Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-03-13
TIKI GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN IDEA.
WILLIAM OLIVER,


Though many experiments have been previous.
| ly made In self government by the people II
seems to have been left to the Americans to dent
onstrate to the world that Republic Is the only
| true form for Nh enlightened and cultivated PEG
pie.
To Ancient Greece we ascribo the honor OF
founding the Idea, and certainly Pericles and
other Grecian statesmen, who advocated such
action, immortalizcd themselves In so doing
Rome soon grasped the Idea and In conjunction
with her great predecessor carried II nearly to
the dawn OF the present era. The intelligence
thereby displayed however, was spontaneous
out-burst, OF necessity immature, but they had
started men to work on the great problem Of pol
tiles and life Western Europe received all the
wisdom and experience Of the ancients and Ia,
bored we'll at the grand problem though she did
not completely solve II. The first forward stride
taken was the establishment Of free cities In
Germany, privileged communes In France and
commercial republics In Italy. After q short
time came the Crusades which loosened the
bands OF Feudalism, and q few years later the
Magma Charta, the foundation Of English con.
stitutional liberty was produced But following
close In the wake OF the Magma Charta was re-
back TO their old standard and resulted In the
contest between king and commons, IN which
was sounded the death knell, not only OF Charles
I, but Of the doctrine OF the "Divine Right OF
Kings" Crowned heads still fondly chung To
the petty delusion but the scales had fallen from
the eyes OF the people and this nlmsy pretext
could no longer hide the monarchs selfish anbi-
ton.
The Puritan sway In England lasted only eleven
years, but Cromwell's brethren In the American
forests had kept alive In their hearts the love Of
self government, and hither few the oppressed
and downtrodden OF all Europe, the colonies
thus becoming the escape valve, as II were, Of
European politics and society and the hope OF
liberty. But from Maine to Georgia there was
little thought Of Independence until the muttcr-
ing storm Of resistance to England's oppressive
laws was heard. With this resistance came still
greater oppression and to meet this spirit
which with Patrick Henry said Give me liber.
ty or give me DEATH. " With the hope OF indie
pendence came the necessity OF centralized gov
eminent and through ten years OF quarreling,
was developed the Idea OF unity, but not until
the bonds Of friendship had been strained well
nigh TO the point OF breaking. At this crisis n
body Of men, the admiration OF the world, met In
conclave to consider the situation, and as n re-
suit produced the constitution, document which
has stood the test Of time the shock Of the civil
war and today stands iirmer than ever The
system of government that they planned Is their
most eloquent eulogy having been the admira-
ton OF governors and governed 10 the utmost
ends Of the earth.
The new Republic, az II took Its place among
| the powers OF the world, proclaimed ITS faith In
the truth, reality and unchangeableness Of free
| dom, and the astonishod nations as they read
that all men are created equal started from that
lethargy which had enthralled them since tyran-
| ny began. The French troops who aided the
\ Colonists In the revolution, returned homo int
bued with the spirit Of freedom, wreaked fearful
vengeance on their rulers for long years OF mis-.
government, and through struggle Of three
quarters OF a century have firmly established the
American Idea
| Monarchs saw and trembed well knowing that
ere long they too must submit TO overthrow. It.
ally, following the example Of France, made a
stand for liberty but was unsuccessful, and but
| four months ago, Brazil, the only monarchy on
| the continent OF the two Americas, adopted the
Idea, so that today government by the people
prevails everywhere on both Americas, except
In the Dominion OF Canada, which Is now de-
tendency on the Monarchy OF Great Britain, but
promises soon to be annexed by the grandesi
nation on the face Of the earth. thereby giving
itself a republican form Of government. The
golden age OF monarchy Is past and judging
future history by that Of the last hundred years
/ the indications are that its existence amongst
civilized nations will be short lived. The PEG
pie ON the broad plains and frozen steppes Of
Russia have heard OF this mighty republic In the
west and the Car turns pale knowing that he vii
soon have something even more formidable thar
the Nihilist to contend with. England's ruler,
have bent before the storm and concession aftei
concession has been made 10 the people, so thai
today she might be called an aristocratic repub
lie with permanent executive, which though
far from the American Idea shows a growth II
that direction, and II Is even darkly limited thai
with Victoria will die both the titled aristocrac,
and the monarchy. The people OF Germany hay,
recognized the benefits derived from free form
of government and today that nation Is tremb
ling on the verge OF republicanism. With thes;
three great powers converted TO the American
idea there Will be little left for the grand oil
ward march TO complete. And may II not b.
possible that the succeeding generation at leas
may see the entire civilized world enjoying thi,
benencent form Of government.
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