The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-11-28
4 SERIOUS QUESTION
Are We to Have a
King.
Is Republican Govern
ment a Failure?

has stirred up a hornets nest around
its ears by declaring that schemes
were on foot, with headquarters at
Washington, to turn this republic in
to monarchy. 1t was attacked on
all sides for publishing the statement
OF its correspondent: and in it's issue
of Nov. l2th,-it seeks to defend it,
self by saying:
II t is the duty of the press to throw
llgnt on such miaSmatic grOWths and
to scorch them out of existence in the
very bud. To proclaim their existence
is TO undo them. 1t is not necessary
would be a crime. But when u woman
OF social standing, ability and in
11uence states that the women OF
Washington desire monarchy, and
That large business interests want the
same thing, the newspaper which
learns that the assertion has been
made, owes it to the public to make
the fact known. That is all there is
of it. The duty to publish such
things is part of the regular duty of
the press, just as it is the duty of a
health officer to order the removal of
garbage. When exposed, such poison
is cOunteracted; but left alone it
might spread to considerable degree
and become dangerous"
There can be no question that a des-
potism is the natural and logical con-
clusion of the forces which now domi-
nate our American politics. If the
few are to rule the nation why should
they be compelled. every year or two.
TO go to vast expense to corrupt or de-
celve the people? And if the people
are ready to be corrupted, or shallow
enough TO be deceived. are they tit for
elf-gOrernment?
Our richer and more cultured
classes are already honey-com bed with
a distrust and dislike of free institu-
tlons, and possessed Of blind antici-
patton of some change, in some way.
which will give them a government of
the few, protected by standing
army.
The editor of Donahuc's Magazine.
4 Boston publication, recently printed
an article, entitled 'Is popular gov
ernment to fail in American" with
these headlines:
INDICATIONS THAT THE FOUNDA-
TIONS OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE ARE
BEING UNDERMINED BY MEN WHO
SHOULD STRENGTHEN THEN. PROM
1NENT AMERICAN EDUCATORS GIVE
STARTLING TESTIMONY AS TO THE
GROWING MIsTRUsT OF MANHOOD
SUFF RAGE"
We make some extracts from this re-
markabl article.
1T is folly longer to wink at the
facts. A new type of citizen has ap-
peared,-th Anne rican Tory. There
is nothing to equal it in the history of
the world; it is utterly out Of char
acter with the age.
"The American Tory has low opin-
ion of the intelligence of the masses.
He goes farther in his skepticism
than the most extreme Federalist of
the last century. The prominent fig
ures of Washington's time. even when
urging constitutional safeguards
against sudden bursts of popular pas
sion, had the most profound and con-
vincing faith in the Judgment of the
people. That faith today is the key to
national progress. An assault upon it
Is du dSouulU uDOu tIiC NCIy ICdTCIl-
stone of the Republic.
"We raise note Of alarm at this
time: we hear strange words from edi-
tors and from college professors. who
cast WantOn reflections upon the judg-
ment and honesty of the average man:
we see men of culture attempting to
rescue aristocracy from the tomb
where popular government has laid it.,
and to undo in the library and sane
tum what was nobly done upon battle
fields and in the legislative halls.
1t has come to such pass that edi-
tors like f. L. Godkin, of the New
York Evening Post, bemoan, in so
many words: the rule of the people.
Their meaning is unmiStakable.
Speaking in the Forum of the at
titude of educated men toward uni
versal suffrage, that is, manhood suf-
frage, Mr.. Godkin says: GAS gener-
al rule think they really mistrust or
regret it. but accept it as the incvit-
able" Mr.. Godkin's paper is patron
lied by men who control vast material
interests, and we recognize in his
voice the authority of powerful
classes.
Godkin in himself is nothing. As
an editor he is type. He is an apostle.
as his paper is something of a gospel
Of, the new dispensation of aristoc-
racy in land of freedom. He has
hitched his wagon to a star that used
to shine. He would prefer, as Rich
ard Henry Lee did upon certain oc-
caSiOn, that votes be weighed instead
OF counted. There are many editors
in Godkin's class, and it is we'll that
the issue they dare not to raise should
be promptly and firmly met.
There are two powerful cross cur
rents of sentiment running in this
country, one toward carrying out tC
the full the ideas of the fathers, and
the other toward, aristOcratic rule
through the gradual limiting of the
right of suffrage.
The tory professor, as we'll as the
tory editor, is in the saddle. Prof, w
G.. Sumner, of Yale College, has re-
Gently written: "Although we can.
not criticise democracy profitably, ii
may be said Of it, with reference tc
our present subject, that up to this
time, democracy has never done any
thing. either in politics, social affairs
or industry, to prove it's power to bless
mankind" And again: 1T is by nc
means certain that democracy in the
United States has not, up to this time
been living ON a capital inherited
from aristOcracy and industrialism
Our democracy is limited al
every turn by institutions which were
developed in England in connection