The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-11
THE RULER OF AMERICA.


oued fer that crime and were il prison
when Perry arrived with his squadron.
One CT them, q lad from Oregon, hardly
21 years CID. had then learned the Jap
anese language, SO the Japanese govern
ment had a convenient interpreter when
a diplomatic accident of great inlpor-
tance surprised them.
In an interview with scme american
officer on one Ct Perry's ships the Jap
anese officer on public duty slapped the
American. He was not shot On the spot,
but he and his were tumble1 off the
ship in disgrace The crew went to
quarters, and war seemed impending,
when the higher japanese officials came
on board with an humble apology, and
for the moment the insult seemed
atoned, but it put black cloud on the
negotiation.
The. japanese government wanted to
know what they had done-how high
an officer had been insulted--so they
sent for this Oregon prisoner and asked
him.
He said he supposed the officer was a
captain, from what they said OF his uni
form. If he were, he said, he command
ed lieutenants and that lower grades
were midshipmen, masters, quartermas-
tiers, boatswains and seamen- All of
which the Japs wrote down.
Then they asked who this officer had
above him.
"Well," said young Oregon, eff he
were captain, the commodore is above
him. And they wrote that down.
'tWho is above the commodore?'
"The secretary of the navy" said
Oregon.
'And who is above hin?''
''The president.
'And who is above him?''
'The people, - said Oregon.
But in his narrative afte1ward he
added, E'And of this they could make
nothing
That story speaks we'll for the train
ing boys got in the log cabins or the
slab schoolhouses Of Oregon so years
ago. Ard if that fine ,fellow is still
aliye-and l hope he isl wish he
would write letter to the editor Of
this journal to tell his after history
yes, and to tell how far the Japs chose
to profit by the excellent instruction he
gave them. They might have studied q
good many books published in Paris,
in London or in Berlin without getting
as good view of the American consti-
tuition as he gave them in two words.
But the young fellows success at the
moment was as bad as most Americans
now have when they try to explain our
constitutional politics to people from
the other side.''
"Of this they could make nothing, :"
he says grinly.
And this is at bottom the trouble
with the diplomats of Europe, with
prime ministers, and with leaders of
'er majesty's hop-position, - and of
travellers who do America in six
months from Europe and from Asia.
Even men Of intelligence, skill and ed
ucation, when they have been born and
drilled in the forms of feudalism, can
make nothing Of the central truth Of
our system They think that it is mere
gasccnade Or burcombe when we say
that the People-people with a very
large P-maGe the government Of this
nation and directs it and Will continue
to do so. 1sOf that they can make moth
ing
But, all tie sarae, it is the truth.
The People made the government.
The People. armed and disciplined, is
the army.
The People is the fountain Of honor
The People is the ultimate appeal.
Mr.. Cleveland Knows this very we'll.
President Harrison knew it. Arthur
knew it. Hayes, Garfield, Grant and
dear Lincoln knew it perfectly. Not one
of these presidents ever spoke of himself
as "the ruler of America nor ever
dreamed that he was Or ever wanted to
be. Each of them in his turn was the
chief magistrate Of America, CIR, if you
please, the chief servant, or the chief Of
staff, but 10 one CT them ever said, even
to his wife in the seclusion Of home, that
be was the 'eruler Of America
The trouble With Mr. Bayard seems
to be that III an unsuarded moment he
forgot this central and essential princi-
pie of the American constitution.
But poor Mr.. Bayard had lived so
long among feudalists!- And one sees
his mistake in ttree-quarters-in nine
tenths-of what is written OF such
subjects by men Or women Who have
been bred III federal schools. In my own
house once an English gentleman of
great intelligence told me that he had
visited the White House and was most
glad to pay his respects to 1.-The ruler of
our great nation. - Poor man, he
thought he would please ne! But he
saw his mistake soon enough. I stormed