The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-17

devotion, and in spirit of eager self-sacri-
WILLIAMS UNWIsE BREAK.

Is l. None other shall [ suffer near me. +"
Such was the remark made by the young
Emperor of Germany quite recently in
speech at Dusseldorf. The remark is SAID
TO nave been made in consequence of the
prospective opposition to the government
that will likely be formed under the leader
ship of Prince BISMARCK, who, 1t is ex-
pected, will form coalition of conserya-
tive and national liberals against the gov
ernment The Emperor sees the trend of
affairs in this movement, and either meant
to sound note of warning to those having
The temerity to oppose him, or what is
more likely, gave vent to his shoulder
ing vexation that the man whom he had re-
tired to private life should be chosen by
the people to seat in the imperial parlia-
ment of Germany where he may be thorn
in the side of his former master to plague
him. While we think BISMARCK with bet
ter grace could have remained in the po-
lltlcal retirement to which he had been
relegated by the action of the young EN-
peror, still his return to the reich stag BY
the vote of the people of Geestemunde Is
an illustration of the progress the world Is
making. 1t reminds US that the fiat
of kings and emperocs is no longer
absolute and final. 1t tells US that kings
may be overruled by the people, and hence,
that they have found their masters In
view OF these facts the speech Of the German
Emperor at Dusseldorf sounds strangely
out of tune in these democratic times
Both language and sentiment might have
been tolerated two centuries ago; the
parties to whom the remarks were threat,
might have then turned pale and trembled,
as thevlsion of the headsman, stalking be-
hind them, might have been conjured up as
the monarch spoke, but we have outgrown
those tunes. and the fear of angry kings.
Such sentiments as the Emperor uttered
and the expression Of them belong to the
times of the Tudor monarchs of En- rlaud.
and, Indeed, aremars not unlike the German
Emperor's is accredited TO elizabeth. the
last OF the illustrious Tudor line of English
sovereigns When her favorite, RoBERr
DUDLEY, Earl of Leicester, presumed too
much upon his sovereign's indulgence, and
assumed airs warranted in the English
monarch only, she chastised him roundlv
with her tongue, and told him that England
mad mistress, that she was that mistress.
and that she would tolerate no master.
But now to have man, Emperor though
he be, assuming to be alone the master of a
country, and that he will suffer none other
near him, sounds strongly out of joint with
the spirit of the age.
We have passed that period when the
divine right of kings" is looked
upon as orthodox political doctrine:
and when to deny it is regarded not only as
political heresy, but treason. The monarch
who undertakes to lord it over any portion
CT GODS heritage will find himself on dan
gerous ground. The world is rapidly learn.
ing the political doctrines taught by the
fathers Of the American government over
one hundred years ago, viz. that govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed, and that to live,
to be free and TO pursue happiness are in
rights of man; that to secure
these rights governments are instituted
among men, and when any form of gov
eminent fails to accomplish this chief end
d It's existence, it is the right of the people
to alter or abolish it.
Such are the ideas which are fast perme
ating the minds of the people of all nations;
and OF late number of revolutions have
occurred which are significant, and should
warn even the German Emperor, secure as
ne may deem himself on his throne that he
IS not invincible. nor the government of
which he is the head incapable of being
oVerthroWn. Within recent period the
empire OF Brazil has passed through rev
olution practically banishing her Emperor
and ins tituting on the ruins of the empire a
which has been recognized by all
The principal nations of the earth. The
empire of Japan, only year or two before
that passed through revolution no less
remarkable though somewhat different to
that of Brazil. The Emperor in
recognition of the principle that
governments derive their just powers from
the consent Of the governed, gave up very
many of the ancient prerogatives held by
the sovereigns of Japan-prerogatiyes
which made the form of government abso-
ute and the Emperor the government
In Australia the British provinces have
been recently converted into common
wealth, for all practical purposes iuto an
independent republic, modelled on the prin- |
;lples OF our own government Thus the
march of democratic principles is steadily |
forward. Democracy is the spirit of the
age, and monarchs anxious to retain seats |
upon their tottering thrones will do well |
not to talk too rashly or loudly about be- |
ng masters" and their determination not
Snffer HOY
'tung by such annoyance, NAV suddenly
discover their own power and that they
and not kings are the real masters. and |
mat whatever form of government sub |
'ists does so by their suffrance. The mon |
marches which will be most secure in the |
future are those which. like England. per-
nit the people through their representa-.
ives to constitute the real governing
power, while the crown contents itself in |
he forms of royalty, and in interfering ne |
little as possible in the affairs of admins |
ration. Under those circumstances the |
people may tolerate kings and emperors
Tor season, until they become convinced
hat they are Injuries too expensive. and !
then they will CO.
meantime, while we rejoice in the ad /
7ancement made by democratic principles,
and in the rule by the people so character.
site Of our age, our Joy is not without al
oy; but upon the horizon of our hopes |
niger the clouds of fear "Ths notion |
hat the people have no need to limit their !
power over themselves" says JOHN
STUART Mill, in his essay on liberty. |
might seem automatic, when popular gov
was thing only dreamed about
II read OF as having exis ted at some dis
ant period of the past,
Neither was that notion necessarily dis |
urbed by such temporary alterations as those !