National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-07-12
snius Popuii suproma Est Lox.

To the Editor Of The National Republican.
SIR: As many of the people accept their
daily visitor, THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, as
their monitor on political topics, aud may not
have access to that rare aud valuable treatise,
The Federoiisi,' ask, pro bono puJlico, space 10
your columns to give a quotation from that
work which has strong bearing on recent
political events. To give force and point TO
the quotation, desire to give two minor quo.
tations from different sources.
NJ. Alexis de Tocqueville, distinguished
Frenchman, who gave the best If not the first
systematic and philosophical view of the great
principles Of our institutions, speaking of the
precautions which should be taken to control
tho tyranny of legislative majorities, says:
A majority taken collectively, may be regarded
| as being whose opinions, and most frequently
! whose interests, are opposed to those OF another
being, which is styled minority. If it DO ad-
mittcd that man, possessing absolute power, may
| misuse that power by wronging his adyersaries.
why should q majority not be liable to the same
| reproach? Men are not apt to change their char.
| acters by agglomcution nor does their patience
in the presence of obstacles increase with the con-
seriousness of their strength.
Thomas Jefferson, the most powerful advo-
cate the Democracy ever set forth, expressed
himself as follows in letter to Madison, under
date March 10, 1872
| The executive power In our Government is not
| the object of my solcitudc. The tyranny of the
Legislature Is really the danger most to be feared
and will continue to be so for many years 10 come.
Alexander Hamilton, who was chosen ono OF
the principal founders of the Constitution be-
cause he had most deserved the esteem rather
than gained the affections of the country
chosen for his intelligence, but moro for his
patriotism-had the courage to say what he be-
lieved to be true, because he was animated by
n warm and sincere love of liberty. He ven.
IN strtn
legislative majorities by the veto power be
cause no was rcsolutely opposed 10 destruction
and thus advocated them in Federalist, No. II
There arc some who would be inclined to regard
the servie pliancy of the Executive to prevailing
current, either IN the community or In the LegSla
turc. us its best recommendation But such men
entertain very crude notions well of the purpose
for winch government was instituted as Of the
true means by which the public happiness may be
promoted. The Republican principle demands
that the delberative sense ofthccomniunlty SHOULD
govern the conduct of those to whom they intrus
the Arrangements of their affairs but II does no
require an unqualified complasancc to every sud
den breeze OF passion or to every transient i'm
pulse which the people may receive from the art
of men who tiauer their prcjudices to be,ray thc!
interests 1t is just observation that the people in
tend the public good This oflen applies to their YER
errors but their good sense would despise hi
adulator who should pretend that they would al
ways reason right about the means Of promoting II
| They know from experience that they sometime
; err, and the wonder Is that they seldom orr q
! they do, besetGs they continually are by the vile
OF parasites ana syCopnnnts Dy tho snRrcS OF III
, ambitious, the aYarciouS, the desperate; by TIL
articles of men who possess their confidence NOR
: than they deserve 1t, and of those who seek 4
possess rather than TO deserve 1t. When occasion
present themselves in which the interests of III
people are at variance with their inclinatons IL 1
the duty Of persons whom they have appointed t,
be the guardians of those interests to Withstand
the temporary delusion IN order to give them tim,
and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection
Instances might be cited in which a conduct o
this kind has saved the people from very fatal con
sequences of their own mistakes, and has procure,
, lasting monuments Of their gratitude to the mel
who had courage aud magnauirnity enough u
serve at the peril of their displeasure
Even if tho Endorsements Of the patriot
) elements of the people were wanting TO satisf
5 President Hayes of the rectitude of his actor
: on the vetoed bills, surely these sentiments o
5 tho immortal Hamilton would more than of
3 set the vituperation hurled at him with all til
. virulence Of partisan rancor by Democratic lead
) ers and papers, who seem to have been especlall
: batterng on the garbage of Billings gate t
give emphasis to their hatred to all who al
loyal to law, order, aud the Union.
w. S. CLARKE.