New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-09

4
the United States constitution, are ac'
knowledged to be the great fountain from
which government derives its authority.
Their will, BY compact, is reached By the
majority rule through the ballot box, and
is the absolute power Of the land. The
minority or opponents Of those invested
with governmental authority in this co1n.
try are prone to consider the Tale 81 the
majority despotic simply because they are
not permitted to dictate the course Of the
government. Some Of our Southern
brethren who preach q great deal nbol-:
Stree government freely denounce The
majority rule in Congress since $50
as an irresponsible ,lespotis12. a-d
President Grant for carrying out the
will Of the majority mas been as
freely accused Of a desire 70 make
the government a centralized empire with
its rod firmly fixed in his grasp. As this
is a free country and every man j entitled
and permitted to have his own opinion q
all things, neither President Grant, Con-
gress, nor the Republican party, We appre-
bend, are disposed to interfere with the
erroneous opinions Of the minority. Such
men as are honestly Of opinion that Con-
gress is an irresponsible daspotisL2 and
that President Grant means to become
the first Of a line Of emperors that are to
rule this country in the future are to be
pitied for they are decidedly weak We
have always been disposed to question that
any considerable number Of our fellow
citizens were 50 unfortunate as to be af-
ficted in this way; yet we have been as
fully disposed to believe that quite large
number Of persons who have favored the
dissolution Of the American Union in the
past and still oppose the will Of The
majority believe the people weak
enough to have faith in their ridiculous
stories about an irresponsible despotisu.
il Congress which is finally to result il q
centralized empire, with President Grant
as emperor. The very Pature Of our gov
eminent gives the broadeSt margin TO
political opinions and opposition to those
invested with it's administration, ana the
rights of the minority are respected and
secured BY the same laws that govern the
majority. Yet the minority not unfre-
quently complain without just cause, and
brand the rule Of the majority as despotic.
The men who do this could DO no more Of
they were permitted were they actually liv-
ing under the government Of . hereditary
despot-a government that il truth could
be styled an irresponsible despotisn1. The
absolute power Of this country is IL :he
hands Of the people. Or majority Of
them, and IS exercised sog :1eir
benefit, first at the b@iIo: box
in the choice Of public servants
and then in the administration q gov
eminent. The legislative and executive
branches Of the government are directly
responsible 70 the people for the manner
in which the functions Of those depart
ments are perforated. As proof .! this
we refer to the elections that have jus:
been held all over this vast country. en-.
bracing every State in the Union. These
elections are for a President and members
Of Congress. and, in some of the States,
far Governors and members Of the iecis.
lature, ETC. President Grant. Congress
and the Republican party were le.3 re-
s,,onsib1a fv the naon,e for The corl,,c. .:
the Governments If It lad lot Been .at-
isfactorv. 4 Republican President AID .s.
nublcan CONGRESS- would not have been
chosen aoaip. The fact tia; President
Grant IN heen reelected 1v :
st;Il 1arner nop1Iar vote .Iaa le
received Il 1868 X the most conclusive
evidence that could be Given IL Tie
nAonIes fiji Endorsement IF LII frs. Id
To;nistratinn Ana the same eaa 81 said
IF CONGRESS. The return bv tile people
of ! maioritv Of Republican members 70
Congress- will clearly indicate tia. The
neonre annrove Of RepubIicar LEGISLATION
in tbe mast, and are willing to trust Il still
further. With what truth, then. can the
enemies Of republican government charge
that Congress and the President are
the enemies Of popular government, or
that their rule is an irresponsible depot
ism !"
The-trouble in this country is that while
tie government is bound to respect the