New-York tribune., 1879-04-12

course cnen 70 them to throw them of. lhcre
ore some of them we are told who did not
fully approve the process, some VINO DO NOT
now actually Justify it; but it further appears
that these are very quiet minority ana
that even these Judge the offence so hgh'y
and the offenders with such lenlency that
they would have only nominal punishment
awarded. and that annuIled by an immediate
pardon. 1t is hardly necessary to point out
the mischieyous effect of such public sentl-
ment in promoting lawlessness in COM
munity and destroying all respect Tor the
forms Of law. 1t is to be remembered
that laws are no respecters OF per
sons that they are just as piho-
ing upon citizens of intelligence and
wealth as upon the Ignorant anu
Door; and that in Democracy constituted
like ours the men of property and social posi-
ton and influence have 10 special prer0gatNe
in the making of laws, nor any exemption
from their operation. If the better potion
of the people in any community iind then-
selves in minority, and chatng under 'he
constraints and eXactions of a majority whom
they consider incompetent and bad, they nave
either 10 submit with what grace they may or
use legitmately the means which lie open 10
brains and wealth for their own Tedemp-
ton from miSrue. The perils and hard
ships which "thc better class " OF South
Carolina citizens complain that they nave
been expOscd to are such as lie always
in the path of free government and repuOl-
can institutions. The rule of majority may
at any time become Opprc ssivc and UNJUST.
That is a constant menace. The provisions
do OF
of education and prOperty-the wise arrange
ments by which the masses, the majority, may
easily rise from ignorance and poverty.
There is but one way to put intelligence AT
the head of affairs. That is not, by trlckefy
or violence, to install an intelligent minority
but by wise methods to make the majority IN
telligent. The people Of South Carolina VINO
complain of the miSgOveinmcnt they nave
suffered know whether they have ever gwen
this method a fair trial.
1t is to be feared that there Is on the part
of the citizens of South Carolina who so
deeply sympathize with these criminals,
radical misconceptOn Of the character ana
meaning OF a Democracy. We Will not say
that the spirit of intolerance and the unsuD-
missive and inpatient disposition they have
exhibited are the natural product of the in
Guences of slavehOlding institutions, but there
is at least something in their behavior that
suggests Their old domineering habit. Other
States and other communities than South
Carolina have suffered from the rule OF
bad men, and have borne 1t, If not pa
tiently, at least without ever dreaming OF
a resort to criminal proceedings TO escape It,
In no Northern community would such crimes
as these offenders are charged with be looked
mon with the slightest allowance. And an
organized effort such rs has been made IN
South Carolina to secure immunity for them
would not, under any circumstances, be pos
sible. 1t would be well if our South Carolina
friends could learn a hide patience and toIer-
ance, and a little more respect for law. lhcy
have apparently very high regard for their
own construction OF the Constitution any
evasion of the letter of that sacred instrument
shocks them. 1t seems pity they could not
transfer some of this reverence to the statute
laws.