The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-03
Is the Republic In Danger 7


the majority. Az long as the people, or a
working majority of the people, in any
country shall be found true and loyal to
that principle the Republic can exist. On
the other hand, whenever and wherever
clear majority is willing to submit to
hereditary rulers OF to an intriguing oil
gsrchy or to o Dictator-to apy thing in fact
other than the will Of the majority-then
the Republic has ceased'to exist. Its form
and name may remain for time, but ehe
vital principle has fed.
Will any one honestly call Mexico Re-
public 1t pretends to the name, but the will
of the majority has no sacred significance
there, no irresistible claim on patriotism
and loyalty. The majority" in Mexico
is only a conventional form adopted as q
badge by which to classify the government,
with the tacit understanding that the reins
of power shall be held by who ever can get
them. Where the unwritten constitution
the intention of the peoples Revolution
the proper name for the style of Govern
ment is Anarchy.
Many of our fellow citizens are exprese-
ing the fear that if Americana quietly sub
nit to the Inauguration and presidency of
Mr. Hayes, the Republic is virtually dead.
This would etill depend, however, on the
ultimate question, whether the people were
convinced that he WAS not elected. Let us
not forget that Mr.. Tilden may be truly
elected and yet the majority of the North
ern people may be incredulous of the fact.
II 80, if the Northern people submit to the
Presidency of Mr.. Hayes under the con-
viction or impression that the real voice
of American electors was in his favor, they
eau hardly be convicted of treason to the
majority" prisciple even though the ma
jority of votes actually csst was against
him.
If, therefore, it should happen that
the Northern people are convinced that
clear actual majority of American
voters wac in favor of Hayes, though,
owing to improper causes, the will of
that majority was not expressed at the
polls, their acquiescence in his occupancy
of the Office would not render the condition
of Republication hopeless. It might be
mistaken and distorted view to hold that
an actual majority ought to be put aside for
q theoretical majority of votes never cast,
and yet the very error could be prompted
by an exaggerated estimate of majority
rule.
We speak net now of the facts in our
case. From evidence that has come before
us, the extent to which persistent slander
of the South has deceived the Northern
public in our regard is almost beyond belief
Many of our strongest friends and warmest
well-wishers among them fancy that they do
smell something gun-powdery on the
breezes that come from this quarter Facts
as we know them are not known at the
North, for the persistent, audacious, and
inconceivably impudent lying of Radical
papers and politicians must inevitably
produce some eff0ct on honest people of an
uususpecting character.
If, therefore, we lose again this time, let
us beware of despsiring too readily of the
Republic. 1t may be not from want of
manhood or courage, or determination to
maintain self government that our Demo.
cratic friends will yield the contest, if they
do so, without an appeal to arms, but from
hesitation 40 to whether they are not wrong
after all.
In that case the only result,will be thas
our probation is prolonged for yet time.
AID if our misfortune be identified with
/ merely an erroneous public opinion and no
/ thing more serious, we may safely count
+ that the probation will not last much longer
: Thai m5sfortupe will be as nothing com.
rarel 30 the utter and hopeless wreck o
EeFEo!be2n government that would have
ssssszaS A. upeorditional submission By
81, c:zztrg usn to q well-known and &C
Ena E,s1s gz6 1AuTpation.
HnrIAnAinr