fled the philosophers and statesmen throughout the ages, are proof that the republic is not only the best, but the standard form of government.
It was the first form of government that worked well, and no form of government has since been devised which has met with such universal approval; but for some unexplainable reason it has not met with universal adoption.
The delay in universal adoption is not unusual, but quite in accord with the experience of history. It is doubtful if any of the other standards now universally recognized, met with immediate adoption. Their discovery in most instances was probably followed by a period of doubt and further fruitless experiment.
The people of all ages have quite generally failed to recognize the merit of the work of the benefactors of the race and the prophets of their time, and have frequently paid popular homage to those who were finally revealed as impostors.
They humiliated Westinghouse for discovering the airbrake.
They laughed at Bell for discovering the telephone.
They persecuted Columbus for discovering a new world and unfolding hidden truth.
They made a wandering pilgrim of Confucius in China.
