The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15
oLp-r1ME nEMncnAcy.


After tho death of Cyrus OF Persia
seven conspirators overthrow the re
gfme and then set about 4, organic,
4. new government. Before detcrmin.
ing upon plan, they held n confer.
cnce, so 1ierodotua tells u-, and de.
liberated on the situation or affairs
otanes recommended republican
form OF government. ut does not,
said he, Seem to me advisable that
the government of Persia should hero
after be intrusted to any. Individual
person, this being neither popular nor
! wise. We all know the extreme
lengths to witch Cambyses proceeded.
and some OF us have felt its influence.
How can that form OF government pos
sibly be good In which an Individual
with impunity may indulge his pas
/ sions, ana which Is apt to transport
even the best OF men beyond the
boNrds OF reason? When a man natu-
rally envious attains greatness. lie in
stantly becomes insolent. Insolence
and Jealousy are the distinguishing
vices of tSrants, and when combined
lead to the most enormous crimes.
we know also that the worthiest citi-
zens excite the Jealousy of tyrants,
who are pleased only with the most
aha ndoned. But Il de-
mocracy in tho first place fears tho
honorable name Of an equality of
laws: the disorders which prevail In a
monarchy cannot there take place. The
accountable for his administration. and
whatever is done must be with the
general consent. / am therefore OF
opinion that monarchy should be
abolished. and that as everything de-
Ponds on the people, a popular govern
ment should be established"
That was spoken like a Jefersonian
Democrat, and shows that the spirit
of Democracy was on earth long before
the landing at jamestown or tho birth
of the Sage of Monticello.
But the body polite of Persia was
not the body polite of America. and
in reply to the speech of Otanes.
MeEabyzus said: "All that Otanes has
urged concerning the extirpation of
tyranny meets with my entire appro-
baton; but when he recommends the
supreme authority to be intrusted to
the people, lie seems to me to err in
the extreme. Tumultuous assemblies
of the people arc never distinguished
by wisdom, always by insolence; neith-
er can anything be possibly more pre-
posterous than to fly from the tyranny
of an individual to tho incorporate
caprice of the vulgar. Whatever a.
tyrant undertakes has the merit of
previous conceit and design; but the
people are always rash and ignorant.
Let u.s. therefore, intrust the govern
ment to few individuals. selected for
their talents and virtues
Darius now spoke and dissented
from both. THE sentiments of Mega.
byzus," said he, "as they relate TO a
popular government, are unquestion-
ably wise and just; but from his opin-
ion OF an oligarchy | totally dissent.
Surprising the thu ,e different forms Of
government monarchy, democracy and
oligarchy, severally to prevail in the
greatest perfection. / am of opinion
that monarchy has greatly the adj
vantage. Indeed, nothing can be bet
ter than the government of an indl-
vidual eminent for his virtue. lie will
not only have regard to the general
welfare of his subjects, but his ,-o-
lutions will be cautiously kept from
the public enemies of the state. v, ..en-
ever the people possess supreme au- |
thoritX,, disorders in the state are un-
avoidablc. They who mutually injure
this evil exists till some individual,
assuming authority, suppresses the
sedition; lie, of course, obtains popu-
lar admiration. which ends in his be- |
coming the sovereign, and this again
tends to prove that a monarchy is of |
all governments the most excellent"
There Is some wisdom in the speeches
of all these blessed conspirators each
speaking from his own point OF view
'
Popular government is the best gov
crnment for people who Know how to
govern themselves st Is not good for
the people who do not understand the
art of self government. 1t is best forl
the people of the United States, forl
they know the art. but even this peo-
pie cannot always be trusted - ali
things, and hence our wise forefathcrs
established for us representative
government of checks and balances
1t is the best government that. could
be devised for the United States and
let us he sure that we preserve 1t in
its integrity, and choke off all at
tempts to impair or pervert it,
i------------------------.
FAMOUS WORDS ny FAMOUS MEN.
To-day the Times Dispatch COM
menecs feature which bids fair 70
rival tho popularity OF Poems You
Ought TO Know. Nearly every ono re-
calls some famous sayings of great
men, but few know when or how they
We're uttered, In the series that the
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