New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-09-22

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unable to reconcile themselves to a
republican government, emigrated
to Canada, where their descendants
are now the most extreme supporters
of monarchical rule.
American women, after long
and honorable apprenticeship at the
washtub, have availed themselves
of the first smiles of fortune to hold
and kiss the hand of royalty.
Foreign noblemen find their titles
readily transmutable into American
cash. Americans like William Wal
dorf Astor and Bradley Martin nave
exchanged their republican birth
right for the right to call themselves
subjects of the English queen.
Trusts that are working for the re-
election of William Mckinley would
just as cheerfully work for the
coronation of an emperor if they
thought that step would promote
their interests.
If visitor from Mars had been
permitted to see Rome at the begin
ming of the first Punic war and then
had been able to see America to-day,
which country would he have con
sidered more likely to hold on to
it's republican institutions!
The republics of the past have
fallen from various causes, but one
rule we believe to have been in
variable:
No republic has erer governed sub
ject prouinces and preserved its orn
freedom.
Empire abroad has ended in en-
pire or collapse at home.
But do we believe that William
Mckinley, if reelected, will be
formally crowned as the Emperor
William the frsti Certainly not.
This is not usually carried through
in that way. Despotism is the same,
but the type of despot changes.
When the Roman republic was ripe
for it's fall the people did not crown
king. First one general and then
another came into power through
the form of law. After the excesses
of Marius and Sulla there was a
temporary revival of constitutional
government under Cicero. Then
the same conferred the powers of a
number of different officials upon
Caesar so many that he was in fact
a monarch, although in name only
the head of republic. Then, after
a period of anarchy, this concentra-
tion of power in the hands of one
man was systematized and made
permanent. Rome became in fact
a despotism, but it was long before
it ceased to be nominally republic,
and the head of it's government was
never king, but always "imperator-
general"
Nor did Florence in losing its
liberty become at once a monarchy
in name. The Medici at first were
simply commercial bosses-an in
finitely superior grade of Mark
Hannas.
In this country we can already
see the beginning Of this descent in
the abdication of power by our
Legislative bodies. 1t is all "trust
the President.
Don't regulate the government
Of the Philippines by law-leave it
to the President.
Don't interfere with Cuba-let
the President attend to it.
Don't let the Porto Ricans choose
their own rulers-let the President
appoint them.
Don't say how the $50, 100000
national defense fund is to be spent
give the President entire discre-
tion.
Don't fix price far armor plate
leave it to the Presidents Secre-
tary of the Navy.
Don't lay down policy in China
let the President decide what our
relations shall be with third Of the
human race.
If this keeps on much longer it
will make no particular difference
whether we have the name of en-
peror or not. We shall have the
fact of empire.-Chicdgo american.