The National tribune., 1904-06-30
THK FOURTH OF JULY HISTORICALLY
CONSIDERED.

There are many things not generally re-
membered, which it were well to consider
! on the anniversary of our National Inde-
pendence.
To begin with, it was the very birth of
the idea of Government of the people, for
the people. and by the people"
There is much talk of the Republics of
| Greece. Rome, the Italian cities. Switzer-
land, Holland, etc., but none of these was
even so much of a Republic in reality as
the Governments of South America.
In all of them. and in every Government
set up by man. there was an assertion that
in some way some man or men had ac-
qured an absolute right to rule over other
men. The whole world, without exception,
concurred in this view. A larger part of
| the world believes it to this day. Even in
England. which is the most democratic of
European countries, the people firmly be-
| lieve that the royal family was raised up
and set apart by God Almighty for the ex-
press purpose of ruling the Empire, and to
it was given power and dominion over life
and land.
Three theories of Government prevail
among men. The first and oldest is that
God. or whatever other name may be
given to the Supreme Being in different
races, religions or languages, has dele
gated His power to a certain man, who
becomes His vicegerent, and governs the
people as He would have them governed.
Upon this basis were built all the Govern
ments of the Old World. not only in Eu-
rope, but in Asia and Africa. Every one
of them claimed, as the Turkish Sultan.
the Russian Gar, the Japanese Mikado.
the Chinese Emperor, do to-day. that their
power was derived directly from Heaven,
and everything they did was in accord
ance with the Divine mandate.
Even so recent a political document as
the Constitution of Italy-adopted but 81
years ago-expresses this doctrine most
Enthusiastically. The preamble sets forth
that by the grace Of God the King was
set up to rule over the country. and that
all power is in his hands. He has chosen
to delegate some of it to Parliament, but
can resume it at any time he wishes, and
he may grant some of his powers to other
institutions, if that he has already given
away is properly used. The same is true
Of the Austrian Parliament. The En-
peror may at any time dispense with the
Parliament, and rule absolutely, just as
Charles /. tried to do.
This theory has been traced TO the nsti-
| tuition Of slavery. The moment that a
man claimed that he had God-given right
to own and control another man, he adj
mitted that there might be a God-given
| right in some other man to own and con-
troll him. and hence monarchy and des-
potism.
The second theory is that which Cal
houn attempted to make control in this
country, under the name of "construc-
tive majorities."
In defiance Of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. Calhoun held that men were not
born free nor created equal Freedom was
| not natural. and men could not be born
| to it, though they might attain to some
degree of freedom. Government was
| necessity to them, as much as food and
shelter. The Government should be car
| ried on by those whom by birth, wealth,
| and education should be best fitted for it.
Birth, wealth, and education gave men
constructive majority" over those not
possessing those advantages.
This was something of the principle
upon which the sO-called republics of
Greece. Rome, Venice and the Italian
cities were conducted. 1t obtains in the
South American countries. and where the
people are admitted to vote in Europe they
are divided according to wealth and edu-
cation. so that the political power will be
exercised by the so-called upper classes"
| The Declaration Of Independence was
trumpet blast to the world of a startlingy
new principle: That Governments were
made for man, and not man for Govern
ments. 1t was something amazingly new
and strange to the thought Of mankind.
Through all the previous ages the world
had gone on corralling all the men within
reach under this Government or that Now
it was announced that Governments were
a thing for the people themselves to de-
termine. and it was their duty and priv
ilege to form them as they should think
best suited TO their interests.
| 1t was the most electrifying thing that
| Hdu Coinc 10 HuIi3IiIy since the cfucinXlOn
of Christ
Christ had brought to the world the
evangel Of the Brotherhood Of Man, and
the equality Of all men before God.
The Declaration Of Independence pro-
claimed mans freedom. the duties and
responsibilities Of freedom. and the equal
ity Of all men before the law
While the severance Of our connection
with Great Britain was an act of the
mightiest consequence, the proclamati ton
of this new doctrine of Government was
even more momentous. 1t was the stone
cut out without hands, which has broken
down all the despotisms of Europe. Again,
like the stone in the Bible, the little coun.
try which announced that principle has
become a great mountain which fills the
whole earth.
No one act in all the worlds political
history has been 50 wonderfully fruitful
: in consequences. nor brought so much O,
the highest good to mankind as the formu
lation and proclamation of that principle
OF Government, and the stubborn heroism