The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-05-04

The ai-contrOlhnS power OF public opinion u
our country, has teen frequently remarked upon
by the most intelligent foreigners that lave yisi
ted Us Il 10 so different from any thing they
have ever known in their own countries that
their mirds dwell upon its manifestations as an
evr Of the greatest magnitude, forgetting that
it is an agency as powerful for good as it is for
evil.
De Toequeville Gays:
1.-THE self government and all powerful sway
Of the majority is the greatest evil 10 the Unitec
States The reprosch to which ! conceive
Democratic government. such as is there estsb
lshed, is liable, is not, as many in Europe pre-
tel d irs weakness; but is, on the contrary, as
irresistable strength What feel repugnsuce
10 10 America, is Lot The extreme liberty which
reigns in il, but the slender guaranty which is
70 be found against tyranny. When party or
a ma suffers from Injustice spriuging from the
majority in the United States TO VII IN may be
a. ply for redress: To public opinion? IL Is
formed by the majority To the legislative
bueysf u5 uru1r7fes 80 1S~ Ne a5itS .eJsd Fi9dle
named by the majority, and is the passive in
strument in its enss To the public force? IL l.
nothing but the majority in arms. To the jury
Il is the judicial COMM OF the majority. They
at its pleasure. How Unjust and unreasonable
30 ever may be the blows it strikes you, no re-
dress is practicable, and you must submit"
Miss Martineau, whose sy Dpsthes were strong
" With the abolitOnists, expresses herself in
terms equally strong:
"Lbelty of thought and opinion is strenuOusly
maintained in cords n America; il has become al
most a wearisOme defamation. But it is a sad aud
deplorable fact that, in no country on earth, il
the mind more fettered than it is here What
is called public opinion, has set up despOtisu
such As exists no where else ; public opinion sit
ting in the dark, wrapt up in mystify cation and
vague terrors Of obscurity, deriving power 10
one knows from whom; Ike al Eastern mon
arch, unapproachable, unimpeachsbie, undo
thronable. perhaps illegtimate but iTresistiGle
an ste poVer 10 qHelI thought, Teprsss action and
silence conviction; bringing the timid under uu-
worthy fear OF man fear OF some superior Opin
ion which gets sstride OF the popular breath Tor
day. and controls, through impudent folly, the
speech and actions of she uise."
When Buckingham, the celebrated English
traveller, lectured in this country, in 1887, the
mObs directed against the Abolitionists, the per-
sOnal violence to which they we're subject, the
destruction OF their property, and the burning
of public buildings in which they met, were
frequent topics Of discussion; and Buckingham
was surprised at the intolerance manifested by
the uoss intelligent classes in society. He re-
minded his American friends that there could be
no real freedom unless people were allowed 10
think freely and express their thoughts without
restraint, on all subjects whatever, being always
subject 10 the laws OF the State: and that
change in public opinion might same day take
place which would give the Abolitionists the
sscendency, and subject those who now persecu-
ted others to the same indgnties and losses
which they were INJECTING upon an unpopular
minority. But hs American friends could Lot
see it in this light. They we're willing to con
eede the utmost freedom Of opinion on ever,
subject sz-ept this one but they argued that
when a man or woman would so far outrage pub
lie opinion as TO organize against slave property
10 other States, and hold conventions to preach
social equality of whites and blacks, and at
tempt TO carry it out by treating negroes Just as
they would whits persons, they ought 10 b.
lynched in their persons, their property de.
ssroyed. their buildings burnt and their names
cast out as evil On this point they insisted
that public opinion should be allowed to compel
obedience to its mandates.
Some Of our own writer's and thinkers who
have visited foreign countries, have been struck |
with the contrast between the power Of public |
opinion at home and abroad.
"This country" says Jefferson, (which has
given the world the example Of physical liberty.
owes it that OF moral emancipation also; for. As
yet, il 10 but nominal with US The .nouisitiop
OF public opinion overwhems in practice the
freedom assured by the laws in theory"
Mrs. Kirkland relates that when travel ling in
England, she found public opinion far more 6be.
raj and much lees eIactiBg than it was =, home
and that all persons we're allowed in society 70
express themselves on all subjects with perfect
freedom, and to dress in any manner the,
pleased, whether fsshionably or not. without
losing the respect OF the company, and With
out being voted out Of good society on account
OF individual pecularities Of appearance or
belief
These statements with regard to the irresi.ti. |
Die p ver Of public opinion With us. We All know
to be true. Laws, constitutions, institutions