrats
would, only see it, paternity in theil
government should not be more OBJ
| jectionable than paternity in their fami
lies. The pprehension comes from
the fear Of force.
Paternity in government does no
necessarily imply the development of {
power for rule which cannot be cou
trolled. 1t means the displacing pas
sion and self-interest with sentimen
and good will. 1t means the solicitud,
of the State for the purity and worth o
citizenship. 1t means the administra
ton of affairs with intelligence an(
humanity. 1t means the remedying in
dividual and popular failings will
patient instruction and persistent care
Paternity in government is taken as th
description of monarchy, which is
mistake No monarchy that ever eX
listed, and no people of the world sine
Marcus Aurelius died, have had sucl
paternity of government as the Switzer
land of to- day. The struggle there i
not for the survival of the fttest, bu
for the intellige ent repression of tn
strong.
A similar impulse in our Govern
ment would be blessing, to wish 70
which seems vain. The bugaboos o
militaryism and Capitalization and in
reference with private rights wi
doubtless go on frightening us in tn
darkness through which we are CROPPING
The succession in the Presidency O
Washingtons and Lincolns for gen
Grafton or too might turn us from III
small path we are travelling, into
broader, brighter road, but these me
only come at great intervals to warn II
that we stand in constant need of then