The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-06
THE STRENGTH OF THE LAW.

popular election should always be
an occasion FOR reflection. This gny-
| clnment was established for the bene-
hit OF the people. and the object whicl
the founders had in view was to secure
to eacl, individual citizen the right to
live and to be free and to pursue hap
piness. If or governments; does not
protect every citizen. however humble.
in these rights and privileges, it is Il
pretencn and q failure Indeed. it is
not too much to say that the very eX-
istence Of government depends upon
carrying out this principle. If the peo-
pie are continually oppressed, if any
class Of people are continually op-
pressed. under our system. sooner or
later the system will be destroyed. aud
ought to be destroyed. for we should
then be q republic only in name.
The attention Of the American people
has recently been drawn by q tragic
even. to the question: OF anarchy. There
are those in the land who believe thai
that is does not protect the people IN
their rights, and that therefore it does
not deserve to live. If that should be-
come the dominant sentiments in this
country tie government would soon lie
| destroyed anG chaos would reign.
Government is the creature Of the
people Government has no power
within itself i'll this country where all
powe@ is reserved TO the people. Tile
people maintain and support the GOV
ernmcnt, not for the sake of govern
ment per Sc, but for. the sake of their
own good. Every man worthy OF the
name loves his native land and is will
in. to make sacrifices for it. but as ali
original proposition lie loves himself
and the members OF his own family
better than he loves his country. y
man loves his country because his
country is good to him. But if lis
country is oppressive and robs him
Of his God given rights his love will
be turned into hatred, and SO far from
being disposed to support the govern
ment he will turn against it.
Examples OF this are constantly oc-
curing in South America. The gov
eminent becomes oppressive. These
so-callei republics are republics Only
in name. The rulers do not come Into
mower by VIII OF tie people. but usual
IL hy force Of arms, and POPULAR elec-
tions III South America are 4 farce.
The rulers there proceed upon The
good old plan Of let him take who
has the power, and let him keep WHO
can" There are some f,voriIes who
receive the benefits oil government, but
outsiders are oppressed, ana as soon
lis they fetl that they are strong
enough they rise UP III revolt; and So
there is revolution after revolution and
no such thing as stable government.
Well may w" learn lessons from our
neighbors 10 the south Of lis. First OF
all. our elections must: be fair and free
and honest This is the sine qua non
of republican government. There can
be 10 successful popular government
for long if al election fail fairly to
register the popular Will: If by fraud
or trickery or bribery or intimidation
or otlie,. means the candidates ot
facticn are foisted upon the people
against their wishes. It will not 10
to trihe with this matter. It is a Sc
rious proposition. and the people OF
Virginia arc face to face with ii. Ii
differences between political parties are
not fairly determined by the ballot
eventually the people will resort TO
harsher means.
After that, in order 10 perpetunte OH.
government i'll this. country. OIL. laws
must be fair to all and fairly admin
istered There is no room in a gov
eminent like ours for class slegislation.
/! Laws which are framed for 4 purpose
and made to operate for the benefit of
one class and to the injury OF another
are the laws OF dcsl1otiSm aud not the
| laws Of renublicanism. We must m axe
our. laws respectable if we would have
the people respect them. We must
make orr government 1ovable IL we.
expect The people Glove it aud honor
it. 4 government Which does notsde-s
serve the honor and respect. Of tic PEG =
PIE wll.not he l:onorcu and respected.
These are timely reflections. The
; remedy for anarchy and for al forms
OF lnwlessness "a system of just EIWss
Justly and honestly admlnistercd f
tile people Of this country lose fiieir
respect for laN-g;lnd nlIle and govern
meut tho fault viii not lie with 4 ken.S
II will lie with The govcrnmcnt
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