Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-08-01

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II there is any one great truth that Il
above all others and more clearly thar
all others proven by History and demon
stratsd by reason, it is thst no Republic
can endure, in which the rule Of tn,
majority Of numbers is absolute. The
tyranny Of the majority is worse thar
the tyranny Of the desPot. There are
always, in the practical workings Of des
potic governments, checks and limits.
tons Of some sort that prevent or temper
expressions, and restrain the ruler from
acts Of wanton outrage upon human
rights. There are no SUCH restraint:
upon the popular majority in q republic
II the Depot is sane, he does not hate
the common people owe whom be
rsigns, but only those powerful mobiles OF
great citizens whom his fears and jeal.
ousies lead him to regard as dangerous
10 the stability Of his rule. But there
are no hatreds more bitter, or more
fruitful Of injustices and expressions than
those Of parties and factions in 3 demo
cratic commonwealth. The Despot is
not wholly without 8 conscience, and
where fear or real or supposed necessity
does not csnstrain him to be cruel, be
may be lenient and even generous. To
Cypress and humiliste are not the only
plessurable uses Of arbitrary power,
One may be prouder Of the
power he wields, because it ems
bles him at his pleasure 70
pardon and 10 confer benefits and "a
YOURS, than because it arms him with the
poteRciss Of revenge and punishment,
Even among MOnarchs, few are ambi-
dous Of the crown and immortality Of
iufamy, which cruelty and oppression
win for the Tyrsnt. The popular major
ity has no conscience and il never toler-
ant or generous. 1t is always the slave
Of Its fears and bate, and IS cruel, because
the responsibility for cruel acts done by
its authority and order is divided among
too many for any one individual to feel
it, weight or shrink from mourning It.
It delights in expressing and humilisting
those who are odious to it because they
opposs or dare to dissent from its notions,
and It remorselessly sacrifices those who
endeavour to guide and instruct it. Then
It Is a wild beast that tears and rends
the bodies Of its victims. It was the
popular majority that put SOCRATES 70
death, and ~Ostraeised ARIsTIDEs, and
cIamoured for the release Of q notorious
maIefactor, and the c~rucifxion Of JESUS
CHRIST.
The whims Of the Tyrsnt are often
benehcent and generous; those Of The
popular majority are almost invariably
savage and cruel. They exalt the RIEN-
us and MAsANIELLOs 10 d%ictatOrial pow
or, only that they may in q little while
howl out execrstions upon them as they
walk the road thst leads to desth. They
defy the ROBEsPIERREs, and MARATs
and STEvEEsEs, only that they may by
and by dance in q drunken frenzy Of de-
Iirious exultation when the world wearies
Of the butcher, and GOD executes judg-
ment upon him.
The Despot may be a great Captain
and wise statesman. He may not only
couciliate the people and win their affec-
ton. like ALEXANDER, CESAR, GROIN
WELL and NAPOLEON, out be may be,
IKE three Of these, an able and wise ad-
miuistrstor Of public AFFAIR.", Jealous Of the
banorof the country he governs, and esger
"a win for her influence, power, conside-
-.t,on and renown. There were such
-rsat men among the Roman Emperors,
g. S~aracenio Caliphs and the European
Emnerors and Kings. No names are
-. iilustrious than those Of HADRIAN,
Ts,rtN and AEToNINUs PTUs, than
.-~-g.rE and SoLYHAN, than CHAR
~-,S,aNE and HENRI ", and FRANCIS
--dCHARuss Y, FREDERIcK II, MARIA
-. and ELIzABErH Of England.
I-ah~olute despOt is rarely Jealous Of
H,n+slIectuA greatness Of bis subjects.
avail himself Of the services Of
he does not often prefer ineompe-
an srs lrnorsncs, for public employ
enc i ~es,.aeIty, intellectual vigour and
msns, Tbs ministers Of MonArchs
lssr nans,.lly mel Of eminent ability.
Sre SER I rule ard Isw Of the popn-
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