Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-11
Representative Government and the Force
RilI.

blls
To he Editor of the Dispatch
The town autonomy of Greece was the
most complete system OF government ever
practiced anywhere IN the civilized world.
Those persons who were entitled to. e1er-
else the right of suffrage governed the
several Greek town communities without
the aid of representatives. Every voter
represented in his own person himself In
the public assemblies. This power he
never delegated. The democracy of Athens
was beyond ell question the most perfect
form of democracy which the world has
ever vet seen. Such a system of govern
ment il. however. utterly united to large
country because millions OF voters couldnot
assemble In that way. IL the life OF COM
munity could be confined TO the limits OF a
great city perhaps II would 90 20 resiVe
fbis singularly beautiful system; but civlli-
cation has made such giant strides that
such a thing is now and forever will re-
main impossible. When the autonomous
town governments had lived their allotted
lives and were no more out of their ashes
arose the principle Of Federal Govern
ment. as exemplifed in the Arch@n
LEAGUE, which was the chief model the
Federalists of the eighteenth century hau
TO guide them in the formatlon oil our
Union. The famous League OF Achaia was
composed of federated towns and terri.
tories in which the broadcast principles OF
local self-government were carefully pre-;
served. and the powers OF the Federal
Government were only such as were spe-
ciallv conferred upon it. II had the night
to declare war and to attend to the diplo..
matte affairs of the league and most OF
the powers now exercised by the Govern
ment at Washington. Ii was so much IKE
our country that it, too, had its secession
IL npAad "a did Huf III nd0
no bicameral system of government ana
only national assembly, which met every
spring at some designated place, but never
in a large CITY. Every voter and citizen OF
kchaia had the right TO attend this assem-.
hlv-not as delegate, but as an original
voter from a certain community. inns
singular assembly elected the General (or
President, as we would call him), who held
Office for one year and was not eligible iol
reelection until after another year hau
elapsed.
When the Roman eagles first appeared IN
| Greece Achaia was the only place from
which even a feeble resistance could be ex-
| nected. Titus Quinctius Flamivinus COM
| manded the legions. Though good sol
| der he was a young man in love with
the land which had produced so many
| heroes and sages, and which with lts
| softening influences was having its Weigh'
even on the stern civilization OF Rome;
AS soon as he had conquered ne wanteo
to give liberty, to these won1uef s y
| The world of thought had fallen from then
| high estate. and were utterly unworthy o.
| H. People always are when they accep
| sneh a priceless boon from strangers. i
| ia somethinc for which to be appreciated
| and rightly used a man must be ever reao,
| to fight. As a gift 1t was worth nothins
even to the Greeks. They have never ye
| emerged in history as great people.
Rome, too. was TO q certain eAIe CIV ,' =,
| autonimous community, but IT had no ma
ohinery of government suited TO its Inn
mense provinces. Its various nationalitle
vera held together for awhile by. IN
sword. put when the privilege or cltizen
sbip was extended il weakened the homal
| mower and conferred no correspondent
| beneft upon the provinces, mainly b,
reason of failure to understand the primer
ole OF representative government; Una
principle had been understood tnen as
is now, perhaps instead OF only lnHueileeiii, !.
The world by the silent dominion OF II
iays the empire of Rome would have still
existed. ,.or,,
The principle of representlye govern
ment was "a lreutouIc invention whloI
first grew to perfection In England, tne
cana INTO existence here by pertectl
natural process of reproduction ana ma
since been copied all over the clyIi1s
world. II is the greatest discovery IN IN
science of government whlch mas ye. veo
made. The twin ideas OF represensa.iJI
and taxation burst forth spontaneous
on ON kmeriean soil. Hutchinson, a
carly writer on our colonial history
saws. This year Q6l9) a House G
Burresses broke osd IN Virgins.
This is Anclo-S Saxon liberty. lt does nc
need 10 be petted or moulded INTO snap
Ike wax flower, but breaks through a
BEARERS wherever the English language
| snoken. Two hundred and seyenty-tw
wears ago the colony OF virginia conslJ
inc of mere handful Of people VINO coul
ny hear from the mother country. fc
months AT a time. took the relns OF loc'
sen-ooyernment into their own hands. Sd
| thsv and their descendants have held tnei
aver since, as they viii doubtless eontinu
Every citizen of Virginia owes allegiant
20 the Commonwealth of Virginia and !
the United States Of America he nae u
right 10 be represented at the Feoel
CAPITOL and at the State Cepitoi py persol
chosen in the mode prescribed oy INC is'
=" No nsrty in time Of peace except the II
publican PARTY, however, sought 70 tainp
nth this right. II 10 sscred and part
the birthright Of all Enslish-spsakinaEE pc
sls. and those who come within the y
! fiuence Of their laws and customs.
The force bin 10 an infamous euoIt
the Republican party, LED ID ene ,s nuI he
sw sontheraers Of the Benedict Arnol
st,ins and in the Senate by Hosrs TO pc
pstnate the most corrupt party cover
mani which hiss ever existed ia ufs " ~
other country. The force bill u . aire
blow al the great principle OF represent
1sa Government. II needs Watching, q
Il cannot possibly succeed under sny 81
cums.ances AZ long ~ the love % . nos,