The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1895-06-13
6 j. f. STRADER, r,,rops
d. B. STEWART
FROM THE LAW CLASS.
Il
Law the True Basis Of Gov
eminent. /"
BY GEO. B. SCOTT.

The idea of government is germinal
Id the human mind. It finds Its ex-
preston in mans willingness tofobey.
The necessity Of control springs from
the human constitution. Mans in
sstinct leads him to be social, but his
seldshness prompts him to acts Of in
Justice, and his passions incite him to
deeds Of violence and cruelty.
The social principle tn man, how
ever, unwraps the, possibilities of hui
man progress. It leads him toaliy
himself with his fellow alliance
combines effort, stimulates exertion
and sharpens genius social instincts
for the nucleus of the family, the
home and the State. Their results
are measured by the wide sweep sepa-
rating civilization from parb}aris'1nll.
But, strangely at variance with this
conservative principlein man, rethe
warning tgap1lses which disturb the
human sonl. His better self 'aspires
ito lofty ideals, while his other self
claims him TotAfhe base and govern
!. ing, Selfishness wars with generosity,
pride rises up against humility, and
passion rears it's crest in the face of
reason So at the very threshold of in.
diyidual existence the soul apprehe
the necessity Of government: The
triumph Of reason and conscience over
the promptings Of prejudice and pas
sion always marks the progress of the
individual toward higher life. States
are composed Of individuals and as
such are controlled by the same con-
ditions offexistence, The very begin
4 ming of political existence discloses
the necessity of government. So it is
thus early apprehended as a necessary
condition, both of individualtand ma
. tionallife. ,s.& ,-...
J.. The early conclusions of experience
point to government as a illogical and
practical necessity. But what shall
be it's basis and whence shall come the
power to execute its mandates have
been focal points of contention since
the infancy Of. history Kings and
tyrants. have ever contended for the,
/. right to rule the masses. -4F4ifey nave
maintained that the prerogatiye ofgoy-
eminent resides in the regal will and
.--tAl4at the rule Of conduct for the peo-
Bile is the arbitrary dicta of royalty.
This idea of absolutism is we'll exem-
- .pliiaed in Louis the l4th, who BADLY
declared that he was the State. Thus
government, though righteous in it.
self, has ever been prevented by base
and designing men from favoring the.
masses. 1t is the paradox Of history,
that the very institution by which
rights care secured, has been used
upon the people as an engine of OPP
preston. Cruel land PERSISTENT has
been the warfare Of despots upon the
rights of the masses ), and dark and
sanguinary are the pages of histary
that record the deeds of tyrants,7 But
opposed to these pretentions of kings
is the universal aspiration of the heart
toward liberty. And the ms tincts Of
the people have ever arrayed them
selves against royal presumption. The
! spirit which leads men to submit will
lingly to- just government, incites
them to rebellion against tyranny.
Thus the hand of tyranny has ever
kindled the fires Of patriotism, and
the race though footsore and bleeding,
has constantly struggled toward its
ideal ofperfect liberty. i j.
The ultimate perfection of govern
.ment must furnish such environment
as will enable its subjects to achieve
the highest success consistent with
their native endoWments, Chief
among the elementsHof that environ
fment will be liberty and security But
how is such Projections to be reached,
how maintained Shall we trust to
the leadership Of kings to bring us to
that happy estate? No, men have
put their trust in princes only to find
them tickle and sn'eacherous, DO we
rely on force ? Force itself il but the
parent of despotism. Shall we look
then to the church :? No. Men have
intrusted their government to those
induced in the holy garb of the church
only to be chained to a most abject
slavery by the thralldom of supersti-,
tion. How then, shall we compass
the realization Of our ideal ? Both in
stinct and reason lead us to conclude
that the people are the only proper
source of human government history
and experience assert that law is the
proper instrumentality of enforcing
its mandates. Nature and revelation
support this assertion, and proclaim
the principle to be divine. If we in
quire into the processes Of nature we
shall find that ts no nlIrnoSa iS eyer ac-