East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-11-22
be Courier,
Thursday. November s2. 1900.
NJ. De Tocqueville and the Republi-
can Majority.

uluuo Oy tlc uuFocUtcS Vi hiOHdrVHlcoi
governments, TO Republican institu-
tions, has ever been the uncomfortable
sway of majorities-thoir power to
override the rightsand privileges Of mi
norities and the absolute impossible
ty of establishing any sufficient checks
to their ability and possible DISPOSE
ton to tyrannize and Cypress. And
even this objection has been rNised by
sincere and earnest friends of our sys-
tenn Of government. NJ De Tocque-
ville, one of the most impartial and
candid observers of our institutions,
who although Frenchman, brought
to the study of American Democracy,
not only the most splendid and bril-
liant intellectual abilities, but at the
same time an ardent and generous
love Of free institutions, and AN i'm
partially and freedom from European
bias, beyond that of any other writer
of the Old World, says;
"The all powerful sway of tho ma
jority is the greatest and most formid-
BILE evil in tho United States. The re-
proach to which / conceive a Demo
cratic government, such as is there
established, is open, is not, as many
pretend, its weakness it is, on the
contrary, its irresistible strength. What
feel repugnance to in America, is
not tho extreme liberty which reigns
in it, but the slender guarantee which
is found against tyranny. When a
man or a party suffers from injustice
springing from the majority in the
United States, to whom can he apply
for redress ? To public opinion +? 1t
is formed by the majority. To the
Legislative body? 1t represents the
majority and blindly obeys its man
dates. To the Executive? 1t is named
by the majority, and is the passive in
strument in its hands. TO public force?
1t is nothing but the majority under
arms. To jury? 1t is the judicial
committee of the majority. To the
Judges? They are elected by the ma
jority and hold their Offices at their
pleasure. How unjust and unreason-
able soever may be the measure which
strikes you, no redress is practicable,
and you must submit"
1t has boen uniformly answered to
this objection by Americans that, those
who make it, overlook one very I'M
portant guarantee of liberty, to-wit,
the Constitution that it secures to
the minority their essential rights, and
restricts the powers of the majority
within rational and proper limits !;
that in America no party and no ma
jority would ever be bold enough, even
if it was sufficiently perverse and cor
rupt to attempt to strike at the rights
of the minority through violation of
the Constitution that that instrument
is an Egis to every citizcn-protect-
ing him in the enjoyment of the broad
est and most substantial freedom. II
over anything could arise to weaken
the force OF this answer, and to render
pertinent and formidable the objection
urged by De Tocqueville, it is the pres
ent position of the Republican party
That it, as an organization, represent
ing the majority, claims the right tc
exercise that absolute power and un.
limited sway against whose oppres-
sions De Tocqucville believed our sys-
tenn Of government afforded no pro
lection, there is no room to doubt. by
virtue of being the-majorlty, it as
ernsnehr, not according to the Consti-
tuition as it is, but as, in its opinion, ii
should be. Within the last six months,
it has submitted a Constitutional
Amendment to the Legislatures of 36
States in accordance with tho letter of
tho Constitution, though, really in vio-
lation of its spirit. A number of those
Legislatures refuse to adopt it. What
says the party now? ave will de-
stroy these Legislatures; we will form
others that will not only adopt this
Amendment, but that will accept
whatever theories we may desil o to
establish" Now, we are not misrep-
rosenting. This purpose is avowed by
the great body OF the Republican par
ty to-day, and is urged, not only as a
matter of right, bet Of imperative
duty. Can any be so bind as not TO
SEQ in this the most fragrant ard fagi-
cious violation Of the Constitution p
And yet to whom is the citizen, who
feels that his rights IRE thereby en-
dangered, to appeal for redress. To
so-called public opinion i? Has it not
within the last two months, with mer-
CHESS cruelty, driven the boldest and
most eminent Divine in the country,
from the advocacy of principles which
he esteemed vital to the safety Of the
country, into cooperation with party
whose principles on the great issues of
the day, he believes to be pernicious
and false? Has it not attacked every
citizcd in the Republic, who possessed