The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-11-09
THE PHILOSOPHY OF DEMOCRACY.


that the matured wisdom of the best minds had
reached the conclusion that the best government is
that which governs least. No human repositories
cam with safety, be trusted with power of legs-
laton upon the general interests of society," to
operate directly or, indirectly the industry and
prosperity of the community Such power must be
perpetualy liable to the most perncious abuse,
from the natural imperfection, both in wisdom of
judgment and purity of purpose, of all human leg
slation exposed constantly to the pressure of par
tia interest interests which, at the same time they
are essentially selfish and tyrannica ever Wig.
ilant persevering and subtle in all the arts of de-
ception and corruption In fact, the whole history
of human government may be safely appealed to in
evidence that the abuse of such power thousand
fold more than overbaances its beneficial use.
Legislation has been the fruitful parent of nine
tenhs of all the evil, moral and physical, by which
mankind has been afflicted since the creation of the
world, and by which human nature has been self
degraded, fettered and oppressed.
Government should have as little as possible to
do with the general business and interests of the
people, If it undertakes these these functions
as its rghtful province of action it is impossible to
say to it 'thus far shalt thou go and farther
1t will be impossible to confne it to the public in
will be perpetually tampering with private interests
and sending forth seeds of corruption which will
result in the decentralization of society. It's domes
tic action should be confined to the administration
of justice for the protection of the natural equal
rights of the citizen, and the preservation of social
order.
This is then, we consider, the true theory of gov
ernment the one simple result towards which the
IF fha ia dina
This is the fundamental principle of the philosophy
of democracy, to furnish system of administration
of justice and then leave all the business of society
to free competition, in word to the voluntary prin
ciple.
How many generations may yet be required be-
fore our theory and practice of government shall
be sifted and analysed down to the lowest point of
simplicity consistent with the preservation of
degree of national organization, no can presume
to prophesy. But that we on the path towards
that great result to which mankind is to be guided
down the long vista of future years by the demo-
cratic principle, walking hand in hand with the
sister spirit of christianity, feel faith as i'm
plicit as that with which we believe in any other
great moral truth.
In all the ancient republics the fckeness of the
popular mind has manifested itself as to originate
and give currency to the proverb which has come
down to our own times, and is often used by the
enemies of free government to express their dislike
of its principles. Republics ungrateful," say
the advocates of monarchy, and why? Because in
Republics, so-called, but where in reality power
was welded by patrican oligarchy, and the great
body of the people were bondmen, without voice.
influence control, the fierce rivalries of the ars-
tocracy often drove victorious general or patri-
otto statesman into Punishment from the country he
had enriched or saved. Governments thus organ
lied parake but little of the true spirit of Freedom
but carry within themselves the seeds of their own
dissolution. They needed no Macedonian phalanx
under Alexander, no Goths and Vandals to over
throw them and blot out their names from the man
Of the world.
Butin Democratic government the sincere friend
of his country, the true patriot never ostraczed
The foundations of his government are laid on the
broad basis of equal rights and he claims not the
cringng service of interiors, but the spontaneous
gratitude, the honorable recognition of his COM
peers-the people. His power is all their own, and
each one of the reading, rejecting and thinking
millions garner it up precious treasure to be
watched and cherished as his own good name. On
the other hand the American people, under the
benign influence of universal education know their
rights and ever guard them with sleepless ieal-
ousy. They know no Tarpeian Rock for traitors to
their country and principles of its government But
in the ballot box, that silent, yet most expressive
index of their will, they hold an engine far more
terrible to the false and faithless than even the
blood stained precipice of Roman vengeance. The
tried patriotism and democracy of jefferson, Jack
son, with a host of other true Democrats, have
found lodgment in the great Democratic heart of
this country too deep ever be fOrotten mr. irnor.
ed If the tickle Athenans denounced Aristides
the just the Democratic party of this country will
never lose sight of that Democratic philosophy so
well portrayed by it's founders and leaders. They
taught that Democracy is the cause of humanity,
the cause of philanthropy. That it's object is to
emancipate the mind of the mass of men from the
degrading and dishearening letters of social dis
tincton and advantages, to bid it walk abroad
thcQunh the free