The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-10-02
THE BENNINGTON BANNER FRIDAY. OCTOBER 2, 1891

without deduction all the benefits of his
own nature and actions, and shall neither
saddle these evils on other people nor be
defrauded by other people of the bene
fits. This is the law that should be in
sisted on, not only in the conduct of in
dividuals to one another, but also in the
conduct of the State to individuals. One
of the concomitants of the disregard of
that fundamental principle is seen in
your admiration for 'smart' men. A
smart man is by the very conception of
him, man who does not regard con-
scientiously the claims of others-who
endeavors to obtain from them some of
the legitimate results of their activities
which should remain with them, and
which in an indirect way he filches from
them. In fact, in a society in which
there was a complete recognition and
enforcement of the principle specified,
there would be no place for "smart'
men.
The idea that the rights of a majority,
as well of those of king, are limited
by justice is one that needs extensive
examination and calculation in this
country.
"No king, no clown.
Shall rule this town.
is sentiment often quoted, and it is a
good one, too But if odious obligations
are imposed upon the citizen, are they
any less odlous because made by ma
jority instead of monarch? There
ought to be certain well-deflned and in
alienable liberties guaranteed the citi-
zens of a republic, in circumscribing
which the majority shall have no
authority. This is approached in this
country in the matter of religious free
dom. Every person has the unimpeded
legal right to avowedly agree with Car
dinal Gibbons or Robert Ingersoll,
Joseph Cook or Joseph Smith in reli-
gious belief.
The largest liberty to every individual
consistent with the same splendid priv
lege to every other individual is prin-
ciple that should be indelibly impressed
upon the minds of all Republicans. The
facility for law-making is so great, and
the Legislative product of modern politics
so unsatisfactory, that stupid, vicious,
meddIesome and undesirable laws in
great number disfgure and disgrace our
statute books General laws of the most
vicious nature are not infrequently en-
acted for the purpose of covering a par
ticular case in which their promoters
have a private interest. A Governor, a
party boss, corporation or millionaire
is often the power behind a bill which
outrages public interest and benefits its
originator. When the general public
more fully comprehends the law-making
processes by which it's interests are
wantonly jeopardized, q wholesome
sentiment will be aroused rendering
these insidious inroads into popular
rights more difficult.
A warning from a philosopher of Her.
bert Spencers pre-eminent reputation
will attract the attention of thoughtful
people to the rampant evil of over-legis-
lation. The thought that the American
people, like the minions of the auto
cratic Gar of Russia, are subject to
tyranny is most displeasing. 1t brings
to mind the prophetic words of Webster
with which this article opens, and
shows the importance of choosing men
of high character, capacity and courage
for lawmakers. Mr.. Spencer has GER
tainly illumined the great Websterian
utt"ance.-TrOy Press.