The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-13
F." WILL THE REPUBLIC ENDURE ?"

The shame ana sorrow which revelations
of corruption and fraud inspire in the
patriotic citizen have led to the discussion
of the question stated in the a ove heading.
There are gloomy minded Americans who
seriously question whether the Republic
can survive the wreck of the conditions
which, according to Montesquieu. are es-
sential to self-governing communities.
They are saying out loud. in the language
which Peter the Great used of Russia, that
the country became rotten before it was
ripe. aud they are pointing to the annals
of the Spanish Republics as an
example which we must follow sooner or
later. TO these pessimists President Eliot
of Harvard replies in well-considered
paper, in which he gives a number of
reasons why the Republic has as good pros
poets of vitality as any government now
existing on the earth. His reasoning is
traversed by Thomas Burke Grant, who
argues, with keen logic, that Professor
Eliot is over-sanguine and that he makes
light of dangers which are real.
Space forbids an examination in extenso
of the controversy, but one or two points
raised by the disputants may be noticed to
advantage. Professor Eliot argues that
social emancipation of women is a safe
guard for the Republic. To this Mr.. Grant
replies that marriage in this Republic is
not permanent institution; that it is
temporary bargain. which may at any time
be dissolved by divorce. and that its grow
ing unpopularity among our girls is proved
by the increasing number of American
women who marry foreigners. Mr.. Grant
reasons too wildly from the particular 10
the general. The number of divorces bears
very small proportion to the number of
marriages, and the American girls who
marry foreigners constitute a mere frac-
ton of our manageable women. Mr..
Grant says that our girls would welcome
monarchial court, with its pomps and van
tiles, and that if women ever get power
it will be used against the Republic. Here
again lie is looking at the small class of
women who are born to or attain wealth
and aspire to splendor-a very small MI
nority of American women. 1t cannot
seriously be disputed that the larger the
influence and Independence and potential
itY of women the wider will be the spread
Of virtue. morality and principle. and on
these the vitality of republic must de-
pend.
Mr. Eliot argues that one of the most
valuable assurances of national endur-
ance is to be found in the liberty of the
press-an element of strength which the
republics of ancient history did not en- Joy.
Mr.. Grant agrees thar, as rule, the press
of America has been faithful to its trust
and vigiant in its defense of popular lib
erty. The fact is greatly to the credit of
American journalism. But it is well to
remember that in all countries the press to
be influential must in the main harmonic
with the views and sentiments of its read
ers: when it ceases to do so they will stop
reading it. During the Civil War the
Southern press was unit in favor Of Sc
cessiOn, just as the Northern press was
unanimous on the side of union.
a member of the Baltimore bar, Mr..
Cohn. has just issued from ne Johns Hop
kins press an elaborate essay on the pros
poets of the r public. in which he expresses
the fear that its durability is menaced by
the immensely of its territory, the problem
of the negroes and the great Increase of
population in the cities. A writer in the
Revue HiStOrique of Paris reviews this
paper and comes TO different conclusions.
He is of opinion that there is a s;rong
probability of the constitution of the
United States remaining substantially the
same for an Indefinite period to come, a
blessing to many unborn generations"
That will depend on the degree of viz
tue, honor. honesty and principle which
prevails among the people. There is cor
ruption among American people and poll
ticians, but thus far they have found
way to work on: the problems presented
to them. Perhaps the best assurance of
the defeat of evil is the attention that it
exctes. When society is talking about it
and wondering how it can be remedied, the
remedy is likely to be found.