New-York tribune., 1919-10-19

By Harry F. Atwood
Author Of "Back to tho Republic"
1t is a rather startling statement,
but it is an indisputable fact, that
during all the thousands Of years
prior to the writing Of our Consti-
tuition and the founding Of this Re-
public there was no government to
which the historian could point and
truthfully say, "There was a gov
ernment that worked WE'LL"
Now, while that is an unusual
statement, it Is just as true as it
would be if I should say that prior
to the revolving Of the ten diglts
there was no system Of mathematics
to which the historian could point
and truthfully say, "There was a
system of mathematics that worked
we'll"
During all those thousands of
years the pendulum Of government
was swinging back and forth from
one extreme to the other, Just as
it has done recently in Russia and
is now doing Il Germany, swinging
back and forth from the extreme
of autocracy, which has always re-
suited in tyranny, to the extreme
of democracy, which has always
resulted in chaos.
Fearful OF Democracy
Since that word has been used So
frequently and so much during re-
cent years, / want to pause Just
long enough to say that it is an
innovation in the life Of this coun-
try to refer to our government as
a democracy. Up to nineteen years
ago we scarcely, I might almost say
never, referred to our government
as q democracy. The men who
founded this government were more
fearful Of democracy than they
were of autocracy, and said so just
as clearly as l am talking now.
They made very clear distinc-
ton between a republic and de-
mocracy, and said that they had
founded a republic; and in order
that there may be no misunder-
standing, l want to read exactly
what they did say. You will recall
that after the Constitution was
written Hamilton, Jay and Madison
were appointed to interpret the
work, and in "The Federalist" Madi.
son says:
What, then, are the distinctive
characteristics Of the republican
form? We're an answer to this tc
be sought, not by recurring to prin.
ciples, but in the application of the
term by political writer's, to the con
stitutions Of different states, nc
satisfactor5 one would ever be
found.
Holland, in which no particle
OF the supreme authority is derived
from the people, has passed almost
universally under the denomination
OF republic. The same title has
been bestowed on Venice, where
absolute power over the great body
OF the people Is exercised, in the
most absolute manner, by a small
body OF hereditary mobiles.
POLAND, which is a mixture o4
arlstocracy and monarchy in thei,
worst forms, has been dignified will
the same appellation. The govern
ment of England, which has on,
republican branch only, combine,
with an hereditary aristocracy an,
monarchy, has with equal impro
priety been frequently placed O,
tho list Of republics. These ex
amples, which are nearly as dis
similar to each other as to a genuin
republic, show the extreme In
accuracy with which the term ha
been used In political disquisitions.
Republic Misuscd
The above quotation indicate
how forcefully Madison called at
tention to the gross misuse Of tn,
word republic" in his day. He wa
very Jealous Of the use Of the term
He was extremely conscious anc
tsustly proud Of having played ar
important part in helping to foune
- Nzss republic in history. HI
knsw chs difference between ar
HnR4r~