The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-10-25
Unconscious Anarchy"
(From The Commoner.)

A recent issue of the Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle why the
word ''Democrat" should be a part of
the papers title is mystery contains
a most interesting editorial under the
caption Unconscious Anarchy" 1t
is devoted to the criticism of an edi-
torial which appeared in The Com
moner short time ago. The Demo-
crat and Chronicle says:
"As Mr. Bryan has said, our form
of government is the best ever de-
vised for people capable of self
government. The reason that it is
the best ever devised for such people
land the worst ever devised for people
untitled for self government is that
it places the governing power unre-
servedly in the hands of the people,
The people have full power, except as
it is limited by the fundamental laws,
to govern or misgovern themselves
exactly as they please, and they can
alter fundamental law whenever
they choose. -
1t will be noticed that the Democrat
and Chronicle qualities Mr.. Bryan s
statement by adding the words, for
a people capable Of self government -
The above language shows the stand
point from which republicans are be-
ginning to view the subject of govern
ment. Their attempt to misrepresent
democratic doctrines is of LITTLE i'm
portance and their conscious and con-
slant twisting of democratic argu-
ments does not deserve attention. But
the increasing emphasis with which
they denounce the princil les of Ameri
can government is worthy of serious
consideration. This doctrine that
some people are capable Of self COVER n
ment and that other people are incapa.
BILE of it, has as a corollary the i'm.
perialistic doctrine that the capable
peolpe should assume, as a matter of
duty, the government of the incapable
ones, and of course while the capable
ones are governing the incapable ones,
the incapable ones must pay the ex
penses and the capable ones must make
us much profit as possible, nationally
and individually out of the selfim
posed duty. Public attention should bt
called to the present attitude of the
Republican party, and its position
should be compared with the position
taken by those who have been regarded
as authority. Jefferson in his frs
Inaugural Address said: Sometime
i it has been said that man cannot be
trusted with the governing Of himself
Can he, then, be trusted with tn,
governing of others2 Or have W,
found angels in the form of kings t
govern him2 Let history answer thi
question.
/ Henry Clay said: "It is the doctrin
of thrones, that man is too ignorant
to govern himself Their partisan
assert his incapacity, in reference {,
all nations; if they cannot cemmanC
universal assent to the proposition, j
is then demanded to particular ma
tions and our pride and our presump
ton too often makes converts of us
Self government is the natural govern
ment of man..
Abraham Lincoln said: 'These ar
the arguments that kings have mad
for enslavlng the people in all ages o
the world. You will find that all tn
arguments III favor of kingcraft wer
Ct this class; they always bestrode til
! HUNS VI thC pNOBAOt AO0 NAoO bhC
wanted to do it., but because the pee
pie were better off for being ridden
That is their argument.
! What fall is this The self-eviden
truths, proclaimed in the beginnin
of our nation history and revered fc
a century and quarter, have becom
unconscious anarchyr' They mus
not be uttered aloud for fear they wi
stimulate anarchy. Was ever party
transformation more completel
one says as the editor of The Con
moner did. "partiality in government
kindles discomfort, the exhaltation {
money above human rights, the fat
tening Of few at the expense of I'll
many, the making of artificial distin,
ton between citizens and the lessenin
of the sacredness of human life-a
these in their full development eI
courage the anarchistic spirit"
Z he guilty of UNCONSCIOUS anarchy
{ The Democrat and Chronicle eve
finds fault with the declaration ths
''our government must be made
good as intelligence and patriotis
can make it. " This. also. Is ''uncol
e. sciOus anarchy.
' Anarchy cannot be defended undr
I any circumstances, and no Democrl
b has any sympathy With 1t OF toleratiC
2 for il. for the word democrat meal