The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-02-25


success in Paris. His appeals for help
for the Irish sufferers are munifcently
responded to, and his meetings are
nightly attended by tens of thousands
of enthusiastic sympathizers And he
is not alone in France in this philan-
thropic movement America Is warm
ing up to this noble work, and the most
substantial aid and comfort are being
prollored Almost every State lIegis-
laturo that has convened this winter
and even Congress have passed resolu-
tions of sympathy with suffering Ire
land. 1t remained for the Legislature
of Maine to disgrace our country by a
vote, last Saturday, which tabled reso-
luton of sympathy for these suffering
people. We are glad it was a Repub-
lican body, and that Maine is the only
State in the Union that has thus dis.
graced herself.
In discussing this Irish question the
query may naturally arise, what right
have they to demand that foreign land
lords should be forced to part with
their lands against their will J The
first answer is, the Land Leaguers do
not contemplate forcible dispossession.
The effort is addressed to public opin-
los brought TO bear on Parliament TO
adopt system whereby the object can
be obtained peaceably, and by providing
ample indemnity against loss To the
: land owners. Second, the question is
one, not of individual right only, but
has assumed national importance, and
involves the general prosperity Of Ire
land and the public peace. Such n
condition imposes ON the governing
power the duty Of intervening, on the
grounds that in case Of great public
danger, and great eNigency, individual
right must yield to the public good.
This principle is one Of universal ap-
plication, and is often applied in this
country. So long ago as December,
1920, Daniel Webster in memorable
speech in Boston. cnunciated this bold
;, doctrine
The frcest government, If it could
> exist, would not be long acceptable il
u the tendency of the laws were to create
&c rapid accumulation Of property in
q few hands, and to render the great
! mass of the population dependent and
: pennilsSs. In such a case the popular
y power would be likely to break in upon
r, the rights of property, or else the inilu
is ence of property to limit and control
y the exercise of popular power. Uni
. versal suffrage, for example, could ncI
. long exist in community where there
s was great inequality Of property. The
" holders of estates would be obliged, il
lie such case, IN some way 10 restrain the
=, right of suffrage or else such right c
suffrage wonld before long divide th'
> property.
'e This rule has frequently been ap
'0 present time, when highways or rail
'e ways are deemed necessity, or even
. public convenience, no mans land o
property Is exempt from it, True, on
3 government does not ignore the right
ie of property, but simply claims the pre-
t rogative of conGscation, though no
( without providing adequate compcnsa
'e tion, and remedy for It's attainment
> 1t may be added that this plea Of in
- dividual right Is not one that eithe
D. England or our people have treate
= with much respect. Whenever til
, former has deemed it important to ex
" tend her jurisdiction and enlarge he
possessions she has not been accustome
Z to say "by your leave, sir" What sh
T has wanted she has simply taken Tn
~ same is true, to Il considerable extent
al in this country. The early scttlemen
, Of this country, even in New England
0i was made on the principle that th
earth is the Lords, that lie intended j
i for the saints, and that the emigrant
y were the saints In our own day tn
s. United States wanted slice Of Mexico
II including the shores Of the Pacific, ant
took it. That was all. When eraanci
patton occurred the South was deprive,
of her property, clearly recognized a
:. such by the Constitution, and it wa
. brought about by simple edict o
President Lincoln rs n war measure
"a being subsequently sanctioned b,
"a amendment to the Supreme Law. Ever
be was slow and 10th 10 interfere witt
:. the rights of property, but when tn
exigency became imperative the publ
good and national right were held t.
be paramount, even to coniiscating tn
= property of loyal men.
s=-4~1~~-~
Ia RIGHT IN THE NECK.
Very few, if any, Republican paper