Evening journal., 1901-11-13
WEDNESDAY,. NOVEMBER Ia, 100
MAJORITY RULE

SO much has been said in recent po-
sitical discussion in Delaware regard
ing majority rule" that it may not
be inappropriate to discuss some of itsI
1nases. First we must observe that It'll
is not principle of ethics or morality,
but one of mere expediency. All his
tory shows continual protest on the
part Of minorities, and these frequently
merge into majortles. If moral ques
tions were to be decided by the mum
Der of their adherents, then The right
OF individual opinion and freedom of
action would be abrogated. 1t would
substitute the tyranny OF the mass for
that OF the individual
The idea of majority RUE Is n mat
ter Of expediency; we do not assert.
That because a sufficient number of per-
sons espouse a cause. It is necessarily
infalible, but that questions must be
settled by some method. and we
regard this in certain cases as most
expedient The statement that in our
government the idea OF majority rule
obtains In every instance, is not true
In several instances our presidents
have represented a minority of the
votes actually cast In certain cases
we have had a majority of the mem
bers OF a party in the Legislature clam
orlng for recognition who did not rep
resent a majority vote at the polls. Al
low the vote OF tho Wilmington man
10 count for the same as a vote from
Kent or Sussex. and the so-called ma
jority would crumble into minor
diy
The talk OF majority rule Is applied
to the present unfortunate condition
arising over the inability to elect SEN
ators. The Addicks men have a ma
jority OF the Republican members, but
The Regular Republicans poll through
out tho State a majority OF the party
vote. The situation is peculiar; a man
from Wilmington may cast a vote for
governor that shall count with that OF
any other man, but when It comes Ia
e,ecting members TO the Legislature
his rights as a voter are abridged, and
his balllot counts for only fraction OF
THAT Of a man from Kent or Sussex.
It is usually regarded as expedient
for men in panty government to sub
NIT to the will of a majority, but The
inalienable right OF revolution applies
to parties. no less than to govern
ments; and when conditions become
into.erable. and policies immOraG ant
oppressive freemen viii revolt.
The principle is usually invoked b.
tyrants who have stolen The party ma
chinery, and then seek to whip indie
pendent men into line. Witness tn
situation i'm Delaware. A man VIII
fiouted majority rule and nagrantl
violated it's first principles, when h
has secured certain standing in
vokes il against those he has wronge
by its violation On ali grounds q
ethics and legal precedent he is estOT
ped. In other words majority rule"
fiouted and deied when It interfor,
with my plans, but when N further
them ] will hide myself in its protec
ing robes.
There is nothing in The America
system to prevent any man from actin
with any party or faction NE choose
providing IL does not contravene d,
law The individual has the right
criticise and oppose any man or az
principle. even though majorities ma
given a favorable verdict. When
comes to question OF absolute app
cation. IL is not aside from the que
tion 10 note that a majority in Il
last Legislature opposed Addicks, an
hence, he should retire