The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-18

DAN NhOy EhOWV0 ~ AAN
about the people from whom they drew
their salaries.
It was a system calculated TO develop
the selfshness which seemed an inherent
part Of Chinese life and philosophy. Now
that the school examinations have been
substituted for the civil service examina-
tons an improvement may be expected
in the service. but wen the modified system
will not keep the servant in touch with those
whom he serves.
KINGS But PIoUREHEADs.
In Europe the constitutional monarchy
has undergone q constant development
until in many countries ;ha King is but a
A~gurehead. In England the sovereign
would not think Of vetoing a bill passed
by the Legislative body, and the House
OF Lords seldom vetoes a bill passed by the
House OF Commons. The Prime Minister
is a much more potent factor in government
than the King himself.
In Denmark the Government 10 brought
even nearer to the people by the substitution
OF one legislative body for two, that body
being elected by the people under universal
suffrage. The King Of Norway is even less
likely to attempt TO obstruct the will Of
Parliament than the King Of England.
Norway has reduced monarchy TO a mini
mum and placed the Government in the
hands Of the voters 70 do with IL "a they
please.
In Switzerland the republican form Of
government has stood the test of expert
ment. In the absence of pomp and cers-
mony and Official extravaganza the Govern
ment OF Switzerland is not surpassed, IL
equalled, by the government Of any similar
population in the world.
Three languages are spoken within her
borders and used in parliamentary pro-
ceedings. The people are part Protestant,
part Catholic and part Jew, and yet, with
the initiative and the referendum in both
the Federal Government and the cantons,
the Government rests so securely upon the
popular will that the people live together
in entire harmony and could resist q much
larger population attacking from without.
CANADA AND INDIA.
The colonial system also comes under
ones observation in a trip around the world.
The Netherlands nave large colonial pos
sessions in the Malay archipelago, but they,
have been compelled TO abandon the culture
system-a form OF slavery-and there are
signs Of q political development which will
some day make it necessary for Holland
to consult the wishes OF the people more
than she has in the past.
nave already spoken OF both India and
Egypt in other articles. and l only refer
to the subject here in order TO draw a CON-
trast between colonialism as applied TO
Canada and colonialism as il is seen in
India Tn Canada thu naApIa h0ysa "a NaDn-
plete self-government 8 they have in
England, the Governor-G General being as
little likely to use the veto power a. the
King himself. In India, on the other hand,
the natives are not cons ulted in regard to
the general mana cement Of the country.
Taxes are levied and collected, armies
are raised, fed and directed without re-
gard 70 the wishes Of the native popula-
ton. They have experienced all OF the
evils that can come from a colonial system
administered by a trading company,
and they have had a chance 70 learn that a
colonial system, even when administers
In such a way as to command the admiral
ton of those who believe in colonialism,
still falls far short of self government.
have already said that we have treated
the Filipinos better than England has
treated the people OF India. but that We
have done so at an expense to
our country. 1t would be better for the
Filipinos and better for us 10 recognize
their right to self-government and in
dependence.
1851. THE BEST GOVERNMENT.
After one has had a chance to see mon
arohies, limited and unlimited, aristocracies
based upon birth and ~aristocracies based
upon a merit system; after one has had a
chance to compare these systems with
the republican form Of government he 10
ready 10 declare hat from every stand
point that form Of government is best which
rests upon the consent OF the governed.
Some have insisted that a monarchy is
stronger because all the power Of the Gov
eminent can be concentrated quickly and
made effective at once, but this advantagei is
small when compared with the advantages to
be derived from a form of government which
the people support with enthusiasm The
historian Bancroft rightly declared that
a republic ought TO be the strongest Of all
types Of government because, d~iscarding the
implements of terror, it dares to build its
citadel in the hearts OF men.
A republic which is not merely in theory
put In fact a government Of the people.
by the people and for the people Is the
most enduring Of governments. IL is
strong because it is loved and loved be-
cause il Is good.
Aristocracies are defended by their advo-
Gates on the ground that the few are wiser
than the many, but this is not true whether
il is an aristocrary Of birth or Of learning;
for as the whole IL greater thar any Of its
parts, 80 a democracy must be wiser than
an aristocracy, because IL can draw upon
the wisdom Of all.
The old saying, that everybody knows
more than anybody. is founded upon reason
and experience, but there is another reason
why a democracy is better than an aris-
tocracy, namely-that the interests OF the
whole people are safer in the hands Of the
people themselves than in the hands OF any
element which assumes to speak for the
people.
The faults Of free government have been
found TO be, not in the people themselves,
but in those who, selected to represent
them, betray their trust. II the repre-
sentatives of the people whom the people
themselves select are sometimes unfaithful
to their trust, what must be expected OF
thOaa who aRauma To art withnut bainO