New-York tribune., 1883-06-06
LETALONE GOVERNMENT.

aand we will make everything safe when the
"public ceases to crowd the Bridge. At pres
@ent each passenger, living or dead, pays
apenny." So the management suffers 200 per-
sons minute to be driven over a flight OF steps
which it is not possible for more than 100 per-
sons minute to pass with safety. Death and
anguish, manned and bloody bodies, are the
result.
"Let us Alone" say the Irish fugitives who
call themselves Americans only that they may
with greater safety egg on murders abroad.
SO misery comes 20 the Irish people, and the
honor of the United States is called in question
by tho acts of men who seek citizenship only as
q shield for crime.
aLet us alone" say Southern boods, who
know no other way of promoting political idea
than to assassinate the persons who oppose it.
"Our state of society is a little incomplete, but
ave must be trusted to take care of our own
acrimes." So the bravest and most worthy are
deliberately picked out for slaughter. and, re-
sistanco being quelled, Southern Jury cannot
agree and brilliant victory is recorded for the
party of shot-guns
"Let us alone" say the officials of an unre-
formed Civil Service. "Any meddling with the
"right. of boss or faction to I'll the Offices
"will only cripple the party" So the faithful
servants of boss hope to make conventions to
order hereafter, as heretofore, and thus to per-
petuate the rule OF their bosses, the subjugaton
of the people, and their own salaries.
There was just one grain of truth in the say
ing. the best government is that which gov
erns least" 1t is true that the best people need
the least governing. And, as n rule, the best
people contrve to get for themselves the best
government. When men behave themselves
Justly and honorably toward all, there is no
need of law. But the people who will not care
for the rights of others without restraint need
to be restrained. 1t is not the function of our
Government to do nothing in an able bodied
manner Neither is it the function of our Gov
ernment to let the mob do as it pleases, nor TO
invest any monopolist, or faction. or favored
class. with power to disregard the rights of the
public. II the majority anywhere Is Indifferent
or regardless, it must be restrained, and not
that they have peculiar privileges.
rights of all must be protected in this
country. The people who care nothing for
the rights of others, be they many or few, be
they rich and powerful or poor and helpless,
must be restrained and taught that justice is
law for them and for everybody.
Our Government is not one of noses but of
thoughts. In the end it is shaped and directed
not by mere count of persons but by the
weighing of ideas. Public opinion settles every
thing sooner or later, and the few with right
on their side are pretty sure to get the upper
hand. Let any man do n wrong and America
will not be content until it has found way
to right the wrong. 1t would be well, there
fore, for the unreformed officials to remember
that they are servants of the public, aud not
of any boss or faction. Ii would be well for
the railroads to set themselves right before it
becomes necessary to set them right by legis-
lation. 1t wonld be well for Southern bullies
TO remember in time that this country is as
free for others as it is for them. Ii would be
well for Irish malcontents to remember that
they have no business to live here unless they
mean to obey American laws and to be loyal
American citizens. 1t would be well for the
Bridge trustees to refuse a few pennies, if
necessary, in order to make ano ther crush and
slaughter practically impossible. In q free
country it is always better to obey the laws
before public opinion is walked up to enact
them.