Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-11-28
Clearficid, Pa, November "a, 1890:
Shall Justice" or "Majcrities" Rule


The Republican party has entire contro
Of the legislation in all the non-slave
holding States of the Union, with the ez
ception of New Jersey, California, ant
perhaps Oregon. TheConfederacy is nov
upon the vesgs of disruption and dissolu
ton, and, as we remarked in our last pa
per, there is but one way 10 avert tn
most awful calamities that ever threaten
ed to blast the hopes Of the human tami
ly, and that is for the Republicans to "re
trace their steps correct their errors
do as they would have others do unto
them, carry out in good faith their consti
tu.ional obligations and treat oil th'
States as equals"
The Democracy, as a party, are power
less. With the exceptions above named
they have no controlling influence in an,
of the Free States. All, therefore, resti
with the present dominant Republican
party. They can restore peace and quiet
hope and confidence, to the whole coun-
try. Will they Ito its The respoasibiht,
Is with them. ..tg.
We cannot Withhold the expression o.
our fears for the worst. We have every
confidence in the loyalty and love Of jus
tice Of tie Republican party. They would
not knowingly. and willingly usurp, OF
commit any aggression, upon any Of the
rights Of their Southern brethren. But
this cannot be said Of too many Of their
leaders, and ty some means or other
these men have been permitted to shape
and direct the legislation OF the non
slayeholding States, until aggressive and
nullifying laws disgrace the statute books
of nearly all Of them. Much of the Nor
thcrn legislation isas deeply aggressive
towards the South and Southern institu-
tions, as that OF any foreign country can
be against another; and il is notoriously
the fashion Of this class of Northern
Statesmen to deride, abuse and spurn ev-
erything belonging to the South. This
conduct is justified on the ground, that
the Northern people being opposed to the
institution ofSlavery, and being more hu-
merous, the South should submit to The
will oftle majority. .~
1t is, perhaps, well enough that MAORI.
ties should rule. But we should never lose
sight of the fact that it is far more impor-
tant that justice should rulc. "To err is
humans" and II will not do to assume that
majorties are always right. The world
is full of examples to the contrary, and
the admirable system of checks and bal
ances arranged in such beautiful harmo.
ny throughout our whole federated sys-
TEN demonstrates that the founders of
our government fully realized the possible
encroachments of mgjorities upon the
rights Of minOrit,es. To guard agains. such
encroachments, or usurpatons, the Presi,
dert was clothed with the veto power
Not only this, but the acts OF tho united
legislative powers Of Congress and the
Executive, were still subject to Judicial
tribunal consisting of nine individuals.
Time will not permit Us to pursue this
subject further now. We merely wish TO
aid our Republican friends in arriving at
a realizing sense of the responsibility that
now rests upon them as a party. The
Confederacy is at this moment upon the
very brink Of dissolution by the acts Of their
party. 1t is possible they may yet have
tho power to avert the calamity. wa
they make The effort? The Democracy can
do donothing, save biding them God speed,
and this they will do with one united
voice. a... ... .....'.