New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-09
MISUNDERSTANDING THEORY.

G | accordance OF all true UemOctatS ana ne
publicans upon the principle Of govern
ment, than the entire coincidence of tn
Democratic theory. as published in tn
, Bulletin, with that of sAn Ancient Demo
crat, and that avowed in the REPuBLrcA,
upon the authority of Mr.. Jefferson him
SELF On the other hand, the opinions
, maintained by the Democrat differ radi
cally from those of the opponents referred
to. This difference we have stated to
, have existed between the Republication
of Jefferson and Jackson on the one hand,
and the State rights Democracy on the
other. We have traced the transfer oil
this last school from South Carolina To
Louisiana, and as we deem the continued
disputation upon q question that has
brought 80 much sorrow upon the land,
and which we had considered decided
upon ultimate appeal, We are sincerely
sorry tQ see it again brought into promi-
hence. When, therefore, we see the Or
gan of the Calhoun school Say
We believe in const itutional republic,
such % the American government il in
theory, such 20 it was in practice until
1861, and such a. we trust it will be again
when it falls into the hands of the Dem0c-
racy.
We deem it important to the peace Of
the republic, that all those who be-
lieve in the theory Of Jefferson and Jack
son should stand together to prevent the
establishment of doctrine, to our mind,
| 90 erroneous and 50 dangerous.
The Calhoun doctrine may be stated in
the words of the historian Hume:
That government 10 instituted in order to
restrain the fury and injustice of the peo-
pie.
We take no exception to the admitted
fact that Hume was q monarchist, nor
to that other undisputed truth that he
was the enemy of that Protestant reform
which overthrow the hierarchy of Eng
land, and laid the foundation of revo-
luton which furnishes the basis of the
English constitution. We contend that
government was not instituted to restrain
popular fury or injustice. Such was the
theory of Charles l., when he claimed
to be ''the native and hereditary King"
ruling by Divine authority, and pledged
himself to assure to ''his people" such
liberty as he considered them entitled to.
He denied fatty the sovereignty of the
people. His Republican opponents as
serted such sovereignty of the people, and
carried their principle over the resistance
of kings and priests, both of whom united |
to defeat it. No Republican or Democrat |
has any fear of the people. They do not
believe the majority of the American peo-
pie, at least, are furious and unjust.
The doctrine of the royalists was, the
King can do no wrong. The doctrine of
Hume and the Calhoun Democrat is. that
the sovereign people can do nothing right
These two principles are not identical, be-
cause the last does not affirm the political
of the King. We neither be-
lieve the American majority violent or
unjust, nor if they were, do we admit
there Is any lawful power except this vio-
lence and injustice to restrain them from
putting their own construction upon their
own acts.
The republican theory of government
9 that it is restriction imposed by the
people upon themselves and upon that
minority which consists of violent, un-
ust and dishonest men. A million of
men, equal political integers, unequal
q personal attributes of strength or
visdom, assemble to determine the prin-
iples upon which they shall govern :
through their own representa- /.
ives. They determine by the vote of !!
majority of these equal integers what shall
% the rule of the common government.
he minority may consist of weak or
wicked people on questions of moral
ction, or of those who may be less nu-
ferrous in the EXPIRE ssion Of particular 7
pinion. It is said that this minority G
aould be protected against the acts of the e
lajority. We reply, they are by the Il
rant and consent-of the magnanimous "
ajority, which would have withheld this
rejection if it were violent and unjust. o.
Who'can foresee in the coming genera Il
On what persons shall constitute the mi a
,rity in opinion or in interest, in wisdom II
in strength. This rule of government "a
q kaleidoscope which changes the OF
pect and its relations between the ma Q,
rity and minority with every phase of II
lblic opinion or of popular interest. Ju
e think the fallacy of Hume consists in &c
pposing that the majority is corrupt by
d oppressive. the minority virtuous and
St We are optimists, and believe the in
,jority of mankind disposed to do right. tr'
Q are not pessimists, believing in the nj
culiar depravity of the greatest num- o.
:. Under our theory of government
have no fixed minority, because we Is; Is
We no classes. A hereditary nobility ca
ght be constant minority, and might OF
mand guarantees. A hierarchy might OBJ
a minority, distrusting heretical pc
preston. We have no established M M
nority. An "Ancient Democrat" stated en-
other day that he had been once de- IL IL
red the right of suffrage as a nom ed
lder OF properly. We assume that he ed
NV |