Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-18

mem Oered and respected apDt.ai to
physical force can never become necessary
save IN resisting and Furnishing the lawiess
and the disubedIent who by breach o. NOR
al law and an appeal 10 force have already
abandoned its principle and assaiied its ex-
istehce. For the repE e>sIOn and plni-hnent
Of these alone It beareth the sword do who
appeals to force on the pretense of asserting
II right under the constitution. on the ground
that 1t has been Withheld from him by any
one assuming to act under the authority of
the government. cor in defiance It. declares
BY tho appeal that he is the enemy. not only
OF our government 5ut OF all governments
founded in public opinion. This Us true in
regard TO any supposed injury resulting to
any citizen or State IRON the ordinary eNer-
else OF authority by any department of the
government IL ~ no less so whether the
act complained injurious is assumed to
be done in violation o! the constitution cor in
strict accordance with It's provisions For an
the former case the act being in violation OF
the constitution, the injury resulting from it
would had its appropriate redress
under the provisions OF the constitution;
while ia the hitter. the act being
IN conformity TO the constitution, the evil
resulting from It would stall and its aI,pro-
pirate correction under the constitution by
an amendment thereof IN pursuance o its
own provisions Thus, by the pro, isions OF
the constitution itself IN appeal to force Cor
The redress of injury done IN CONTAMINATION
Uf It's pr Eclples, or Tor tue correction oi evils
suffered In conformity to them. is forever
denied 10 all good citizens, and, indeed, 10
all citizens, whether they be good or Dad In
the one case he must appeal 10 the ordinary
agencies % the government ior redress and
they must give it in the ordinary course OF
the administration OF their respective de-
partments. In the other he must appeal to
public opinion, itself agency of the gov
eminent. Tor tho correction OF the govern
ment: and as soon as he has brought that
pubtc opinion TO "A condition in which it
recognizes the evil uuder which be suffers,
it will remove the evil by constitutional
amendmcnt-always within its competency.
HOW POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FORMED.
am now at that point in the discussion
at which the con sderation of the functions
o. legitimate political parties may be ftIy
introduced. W hat has been already said
has shown that individual opinion has a
right to freedom of utterance. whenever he
or she who entcrtans 1t may regard il as fit
to be embodied. either in the ordinary or
fundamental laws OF the country. But ac-
cordIng TO AN inherent necessity o. all popu-
lar governments. II becomes necessary for
such individual opinion to SO present itself
to society that 1t may become the opinion of
TINT majority OF ITS members which. under
ats consultation has the right to elect those
who can give IL formal expres-
sion in the laws 1t then becomes public
opinion. and not before. Now, it is very plain
that any conception for the advance
,nent of the welfare of society. in
proceeding from its individual beginning
toward the attain ment of its majority. will,
most likely. encounter opposition Out of
this opposition will necessarily spring de-
bates, passionate appeals heated CONTESTS
more or less bitter as those who carry them
on are more or less enlightened These con-
fiicts will at first be confined to the platform
and the oress; and only when the new ldea
has gained sufficient confidence of pub
lie favor TO give it, friends some
assurance that they are sufficiently numer-
Gus 10 carry it At the polls. do they generally
seek t. give i. expression through the ballot
box. Now it is in this way that political
parties are formed. In a government like
ours. no one idea. unless indeed it emboiv
some great Fundamental principle, ike that
OF human ireedom--a principle SO essential.
so indispensable to a jest government that il
is impossible wherever IT is denied--can ever
the basis of a separate party or
ganizaii0n. The constitution and miei-,-a-
ton Ofgovernmente embrace vast com pick and
Interests the conservation promo
ton and Development of which involve the
profoundest problems and principles of lie
sible that AL the citizens OF great country
like ours should agree. Nevertheless upon
these we are instantly required TO think
and act, ns citizens of our free country As
we cannot agree IN regard IL the line OF &C.
ton which We ought TO pursue touching
these grave questions, we di fer and divide
into parties, finding our associates in all
those whose opinions CORES pond with
Dur own; and our adversaries in all those
m
history Of all free. representative govern
ments has shown that these divisions. how
ever numerous they may be NJ first, 90 not
long continue to exceed two. A ter the gov
srnmcnt has been organized, and those rep
resenting some one set OF opinions have sue
seeded To its Offices and its administration.
those who have been dc Gated TORN aiiiarces
between themselves, and by united ei-
ort seek the attainment of power
by expeliing their more fortunate
rivals. Thus those out of power
place those in power under the eternal neces-
'ity OF justilying themselves in the 'orum OF
mbiic opinion. As long us they are able to
Justify their measures aud conduct bv show
ng that they arc better entitled to public Ia
g0r than their adverSai1es, because more in
,on tormity to public opinion, SO long will
hey be able to retain power. But Is soon as
hey fail To do this to Justify their measures
md conduct OF pubic affairs to pubic opin-
on. that opinion will seek expression
through other agents. and eject those
whom it condemns from the administration.
Whenever the election determines that the
majority is opposed TO those
N power and in favor Of their adversaries
hen we say that public opinion. the real
sovereign OF the country. demands a new
Bus this public opinion is
not that OF u party. On the contrary It Is,
Tor the time being. that OF the country. Ia
iao,.ting our form government, IN the pro-
visions OF It's con stitution touching elections
BY whatever constituency. we have de-
,lared that the result OF the election
hall stand to US all until the
next election. as the public opinion
,i the country It thus become 10 every true
,iti2sn, for all the purposes 81 government
Ms ideal Of all that s wise in legislation just
m law and pure in administration. And ms
n citizen. whenever the government acting
IN conformity to that opinion and the constr
luton OF the country. requires at bis hands
he performance OF any act he must per
orm il or iorego the character of a good citi-
zen. IL is in the ballot-bcx that all the
various and conflicting opinions of the coun-
.ry meet and lose their diversity. IT is in
he ballot box that individual