Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-10-27

we have only to remember that in
theory the whole common and stat
ute law Of England is supposed to
be the expression of the public opin-
ion of the people of England, Yet
if, as IN the case of the Swiss refer
endum, the people of England were
formally polled (eyen those possess
ing votes) and the whole issue re-
spectlng every law placed before
each, how many laws, now undis-
puted, would not be swept away?
1t cannot be too emphatically i'm
pressed upon the ordinary law abid-
ing citizen that the greater part of
law, as it at present exists, does so
by the ignorance of the majority, not
by its consent. 1t is the expression,
not of the suffrage but Of the suffer-
ance of the people.
But this is not all. Surprising
there were a referendum or poll of
all the people of England to-mor-
row, it would be Of little avail on
any but the very simplest issue. For
80 long as there is inequality of edu-
cation and of natural conditions and
the majority are at a disadvantage
in respect of these things, they are
necessarily incapable of weighing
the issue before them. Their very
wants are but vaguely present to
their minds, and in their judgment
as to the means of satisfying them
they are at the mercy of every pass
ing wind. But given an equality Of
education and economic circum-
stances, there is yet another condi-
ton requisite before the opinion of
the majority can be accepted as any
thing like the last resort of wisdom,
and therefore as worthy of all accep-
tation. 1t is this. Public opinion,
the verdict of the majority, even IN
a society of equals, if it is to have
any value, presupposes high sense
of public duty-a standard of mo-
rality which exacts that every one
shall take the requisite interest in
public questions for an independent
judgment on them. The man who
has not taken the trouble to train
himself 70 think out these things
cannot help to form an effective
public opinion on any question pre-
senting itself. Given the conditions
mentioned, on the other hand, and
the Judgment of the majority would
unquestlonably represent the highest
collection of wisdom up to date. But
until these conditions are fulfilled,
the opinion of the majority as such
can have no m0ra claim On the ale
glance of mlnorities or of lndividu.
ais, although it may be Convenient in
many or in most cases to recognize
it.
The only public opinion, the only
will of the majority, which has any
sort of claim on the recognition OF
the Socialist in the present day, is
that of those who have like aspira.
tons with him, who have a definite
consciousness of certain ams-in
other words, the will of the major.
lty of the European Socialist Party.
Even the Social, 3/'Party, owing tc
the economic conditions under which
its members, with she rest of soci-
ETY., labor, does not fulfil the condi-
tlons above stated as necessary fol-
the formation of public opinion
which should command respect.
But such rs it is, there can be nc
doubt that it represents the nearest
approach to an authoritative tri
bunal which We can find to-day.
AS to those persons who PROSTATE
themselves before this idol, the will
of the majority (of present society,"
of the mere mechanical majority, OF
count of heads-snd swear the,
would yield anything to the authori
tatlve utterances of the people "Gr
this sense) it would be interesting tt
know how far in the direction of it,
logical conclusion they would b,
prepared to 90. There are some
among them, we believe, who, Will,
avowedly holding the current theolo
gy to be pernicious, yet would no.
oppose its being taught in the public
schools if the majority of the Ma
ton" were in favor of it. Now il
must be admitted that it is exceed
Il L j II