The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-09

- easy to find in history examples of
,,onarchical or oligarchical institutions
nj laws appropriate to these sys-
ems 1t is much less so to
discover a really democratic form
n government although certain
nations pretend to have enjoy
"a such. The Jewish people seems
IN be the one which came nearest to such
a condition, for we find that its consti-
tuition under the government Of the judges
is summed up in these simple words: In
those DAYS there was no king in Israel,
and every man did according to his pleas
ure.r 1t is true that the individual pos
siblity for every man to do as he
pleases, does not exactly constitute dem
ocracy, which is rather a harmonious
combination of everybody's will, or, at
least. Of the will of the greatest number.
In reality, the Jews possessed a legisla-
tive system ready made, which regulated
even the smallest details of their daily
life, and which it never occurred to them
10 modify. They believed that they held
these laws from God himself, and that
their execution was confided to the sacer-
dotal castle, outside their range, and that
they could act as they wished. They en-
1oyed assuredly great liberty, which the
biblical writer ascribes with reason to the
absence of monarchical power. But, as a
matter Of fact, the Jewish nation did not
make its laws, it had received them from
a man who spoke in the name Of Jehovah.
Its government was, therefore, that of
theocracy, and not of a democracy.
1t is in the Grecian cities, and particu-
larry at Athens, that we have to seek the
true type of democratic governments. it is
in these that the people exercised its
proper initiative, and that with ineontes-
table authority But the laws of Scion
accorded a certain position in the state
TO the moneyed aristocracy, although
these very laws were promptly set aside.
II is true that in sacrificing them the peO-
pie made use of their privileges, but UNI
fortunately 1t was not a very judicious
use, as II brought about the substitution,
at least for a time, of the tyranny of
single viii, in place of the will of the
whole. In fact those who reason in ia
NOr or the Greek democracy generally for
get that it was infested with an incurable
disease, namely, slavery, which condemn
ed II to speedy dissolution. The same evil
existed, in still more odious degree, in
the Roman republic, which however, has
never been worthy of being classed among
the democratic states. 1t was governed
by a strongly constituted aristocracy
which never ceased to struggle, although
always retrOgrading, with the popular ele-
ment. When this at length trlumphed, it
was already profoundly corrupted and was
only able to maintain its SUPREMACY bv
perSonitying itself as supreme master and
eXhlbiting all its caprices and fury Such
Is the origin of the imperial power in the
The invasion of the Barbarians may be
considered as the revolt of the universal
democracy against those to whom civilf-
Zauon gave privileges. This rough demo-
cracy understood in vague sort of way
IT'S rights ana possessed a confused sense
OF Jusuce; but as all its claims were en-
forced by the sword, as all the reforms
%hlch II lnaugurated commenced inVaria-
bly with pillage and massacre, it only ar
rived at its establishment on ruins of the
roman empire, of multitudinous tyrannies
ana the brutal oligarchy of feudalism,
whence have sprung the nations of modern
the flemish cities of the middle ages, that
the democratic instinct revealed itself
anew, without, how viewer, being able to es-
t%Dllsh itself as permanent institution.
/, by struggle courageously upheld, by
tne work OF serious reflection, this instinct
mas become rational power, the great
est power of our epoch, which has taken
possession of the minds of the eighteenth
century and which now goes forth to the
conquest OF the world by the gradual
I transformation of every political organi-
France is the first nation whose philoso-
phefs caught glimpse of justice and So
tlaI equality, understood them and made
mem the objects of their hearts wishes;
put 10 the Anglo-SaxonS belongs the hon
OF OF having seriously tried to bring about
tne realization of this ideal. 1 is more than
Hdue, when the independence of the col
onleS OF North America transformed into
several states, was proclaimed. The 4th
VI July, 100, is the real day when solid,
rational democracy saw the light, the day
When humanity declared herself capable
ofa governing herself. In the Grecian cities
ol antiquity, among the Roman plebeians,
IN the proletariat of the middle ages we
see attempts at the popular government
mnlch nave not been without a certain
amount of glory and which have produc-
important Int axrer
where we discover the inexperience in
ooSStuIuQe, excuses, contradictions, which
early youth
The American people of the close of the
Isl aSlIteenth century, though still feeble and
lew IN numbers, although ii had 10 figbt
d8alnst a powerful nation and overcome
enormous difficulties, understood exactly
Of of it meaning ann Of it's acts and the import
perlls to which 1t was exposed and
me me emotions inseparable from
r raaITIouged struggle, it maintained that
Sdln which characterizes a mature iude-
iteIll and conscience strong in its rights
ao Mas not one particular caste revolving
sfsI another, 1T was a whole people
of anot6Sari 's rights against the tyrrany
rriIan iOlher people, without distinction of
R3ItNHeges or classes. Never was n o1les
clea,iSSo clearly propounded, never more
Igdily resolved; never has autonomy es
Iaphshed itself in a more reasonabia and
roSI.1IhaJe manner. The congress which
w. scented the new nation at PHILADELPHIA
PCA1SCL InOQel OF a QeliDeratine
T9el oly, and the declaration signed by its
of ittDers seems to us to be the triumph
rac Iiie simple and noble gospel of democ-
- There is, however. nothing nerfact in
f frra world, and nothing which shall last
sta 9TEer. Democracy is not an object to
", N, IL nouonless, an institution. an edifce
+be millGh men may take shelter to shield
D1.e,IiselVes from the effects of despotisu.
nIa 'locracy Is the people itself. the peo-
in figg66ttlfstantIy at work, always occupied
or Suing Its enemies, developing its pow
TO- LorIlIylng its liberties After the vic
M oolalned, over it's enemies without
seIf aInerlcan people had to protect it,
for SaIlst the snares which were laid
ssv y by ITS pretended friends, that is to
obtaaipny those who fiattered it in order to
he an an Us wealth and honors; it had 10
eeo; IN me lookout against the abuses of
ton Ihe allurements of pride-and ambi-
wbicL II mad above all to expel the vices
midtt nad introduced themselves into its
zatioS ana from which no social organi-
mi5oohh,ls entirely exempt. The most for
The que o.le OF all was slavery, to which at
bee,o utset, sufficient Importance had not
anaT+ Attached, because 1t affected a race
WIZ entirely distinct from the peoDIe
race i i constituted the republic: but this
ity m N human, and democracy is human
stov-.Ilh ne paradox which would have be-
near,,u, racial privileges on the democracy