Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-01-20

Nv tlLl5 WEnJ On CbLbulu lucLuboIb VI
society by means Of their superior
knowledge, strength or skill, became
leaders of tribes, and then by con-
quest or the voluntary surrender of
other tribes these leaders came TO rule
over great nations. Then there came
an abuse Of power by the rulers, and
following this, revolt on the part of
the people.
So with religion, in very early
times there was perfect democracy
each individual being free to worship
as he chose, but certain persons as.
sumed the power to dictate the forms
Of worship, and these again surren-
dered to others until there came
time when the Pope was absolute
monarch of the religious wrold. He
abused his power and there came a
revolt that resulted IN the establish
ment Of the protestant church, which,
to some extent is a return to democ-
racy in religion.
Nearly everyone who has written
on the subject of popular government
has been in favor of 4, Carlyle being
the only writer Of any note who OPP
posed 1t. And the only reason he
takes the ground that he does Is
because he assumes all aristocrats and
monarchs to- be a superior class of
of people, who know what is good for
the masses better than the masses
know themselves, and he further
assumes that the ruling class know
ing the best interest of the masses
will try to serve them. Both of these
sssumtlons are false for it often
happens that the ruling classes are
interior in their mental powers, and
more frequently than otherwise they
rule to suit their own selfish interests,
caring little or nothing for the wei
fare of the masses. Carlyle also
forgets to take into account the fact
that popular government is only in
its beginning, and that many of the
Imperfectlons that we now have will
disappear as we become more exper-
fenced, and thoroughly educated.
Laying aside all prejudices which
we may have on the subject, and
entering the realm of reason, we find,
at least, three strong arguments IN
favor of popular government First:
1t gives greater freedom to the indi-
vidual; Second: justice is more per-
fectly administered; and third. it
produces a stronger and purer man
hood and woms0hood.
The one great argument against
popular government is that the pso-
pie do not know enough to administer
government properly. This difficulty
is easily done away with il the people
are only wise enough to follow the
advice OF those who do know enough
and who have the welfare Of the
masses at heart
We are sometimes taught that we
have popular government in the
United States but as a matter of fact
we have gone very short distance
in that direction, for in all our great
industrial activities, in the realm Of
fashion, in religious affairs, and even
In political matters we do not govern
ourselves, but are ruled over by ar.
istocracies. We do not have that
government of which Abraham Lin
coin spoke when he SAID: "We must
sustain this Union in order that we
may have 6 government OF the people,
for the people, and by the people,"
But after all, we have great reason
to be encouraged, for we have gone
farther in the direction of popular
government than any other great
nation on the globe, and furthermore,
we have the best chance to continue
in this direction Of any great nation
that ever existed,P
3. J. ADAMS.