Popular misgovernment in the United StatesCruikshank, Alfred Byron
History
Popular misgovernment in the United States
Cruikshank, Alfred Byron
Suffrage -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
Consider now the interest of Society in the proper regulation of the
suffrage as the source and foundation of the State. Not alone is she
vitally interested in the maintenance of the present civilizing forces
which are sending us forward day by day on the march to higher planes of
life; but also in preserving the material and intellectual inheritance
of all the ages. This inheritance includes all the accumulated
acquisitions of the civilized human race; its property, treasures,
achievements and traditions; all the products of its mental and physical
endeavor, the fruits of its art, literature, science and industry. These
constitute the body of civilization in which its soul and mind are
preserved, nourished and kept alive; they form a social trust for
ourselves and for posterity. “Civilization,” said Burke, is “a triple
contract between the noble dead, the “living and the unborn.” And by
that contract we are forbidden to live or to legislate so as to cheat
those who come after.
Society’s process for the preservation of our intellectual inheritance
is called education; her method for the preservation of our material
inheritance is the institution of private property rights. Humanity,
property and education combined, constitute the material endowment of
society, wherewith she works for the advancement of the human race, or
as otherwise expressed for the promotion of civilization. Obviously she
is justified in adopting all possible precautions to guard and preserve
this precious deposit committed to her charge, nor can it be doubted
that she should carefully select its custodians and overseers. Equally
plain is it that since the civilization of the nation is and has been
produced entirely by the thrifty members of the Social Commonwealth and
remains in their guardianship, they and they alone, as constituting the
class who have produced and cared for the same should be continued in
its care as the representatives of Society and in her behalf; and should
be authorized to formulate the laws and measures which make for its
protection and advancement. To this end and purpose Society is
constantly endeavoring. A volume could be written illustrating the
exercise of her steady and mighty influence in placing the scepter in
the hands of her chosen ones. Rome was the ancient conservator of
civilization, and to her was given sway for centuries; England of all
modern nations has been most devoted to preserving the best of the
product of the generations as they pass on, and she and her race were
made foremost among nations and peoples. Look at the community where you
live and you will easily note how Society bestows influence, authority,
distinction and esteem upon her own workers, the builders and creators
of civilization and upon their children, and passes contemptuously by
the unsocial and anti-social. You cannot fail to observe her disdain of
the mere talkers and wasters and how she brings to naught the works and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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