Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-10

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and Their civilized foes. fighting day by
day, year by year, and then from one
century 10 another. the prerogatives Of
the people against the arbitrary systems
OF proud monArchs and governors Of the
greatest nation that tho modern world
had known. Many ~ were the natural
obstacles to be overcome, fierce rs were
the savage foes that disputed their
advancing footsteps, tyrannical and OPP
pressive a. we're their royal rulers, this
body did not end It's career until II
emerged in the Legislation Of free and
independent State, nor uutil that State
was clothed In the frstwritten Constitu-
ton Of America the first Constitution
clearly separating Legislative. judicial,
and executive powers nor until ths fee
bic colony, planted by king, and occu'
plying o garden spot on the Seabcard,
had stretched half way over the Cont.
rent and become the most powerful,
popuIous. and extensive State OF the
American nation.
REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS ORIGINATED
BY OUR RACE
These sdept artificers Of government
had no models from the ancient world.
No end OF gods and goddesses and he
roes were bequeathed by it, with q
variety OF religions, arts, sciencss, and
letters but no such free institutions az
we enjoy. Representative government
was unknown to the patriarchs. priests,
and Judges of the Jews. Moses ap.
pointed the seventy elders or senators
OF Israel, but ii Was not nurtured
in Egypt, the cradle Of civilization.
Persians, Chsldeans, and Assyrians
read the stars, and Greeks aud Ro.
mans turned to the oracles in vain. The
Greeks "trembled on the verge OF rep
resentative government" but never
attained it. Their democrscies were
large, unwieldy, popular bodies, the
citizens acting directly upon govern.
mert and not by deputy. In fitful
fashion democracy played its part in
Rome, but it was never rid Of
the oligarchy of wealth. 1t developed
some notions of representative govern
ment, but in imperfect and broken forms.
"It was a patrician senate. patrician
councils, patncian magistrates, q patri-
clan priesthood, that ruled Rome" II
is from ourg own fatherhnds and ~
heritage of blood that we derived the
germinal principles of representative
government and homo rule. and'it is BY
ourselves that they have been here de-
velopsd and improved beyond oil prece-
dent. The Teutons were the freest peo-
pie OF antiquity. They elected their
executive. and their public councils de-
cided for war or peace. They wor-
clipped the Creator without interven-
ton, of priest or shrine. They loved
the country and avoided towns. They
sought the land as the hart seeks the
water.brooks in their rustic homes
they were husbandmen and gardeners,
lovers of the chase, winning their bread
by toni, and cherishing their rude spirit
of independence. Tacitus found them
q nation of farmers pasturing on the
forest glades around their villages.
"They lived apart" he says, leach by
himself, as woodside, plain, or fresh
spring attracts them" The Parliament
Of Great Britain drew its descent from
these Teutonic institutions Of early
times. aud it was through the Anglo
Saxon they acquired them. Over the
Roman, the Celt, the Norman, and the
Dane, these hardy lovers of home and
home rule have in the long run tri-
umphed. Mark, township, tithing, and
parish were their seats of government by
local representatives,, with their
Gemot" or "Moot." In which the
freeholders shared in administrative and
judicial proceedings. The Anglo-Saxon
derived these things from his German
fatherlands, the English derived them
from the Anglo-Sakon, and the early
Virginisns OF the Atlantic coast renew
ed the pictures Of early English. OF
early Anglo Saxon, and carly Teutonic
civilization. The commander was the
head Of their hundred; the lieutenant
the head of their country. They
exhibited the same traits as those early
ancestors of the race who gathered
around Arminius in the forest and broke
the ranks OF conquering Rome. Blood
is the surest thing in nature, end when
Augustus, nearly 1000 years ago, ut
tered the repronch "Vsrius, where
are my legions ?" he had been dealt a
blow from the same hand which ex-
torted from King George q similar
question to CORVALLIS. Amongst the
Anglo-Saxons the "blood wife " was
demanded ia redress for any wrong,
and the weaponed man who bore sword
or spear was the hero. On the Anglo
Saxon banner that went down with
Harold, "the dauntless king" was the
picture of "the fighting man." Whom
Virginia made the Goddess of Liberty,
holding her spear triumphant over the
tyrant, her coat of arms, and wrote
under it ",SSc sensper tyranais, she
gave sign Of her origiL, her faith, and
her genius.
BLESSINGS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERN
MENT.
We cannot too dearly cherish our
representative government, nor too 10y
ally sustain those representatives OF the
people who Stand by popular right,
usage, and interest. They who pay tax,
bear burdens, and WELD the sword. must
levy the tax, create the burden, and do
eide whether the sword be drawn.
Those who are accustomed to wealth
and power can only know the burdens
of the mass around them by tho repre-.
sentatives who truly tell the tale. Ii one
class may levy tax that another must
pay, and declare war which another
must wage, the Treasury will be devoted
to pillage and mankind TO seli-destruc-
ton. Representative government is wise,
because if all interests, classes, and sects
are heard, they are themselves consulted
and put under obligation to submit 10
whatever is determined. Representative
government is the most open OF oil
forms. II cannot dwell in darkness f; II
can have no secrets, since so many shsre
them that concealment Is impossible.
Its members work like the bee in a
glass hive. Its machinery Is like that
of watch IN glass case. Representa-
tive government is the fairest OF ell gov
ernments Since il can have no secrets,
the practice Of Mschiavelian arts is put
at discount and rugged honesty be-
comes the strongest force. 1t dignifies
and elevates the citizen by fixing re-
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