Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-02-16
COMMUNICATED.
NEW HAVEN, Conn,
February IL. 1888.

NEW HAVEN, CONN,
February II, 1888.
Messrs. Editors Il notice in the last is
sue of the BEACON reply of Mr.. Harris
to an article of mine that appeared in your
paper some time ago in answer TO which
ask for a short space in the next issue of
the BEACON.
First of all, wish to re-afiirm the state
ment that "under our form of government
laws are made by the people"-Mr. Harris
to the contrary Notwithstanding. And l
would not ask your readers TO take this
statement as true merely upon the basis Of
any dogmatic assertion of anyone. but
would refer them to the text of the Consti-
tuition of the United States itself, where
they will find that the whole Constitution,
according to its own testimony, was or
dained and established by the people of the
United States. The opening words are
these; 1--WE, the pecpls of the United
States, in order 10 form a more perfect
union, establish justice, ensure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fence, promote the general welfare, ard Sc
cure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States "f
America" Mr.. Harris himself says that
"our government is in every branch repre-
sentative in form" Representative of
what! Representative of the people of
course. We all know that the cray in
which the people make their laws is
through their representatives. But it is tie
people who make the laws all the same.
This is government Of the people, by
the people and for the people" The people
are governed by laws; if then, the gov
eminent is ''of" and "by" the people, they
must be the makers of their laws. The
fundamental difference between a demo-
cratic and moharchical form of govern
ment lies just here. In the latter, If the
monarchy be an absolute one, the monalch,
is the sole ruler, the people having no au-
thority whatever; ii the monarchy be a
limited one, the people have some auihori-
ty, but that authority il limited But, in
the former, The people govern. There is no
higher authority than theirs. And these
facts l learned indeed, NOT in some foreign
land as Mr.. Harris ironically intimate 5,
but in the schools Of old ST. Mary's coun-
ty, while yet little boy Of some twelve or
fifteen years of age; and have since as
sured. Eyself Of the trnthfnlness of them,
feeling that we are never Goo cd 10 learn.
But let US get back to the original ques-
ton under discussion. That question is.
not what form Of government we have,
aud low the laws are made, not whether
the writer Is Ignorant" of that form nj
government or not, but whether there is an
analogy between the actions Of portion
of the Northern people in resisting meas
ures that had been adopted before the late
war, and the recent conduct OF those who
have been termed Anarchists, sufficient to
justify Mr.. Harris in applying the epithes
Of Anarchists 10 them. claimed In for
mcr article that there was not Mr. Harris
claims that there i 'ssfriking analogy be-
tween the two sets. 80 far as disposition,
feeling and language are concerned" l
propose 70 show further that the analogy
docs not exist First, the adisposition' oi
the two Glasses was eatirely different The
Northern people in their protest aimed %
have noe 40 law. hua ripAsssas law; not NJ
government. but jsH government; mol