The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-20
CURRENT COMMENT

What's the use?

Now comes the statement that Gear Ferdi-
nand Is the man behind the greatness of the
bugars-tnat. being a ucspot he reused a peo-
pie. MADE nation ami then made the nasion
great, as did FREDERICK OF Prussia and Nut
suh,to of Japan. Are we to believe because
such things are true. that despotism gi, es us
the idea, COVER nment when the despot w.se
and strong? Carlyle says the wno.e process
of government is found in search for the
tight rLter-if that be true, then the people
VINO deny themselves the right TO avail them
serves fully of the services of the right man
when found must be wrong. Under an ac-
ceptatiIn of duty warranted by tnls conclusion,
Roosevelt insisted on setting his sense OF rign,
abole the law-s.ncc we had Washington
wise and he in refusing to
give full effect to all his qualities by setting
VI king?
OF comse one man has saved a nation and
made nation. but these episodes few and
far between: II Is much oftener that one man
has ruined a nation and male fruitiess lhe
highest aspirations of peop,e. We legislate
not for particular instances, but for ordinary
conditions, and 1t would scarcely be claimed by
any man that despotic rulers have done i..ore
good than evil in the word that despo,io
governments have best maintained the highest
character of their subjects. IN time of crises
man combine and reconstruct with
more effect than several many-divtded
power in army leads inevitably 10 disaster
hut "A concentration OF power n peace almost
invariably LEADS to oppression, poverty and
decay. One of the most capable of modern
daspots Diaz of Mexico WHO enforced
peace by making himself a despot. and then
found himself unable to move further because
he was bound by the letters he had imposed
on his people-he made himself great with
the help OF a f-w rich men In each of the
states. and they forced him to continue as he
had begun, just as the benefciar.es of profec-
ton drove the Republican party to its death.
No doubt the car of the Buigars has done
great work. Coming to the thione as stu
ueht rather man piacIca poHec!ah, ne
bteadfastly continued his work despite dis
Judgements that would have driven a lesser
man to despair-his people had been played
pawns so long by the powers that none Of
DuEninR ne me
to the limit of the board and giving a
character to the cockpit of Europe" Fer
great minister-he found developed a great
general; the minister made union possible.
and the general won battles when the time
came; the Buigars are victorious. but 1t Is
now that the true test comes up and the worst
problem is to be solVed-havng set up a nation
what will the do with It
For the business of a statesman is not so
+ much to make nation to guide a people
IN the ways of peace and happiness to
promote the greatest good of the greatest num-
Ter, IT is before this test that the Republican
party has failed so far as It had the power:
1t 8 rather because of the failure 1t will be
condemned than that because OF a great vic
tory it will be commended. Under the doctrine
Of the higher law the old principles of the
ration became useless; IL accept the de-
cision that an official sworn to enforce the
law may break the law when his Intentions
and purposes good then the position of
5iease, OF South Carolina, the logical sue
cessor of the practices of Roosevelt and the
preachings of the founders of the Republican
party. If the conscience CT one man may
supersede the law. why pretend to enforce
written constitution? Without a clear state
ment of the principle involved we are unable
TO decide whether Cromwell is to be applauded
or exc Grated. yet that his greatness
naturally degenerated into the lttleness of the
second Charles and the pettishness of the sec
nj James from which England must free
herself or de Better stick to the principles
and accept the occasional evils and occasional
good. If the Bulgars continue their despotism
after the need has passed they will not rs-
i pc the consequences save great cost TO
themselves. Florida Times-Uni