Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-08-29
THEREPUBLIC ISA SUCCESS
There Have Been Troubles, but the
President Finds Us United,

There Have Been Troubles, but the
President Finds Us United.
The enthusiasm with which the
anniversary of the Declaration of In
dependence is celebrated in no wise
diminishes as the event commemo-
rated recedes more and more into the
past. The methods of manifesting
patriotic spirit have changed in some
respects. The spread eagle oratory
oflormer days has gone out ofvogue;
but the exhibition of devotion to the
republic and it's institutions, and of
q strong and individual American
sentiment grows more rather than
less pronounced and emphatic.
1t may he truly said that to-day the
people of this country are united as
never before. The Union rests more
firmly on its constitunal foun-
dations than ever before. There
is u more distinct national char
acter. The people cling more
lovingly and more tenaciously to
the principles of democracy, and rep
resentative government is admins
tered with greater purity, honesty
and efficiency.
In the earlier days of the establish
ment of the republic there was a
large part of the people that looked
doubtfully and pessimistically on the
experiment Of setting up govern
ment from which were excluded all
the forms and insignia and classifi-
cations OF monarchy; and among the
number were many of the more edu-
Gated and refined. They feared that
law and authority would not be
properly reverenced without the aid
of the ancient superstitions as to
thrones and crowns and the impos-
ing force OF all the symbols and badges
OF sovereign power.
ut seems to me-" wrote in Deem
Der, 1888, Gerard de Rayneval, the
French minister to this country,
chat the Americans were not ripe,
if | may use this expression, torpopu
ittI SON tllllithl' 4 hti NtlS bOO
much accustomed TO the distinctions
of authority, rank, honors, birth
and Of wealth for the class OF citizens
who enjoyed these advantages to
Willingly confound themselves with
the masses. The people OF Massachu-
sets, among Others already fear
that they have instructed their
governments with too much power.
However this may be, it appears
still very doubtful whether popular
principles will prevail and purge the
constitutions OF this tinge of aristo
tracy"
This work OF purgation has been
difficult and of long duration. The
distrust of the people manifested it.
self in opposition TO every step in adj
vance toward real popular govern.
ment. There remained many of the
people who feared and detested uni.
versal suffrage, and they would not
only limit the franchise, but they
would also restrict within narrow
bounds henumber Of public servants
to be voted for by those who had the
privilege of voting. Then in more
recent years came up the short lived
struggle to keep out foreign settlers,
from any share in the government.
They are alien to the American senti.
ment, it was argued, and they will per.
vert our institutions. Then came the
cry that popular suffrage might have
done well enough tor compact and
homogeneous population, but that
it was dangerous power in the
hands of vast aggregation OF
people rapidly brought together by
immigration and not yet assimilat-
ed.
But to-day finds the republic more
united. more harmonious, better
governed, and with more distinct
and common national sentiment than
before these many millions OF foreign
ers were admitted to citizenship.
The more the people have been trust
ed, the more they have taken their
government into their own hands.
the more powerful has become the
republic, and the more completely
have been shattered the theories oil
tie wailing political pessimists.
But there still remains much to do.
These critics of popular government
and skeptics rs to the ability OF the
people TO exercise sovereign power
are not vet vanquished ut all points.
The work OF purgation is not yet
completed-New York Sun.
SOC