The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-11-26

others but there are benefits which
have come to all the mernber OF this
generation which are worthy 10 be
enumerated.
After reciting the c~onveniences OF
modern life as enjoyed by the masses,
and the value Of comparison of our
school. industrial. r.ining and manu-
featuring deVelopment WITT that OF
other nations. Mr.. Bryan proceeds to
say:
Our form Of government gives US a
third cause for special thanksgiving.
It was fortunate that this experiment
In self-goyernment was reserved FOR 2
new continent and a new people. In
older communities each generation Is
more or less hampered and restrained
by existing Institutions and by ira
ditions. These are changed slowly
and only with effort. Every reform
of any nm causes an upheaVal
in old countries because the crust of
society has to be roken Those. how
ever. who settled in Plymouth Rock,
at Jamestown and at New Amster-
dam found not only virgin soil for
their plowshares. but a place where
new ideas of government could be de-
yeloped. Their very surroundings
taught self-reliance and. too far from
home to rely upon Europe for pro-
lection. they naturally began to assert
their right to shape their own des-
tiny. They recognized the inability
of Europeans to understand the needs
of the ~colonists. and eaw that 1t was
only a question of time when they
fairs. It was natural. too. that. hav-
ing shared together the h~ardships of
pioneer life. thew should rebel against
artificial distinctions which had CLASH
fed and stratifed the society Of the
old world. Companionship in strug-
49, 0-I t. Il n IaI oiy-on t1nrn
practical lessons in the study Of the
science Of government, and made it
easy for them to accept the doctrine
of equal rights.
Two Fundamental Principles of Gov
In the declaration of Independence
and in the federal consti ution, which
ave legal expression to that declara-
ton, two fundamental principles of
government were enunciated and 70
these two principles we are largely
indebted for the success which we
have achieved in government. The
first is the right of the people to rule,
and the second the recognition of the
advantage of local self government.
The first dethrones the king and aboI-
ishes the theory of divine right in
one or a few to exercise authority
over the many; the second insures
the intelligent administration Of gov
by committing to each COM
munity the custody of it's own affairs.
The right of the people to govern
themselves seems to us so indisput-
able that we wonder how it cOuld ever
lave been questioned. and vet for the
establishment Of this doctrine millions
have given their lives. 1t is the vital
point of difference between republics
and arbitrary governments. There are
but two theories of government; the
theory of republics and demOcracies;
namely, that a government is q thing
created by the people for themselves
and administered by them for the adj
vancement of their own welfare, and
the theory of mOnarchies and ariStoc-
racies- namely. that a government is
a thing imposed upon the many by
the few and administered by self-elect-
ed agents who maintain their posi-
ton by the exercise of force and who
assume to decide without appeal what
is best for the ruled as we'll as for
the rulers. The doctrine tina gov
ernments derive their Just powers
from the consent of the governed" did
not originate in this ountry but il
has found here its clcarest statement.
its strongest defense, and its largest
application. II had been the boast of
kings that popular governments lack
ed the unity necessary to give
strength n were too slow in action
to secure efficiency. but our nation
has indicated those who trusted the
people, and justified the assertion
made by the historian Bancroft about
three-quarters of a century ago that a
republic is, in truth. the strongest of
governments, because, discarding the
implements of terror, it dares to build
its citadel in the hearts of men.
Experience has shown hat our gov
eminent, resting securely upon the
Will of the people. is able to repeal at
lacks from abroad and to survive
even Civil War. and now we can watch
with qualification the spread of our
ideas of government as they march.
triumphant. round the world. They
are few countries with any degree of
civilization which have not. to a great
er or less degree, adopted our funda-
mental principles of In
most OF the countries of Europe con-
stitutiorS have been securei. and the
power of the monarchs is being more
and more restricted. Within a decade
the King of Denmark has conceded
the right of the dominant party in par
lament to name the ministry: within
two years Austria and Sweden have
made the popular branch Of their
governments even more popular. and
within three months the house of com
mons Of Great Britain has begun a
movement for curtailing the power of
the house Of lords, while Russia Is
even now in the throes of a political
revolution which has for its object
the early establishment of a constitu-
tlonal in tina unhaDov
land. where despotism is unquestion-
ably making its last stand,