The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-30
A Government of the People The
Safeguard of their Liberties.

EDITORS CLARION: Many important
questions are pressing themselves upon
the consideration of the people of Mis-.
slssippi now, that will demand of our
next Legislature Il wise disposition. Upon
some Of these questions the democratic
party is so committed by long line of
prScedents, and repeated avowals of
principles, as to admit of no maneuver-
ing for position. II is important, that
the people just entering as they are,
upon another political canvass, should
before starting out, stop and carefully
examine the great chart of their liber.
ties and observe well the canopy that
they may know judicially where the
polar star of freedom stands, by the
guidance of which they ave to keep in
the channel that leads to prosperity and
happiness, and off the shoals and break.
era, which ever threaten the ship of
state. 1t free government is to be ner-
petuatcd, it must be upon Just, fundar-
mental, underlying principles, as i'm.
portant to the maintainance of liberty
and the preservation of freedom ma i |
the law OF gravitation to the physical
world No government can be long
maintained, that has incorporated into
ITS theory as practices, principles which
conflict with each other; house divided
against itself can not stand.
One just question that demands the
thoughtful attention of every true Mis-
sissippianis, does the present Constitution
OF the State cmbody the true principles
oi local sclf-goyernmcnt and nothing
that antagonizos or is in conflict there
wlthF The great central idea of Ameri-
can government is that the people are
possessed of sufficient virtue and intelli-
sencc to be worthy and able to govern
themselves; that they are entitled to
Ill the rights and privileges of self.eoy-
'rnmcnL Here is our foundation, and ,
his is the rock upon which we build
Ours is a Democratic government, and
lot an aristocratic or monarchial or dos :
'otic one. In the people, all sovereign
y is, and here is the touch stone Of {
American liberty, and the corner stone |
81 the temple of justice -,
There are three forces in our govern. {
nent: ono makes or declares which shall
% the law, another constructs tho lave !
md the other executes it, all of tbesc .
orces being restrained within certain G
imits by the Constitution. It is q nri- &
nary principle, universally accepted bv
III political parties in this country TINT "
hese three forces usually denominotod
departments of government, should he Kent
that one may be a check S
'nu balance on the other, in order that
'e'ther can gather sufficient STRENGTH 70 Ct
ohtrol either Of the others, and There Il
y Cypress the people. These dcr,rt. j.
a sntsaro brought into action fortbo g,od "
i the people alone; to promote their bsr. st
''ness' to Increase their prosperity and b
protect them rgainst wrong and in. I,
uStlce, from whatever direction il mao +
ONE, whether from without or with;n Y,
These three departments of govern. B
lents arc created by the people. Wuh :,
!, the will Of the people is expressed !,
nrough the ballot box. The neonIc Z
ave, inc inherent right to organize snrb :;
iaehihGry for government a thev de- :,
Ies ana 10 select such agents ms thcv :,
!lt 70 operate that machinery ri, :. :,
;2# Is dc"'ed to the pcopie by liz ,r1.@n, 4
in that it makes III ;n ',o =
'al department depend on the oyc %", y
We department Here is force onor .,
llng against the principles Of local l ,J !" "
oyernment, and if continued. viii ~ III
,rtalnly destroy the right of the neonlo
govern themselves as there il n foIr"e &C
motion which attracts small bodirs ~ " y.
rge ones. 'o'iCs 10 cl
bnt we arc told, that we have an e,o ~
cht ~ our body polite that wonld /,
axe " dangerous in the expression W, ",