Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-30
Nox poPuLL. Kox DEL. q.

questions. The mere fact that seven
out of twelve or nlne out of ten men
choose to do certain act neither
makes it right, just or proper; 1t Is
only the old fallacy that "might
makes right" dressed up in different
language. MJOrities are prone to
become arrogant, supercillious and
disregardful of the rights of others;
majority crucified our Saviour,
majority hung Mrs. Surratt, an in
nocent woman, majority put
Hayes, the fraudulent President, Ut
the head of the nation, a majority
passed and put into execution the
infamous blue laws of Massachu-
sets and Connecticut, a majority
made a pandemonium of Paris, and
caused her streets to run red with
the best blood of the nation, even
Strengthening helpless and inoffend-
ing women and children, majorities
have burned Christian men and
women at the stake for opinions
sake, majorities, in all ages OF the
world, unless held i'm check by con-
servatiye minorities, have become
intollerant, oppressive, tyrannicai
and bloodthirsty, going from one
degree to another until they be-
come the enemies of God and hui
manity, and by their very excuses
carrying and breeding within them
selves the elements OF theif own de-
structiOn.
A majority rendered reckless by
overconfidence in its strength, pro-
ceeds to an unlawful act, and at
once becomes a mob, and giving
reins to the passions or impulses OF
the moment, is led on to deeds at
which the judgment revOlts and
the heart sickens in cooler mo-
ments when reason resumes her
sway. 1t is not to be presumed how
ever, that majorities are always
wrong, for such is not the case by
any means, il is nftener. the case
that, after calm, cool deliberation
and fair and free discussion of the
merits and demerits of question,
that a majority will decide right
! than otherwise, but it is when q
mAjority, or Il presumed minority
sets out to do Il certain thing. shuts
off discussion, proscribes men for en-
tertaining different opinions and
puts on the gag, that they become
dangerous, and by sheer force o.
numbers, trample the rights o.
Others under foot and violate the
laws of the land. Men often become
excited on certain subject refuse
to listen to reason, will brook NJ
opposition and condemn, without
hearing any argument sought to bt
used by the other side, and it il
this intolerance, this determination
to carry their point against the die
tates of reason, justice and righ
prompted by a feeling of security
from what is conceived to be over
whelming numb ers, that converts 1
majority into mob. 5E.
Admitting for the sake of argu'
ment (Which, however, Is not adj
mitted in facO. that a majority o
the Democratic party of Tennessee
is opposed to the COS settlement
does that prove that they are in th'
hundred men may assemble to
gether, and ninety and nine of then
may decide, because they have thu
desire and the power, that they viii
deprive Il certain set of men
women and children of one-half O
the property which they may be pos
sessed of, which has been honestly
acquired either by purchase or in.
heritance, and convert this property
to their own use, in the absence and
without the consent of any of the
parties so despoiled, does this make
the majority right? Is not the one
man or the ten right i'm resisting
such action even against the great
est odds? Most assuredly. The
bowling of mob, though they be
thousand to one, cannot alter a
principle or make an act right
which in itself is wrong.
But listen to what Senator Isham
G. Harris (and he should be good
authority with the Bate men, as he
is the Moses who has led them into
the Wilderness of Readjusterism,
and like his prototype, is destined
never to reach the promised land"
TO him the Senate, on account of his
lack of flith) says in regard to ma
jOrity rule in a bolt, which is not
likely to be forgotten soon, and in
which he took very prominent
part:
In Nashville on June 80. 1860, at
the meeting ratifying the bolt, he
said: 1--WE have assembled for the
purpose of ratifying the action of
our delegates to the Baltimore Con-
VentiOn. l was with them and
know something Of the trying cir
cumstances with which they were
surrounded, and with a full knowl-
edge of those circumstances ! can
say for myself that | most fully,
cheerfulIy and cordially approve
and ratify their action. When ar
gument and persuasion had been
exhausted, utterly falling to induce
that convention to place itself upon
a sound national platform, and to
declare those principles upon the
maintenance of which depend the
rights Of every American citizen, as
well as the perpetuity of the
government and, further, when
the convention had resolved To
override every principle of justice,
az well as every usage of the party |
for the purpose of excluding from
the convention the regularly APP
pointed representatives of the De-
of a number OF the States
for no other reason than their oppO-
sitiOn to their nomination of sin |
gle aspirant. advised the Tennes-
see delegation, so far as / was con-
suited, to take the course that has
been pursued by them: | applaud |