The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-09-27
Read Democrats.
The Right of the People.

We take the following article from tn
New Iberia Democrat of last Saturday
which treats on Democracy and its US
ages. 1t shows clearly that mass meet
ing or convention called for a specia
purpose cannot properly transact Othe
business, therefore, the convention tina
met at Breaux Bridge on the 18th. inst
was called to elect delegates to the LAX
Charles convention, and to do other bust
ness concerning especially the cOngre
sional election, and the reorganization
OF the Parish Committee, without an!
notice or warning, is undemOcratic, lille
gal, and can in no way bind the demo
cracy Of the parish by its action. TIL,
existance of the committee organized a
that convention called for another pur
pose, is an usurpation upon the rights Of
the democracy, p illegal null and void
The following article gives good author
ity on this subject, and we request that
every democrat read it:
That as a rule, under Democratic in
stitutiOns, the majority rules, none but
dolts deny. And that any intelligent
man denies that proposition only idiots,
or demagogues assert. Yet it is equally
incOntestable that, under tie spirit Of our
free institutions certain rights are ac-
corded minorities, surrounded by pro-
tecting safeguards.
Among the latter is that the power Of
the majority must be exercised under
the wholesome restraints OF constitution
and of written and unwritten laws and
usages. Else a deadly blow would be
struck at the whole social and govern
ment fabric and anarchy would result.
The Democratic party is regular Or
ganization. Its members are not at the
mercy of each other. 1t has its admins
tratiye committees, its laws, usages and
precedents. Under them, every Demo-
crat is entitled to be heard at its general
and special deliberations. When special
or specific meetings are called, each is
entitled to be notified Of its specific pur-
poses. When a meeting has been an
for specific purpose, no acci-
dental majority can assume to act and
upon other subjects, because,
in that case, those who have remained at
home had no notice to be present for
that purpose. II the meeting be called
for general purpose all members are pre-
sumed 20 be notified that at {, any le-
getimate subject may be acted on. II
meeting be announced for q specific pur-
pose all are notified Of that fact, and that
no other subject it to be acted on; to act,
at such meetings on other matters. is to
do vain thing. 1t is action without
notice and like Court Judgment, with
out citation it is null.
That a majority Of meeting may
have the physical power to assume to
disregard all past regulations, precedents
and practices, and even trample Ordina-
ry decency under foot, may be conceded;
it may be true. But If true, it is so only
in the sense that they exercise the right
Of revolution. But revolution is based
on the idea of force, and it is only after
force successfully and permanently esta-
blished the results, that they can have
any effect, or are entitled to authority
and respect.
In this parish, it has been usual to as
semble the Democratic people, either in
mass meeting, or In convention Of dele
gates, previous to every general State
election, and to reOrganize then, the Par
ish Committee and institute such gener-
al measures as the exigencies Of the par
ty for the moment, or for the future cam
paign may suggest, and as the success
ful management and conduct OF the
coming campaign may appear to require.
1t has not been the usage in this par
ish, to reorganize the Parish Committee,
precedent to, or for the purposes Of
Congressional campaign. If there has
been an exceptional case, we doubt not.
that on examination of the facts, 1t will
be found that there were peculiar cir
special causes for it, and
that in each instance there was special
notice in calling the meeting.
The mass meeting, in this place, was
convened md erspecial instructions from
Congressional Convention that the Par
ish Committee take steps to select dele
gates to the District Convention at Lake