The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-21
THE HISTORIAN LECKY On DhMo-
CRATIC NsTITUTIONs.

rbo DISTINGUISHED English historian
ro,,,v is out with a new work in two
,.,,i,,r,oe that he entities Democracy ana
Liberty" Mr.. Lecky's work, the his
,orv Of European Morals together win
his other writings, has given him very
hieb Mace in literature. and the present
,.ork will be received with very general
attention. His conclusion is that Demo
cratic Institutions. with universal SUI
tr,oa ara not consistent with good gov
ernment.
II must be admitted that the strain to
which the free-silver party is now sub
iecting our Institutions is calculated 10
alarm those Of little faith, but, for our
selves. we have an abiding faith In the
honesty and good sense of the people
when then come to act upon any ques-
lion that is thoroughly explained 10 them,
and we have the most perfect and serene
confidence that when the smoke OF battle
has cleared away after the presidential
election in November next it will be seen
that the American people have set their
foot down firmly and have given a stern
and lasting rebuke to those Of them that
would overthrow order and introduce an
era of revolution and anarchy.
Mr.. Lecky makes one remark, however,
that is worthy of the attention or Ameri-
cans. He says:
There is one thing which is worse than
corruption 1t is acquiescence in corrup-
ton. No feature Of American life strikes
a stranger so powerfully as the eXtraor-
binary Indifference, partly cynicism and
partly good nature, with which notorious
frauds and notorious corruption In the
sphere Of politics are viewed by Ameri-
can public opinion There is nothing, l
think, altogether like this to be found in
any other great country. Ii is something
wholly different from the political torpor
which Is common in half-developed ma
tons and corrupt despOtisms. and it is
curOusly unlike the state of feeling which
exists in the French Republic. fragrant
instances OF corruption have been dis
closed in France since 1870, but French
public opinion never fails promptly TO re-
sent and 10 punish them. In America
notorious prOfligacy In public life and
in the administration of public funds
seems TO excite little more than dis
dainful smile. II is treated as very natu-
ral-as the normal result OF the existing
form Of government"
This is a just remark. and one that We
should heed and endcavor to remove any
ground for. The propensity described ~
Lecky does not proceed from want Cf
public virtue in the American people. 1t
grows out of our wealth in everything
necessary for comfortable and easy lv-
ing. France has an immense debt. She
supports an immense standing army and
the second greatest navy in the Wcrld,
ana her people are taxed at every turn
and corner. They watch the expen liture
OF every cent Of public money there
fore because the abstraction Of one dollar
means added burdens 20 the citizens.
But taxes in this country are mere
bagatelle as compared with its resources.
When some of the public money is stolen
the citizen shrugs his shoulders and
thinks Of the case as one that has dis
closed another th!cf, and he never gives
it a second thought. The tendency Of this
indifference IS very bad, but the indiner-
once IS no indication of a deterioration in
character. 1t is an Indifference to waste
that proceeds from an abundance that
cares little for what Is wasted.
The proof of this IS seen whenever there
is default In n community whose tax
rate is high. Witness the stir that has
taken place in Richmond since the ,kCrt-
age at the GaS-Works was discovered.
our taz-fate Is high enough 20 be felt,
and the whole city responded as oae man
nc money had been stolen. MIR. Lecky
has correctly observed the phenomenon
itself. but he has put 1t down 30 the
wrong cause.