Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-10-12
MAJORITY RULE.

H0it 10 q 2ISGt OSal VI III p
prehension on the part of many in~
telligent people as TO the true nas
.ure of our Federal government. 1t
is common thing to hear such ex-
preasions as these, "the greatest
coed to the greatest number" "the
maj ,rity must rule" Now these
may be sound political doctrines,
and there may be nothing the mate
ter with these theories; but these
are not the doctrines adopted by
the powers of our Federal constis
tuition. nor arc they the theories of
our general government.
Much harm is apt to come TO
orr institutions by the oft repeat
ing Of such maxims, and the inculs
cation of doctrines so foreign to the
fundamental principles of our
State.
The unbridled pass ons of the
ma iority was accountable for the
awful tragedy of the reign of tiers
ror in France.
The excited envy and unreasun-
ing fears of the majority killed and
banished many of the ablest and
best Of the statesmen and generals
| of Greece. The uncurbed passion
Of the majority is responsible for
all fires and blood of religious pess
secu.ions, wherever and whenever
they have occurred.
The Hnguenots were driven
from France by a majority, the
Puritans sought the bleak and bar
rem shores of New England be-
cause Of the outrageous exactions
of the majority. Roger Williams
wea; out into the wilds of Rhode
Island because Of the prosecutions
of the majority, and last, but by no
means least in it's evil consequences,
a maj ority presides at every lynchs
ing that degrades our humanity,
and disgraces our civilization.
A Democracy is not Republic,
in the former the unreasoning and
excited passions Of the maj jors
ity overrides and destroys the rights
and tLe lives of the minority; in the
latter the constitution and the laws
foster reason and Justice and pros
tect the rights and the lives of the
minority. What need have the
majority for laws or written cons
stitution to protect their rights
against the encroachments Of the
minority?
The Supreme Conrt of the
United States, are but nine men,
yet in ali that pertains to the rights
of the people or the States, they
are as powerful as the majority, or
as the whole of the people, for that
matter, and it is the glory and the
safety of our republic that they
are.
The Senate of the United States
composed of SO members can pres
vent the passage of the most insigs
nificant law that is to effect US in
our federal relations, and this is
one of the: chief safeguards to our
Republican institutions.
The President of the United
States can nullify any act of the
people except such as receives the
approval of two thirds of the votes
Of both Houses of Congressman this
Is perhaps the chief corner stone of
onr magnificent Federal fabric.
There are those among us,who are
impatient Ct these checks and res
straints upon the mad impulses of
tie msjo,ity. All sach arc, at
heart, revo'ntioniats, and il left to
their own pnguided reasons vonld
Roverthrow this great government,
which is an his ,b,ea tha vonae
and admiration oE the word Oh
cousse We are inpatient at delay,
aud would, at all times, wosk our
own sweet will. wii:,aas any ree
straint .trei. any a.urcss and it is
Cor this'very reason tnat onr ances>
Etors, endowed with reason from on
High, devised our nresaat form oi
gcyernment. Let ~ perpetnate it.