A VOICE FROM AMERICA TO ENGLAND. CHAPTER I. DEFINITIONS. DEMOCRACY-a government of primary assemblies. This is pure democracy. Type, Grecian. As in the small states of Greece at one period, the people are supposed to be convoked for original legislation, for judicial decisions, and for all purposes of government. It is properly a government extempore, in distinction from a government constitutional. It will be manifest, however, that a pure democracy is impracticable, even in the smallest communities reduced to civilization; much more in larger. Government must have ubiquity to the extent of its jurisdiction, and be always in action, or in a posture ready for action. But a people cannot always be in a public assembly; and, if they could, they would require public servants to execute their will. The very necessities of society, therefore, present a pure democracy as a ridiculous theory. Every stage of ad B |