Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-11-23
THF WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WI M7VGToN. n. C., FRIDAY. NOV. 1e, 1885
49, W. think It was Thomas Jefferson who laid

49, We think It was Thomas Jefferson who Iao
down the principle that the will OF the maJonty u
he inst must be reasonable at any rate the fac6 Is 81
saIf.evident that none will gainsay it. upon thls
principle we may fairly take issue with some REMARKS
in the Commercial of this morning, under inc neao
inc of Misunderstanding" The position therein
taken is that although it may be hard, very hard
1vhara pood and true adopted citizen is excluded
ot r. roust be done to exclude others who are not
good and true Apart from the radical error vi pun
sbnp the innocent for the faults of the guilty look
how the thing would work if carried out. We pre-
spme that Seward Chase, Wilson, Hale, Johnson of
Pennsylvania, and numbers OF other naVe-born DEM
apouues. and some of them members of the order,
are about as dangerous and worthy of exclusion as
any sinner of foreign birth If for the purpose OF
excluding a few foreign. born demagogues, you deem
it necessary 10 exclude every nauralized CITIZEN then
upon the principle you would, TO be consistent,
be compelled 10 exclude every native citizen SO as to
exclude Seward and Company. This at once strikes
every reader as something monsrous, and so 1t is
still it is but the plain logical consequence OF the
rule laid down in justification of the indiscrlmnate
exclusion of naturalized citizens.
Reason and common sense sa that, in order to
exclude dangerous men of any class, you must find
out your men-judge of them by their conduct and
their principles, their honesty and their capablity
If an examination of these matters satisfies you why
then, right if it does not satisfy you, try and find
such men with such principles as will; but remem-
ber that demagogueism in all times and places has
been found mounted upon hobbies and riding them
to the distinguishing abstract notions to lengths
amounting to the grossest tyranny taking adVan-
tage of excitements against evils real or otherwise,
and tanning the flames until the desire for proper
and needed reforms become merged in a wild and
indiscrimnate foray, and that legislative progress,
which to be permanent and useful must be gradual
and considerate, is rendered impossible by the tur-
mol and confusion of battle which prevents calm
and candid reflection, and judicious action The
very party with which the Commercial acts, has beer
forced by the pressure of public opinion to abandon
many of its positions, and the very number OF the
Commercial before us, councils the abandonment o.
one of lis main pillars, the anti-Caholic feature.
just and generous people will more tolerate the
punishment of the innocent and deserving, because Of
the errors of a few of the vicious than a wise and
liberal one will tolerate the admixture Of religion
with politics A just and judicous policy will re-
form abuses where they found to exis-guard the
administration of the laws, and punish the actual Of
tenders against them, without visiting their niquite
upon the heads of good citizens. Tie majority o
the people of the country will, upon reflection &C
reasonably-justly ; and the wild excitements of lhi
strange era be referred things of the past. The
Commercial itself has borne witness to the force o
the axiom with which we set out. 1t has honestly
acknowledged the inapplcabiity Of this exclusive
principle town elections, upon the obvious prin
cipIe that it would be unreasonable and Therefore
unjust.