The age-herald., 1900-07-22
l Is th6E10pip6 Impossible \

Nor are we without hints nearer home of
 the possibility of radical changes in the government of a people. Americans were
 not always republicans. Two years before
 the adoption of the Declara tion of 1nde-
 pendence they were protesting their en-
 thusiastic loyalty to the crown of Great
 Britain. After the revolution thousands Of
 the foremost inhabitants of the colonies,
 unable to reconcile themselves to repub-
 lican government, emigrated to Canada,
 where their descendants are now the most
 extreme supporters of monarchial rule.
 American women, after a long and hon.
 orable apprenticeship at the washtub, have
 availed themselves of the first smiles of
 fortune to go to London and kiss the hand
 of royalty. Foreign noblemen find their
 titles readily transmutable into American
 cash. Americans like William Waldorf As
 tor and Bradley Martin have exchanged
 their republican birthright for the privil-
 ege of calling themselves subjects of the
 English Queen. The trusts that are work
 ing for the reelection of William McI<in-
 ley would just as cheerfuly work for the
 corona ton of an Emperor if they thought
 that step would promote their interests.
 If visitor from Mars had been permitted
 to see Rome at the beginning of the first
 Punc war and then had been able to see
 America today. which country would he
 have considered more likely to hold on to
 its republican institutions?
 The republics of the past have fallen
 from various causes, but one rule we be-
 lieve toihave been invariable:
 No republic has ever governed subject
 provinces and preserved its own freedom. Empire abroad has ended in either em- pire or collapse at home
 But do we believe that William McKin- ley, if reelected, will be formally crowned
 as the Emperor William the First? Ger tainly not. Revolutions of this sort are not
 usually carried through in that way. Des- postism Is the same, but the type of despot
 changes When the Roman republic was
 ripe for its fall the people did not crown king. First one general and then another exercised power through the forms of law. After the excesses of Marius and Sulla
 there was temporary revival of constitu- tional government under Cicero. Then the Senate conferred the powers of number of different officials upon Caesar-so many that he was in fact a monarch, although in name Dnly the head of republic. Then, after a period of anarchy, this concentra- ton of power in the hands of one man was systematized and made permanent Rome became In fact despotism, but it was long before if ceased to be nominally republic, and the thead of its government was never King, bat always Imperator'-"General.' Nor dh Florence in losing its liberty be- come at once a monarchy in name The Medici at first were simply commercial posSeS- aH llinuitely superior grade or Mark Hannas.
 In this country we can already see the beginning of the descent in the abdication of power by our legislative bodies It is | all Trust the President"
 Don't regulate the government of the Philippines by law-leave it to the Presi- | dent
 Don't interfere with Cuba-let the Presi- | dent attend to it.
 Don't let the Porto Ricans choose their | own rulers-let the President appoint them. Don't say how the $50,OOO. 900 national de- | fense fund is to be spent-give the Presi- | dent entire discretion.
 Don't fix price for armor plate-leave | it to the Presidents Secretary of the Navy. 1 Don't lay down policy in Chna-let the