Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-08-23

species of special privilege inuring to
the benefit of few; OF those like
minded I'm their view that government
is a necessity and not a luxury and
that business should have its large OPP
portunity for success. but that this
government was made for men. not
corporations; for principles. not inter
ests. and OF those with sufficient cour-
age and fortitude to drive the money
changers from the temple OF our ma
tionaI life. has been impoverished by
desertions due to personal interests.
ambitions and prejudices.
Time For Patriotism.
This campaign calls upon some for
Justice, upon others for charity upon
all for patriotism. 1t does not call for
the bandying of epithets nor for an
appeal to the personal. We may safe
iy leave TO that senlle dementia which
has seized the so called Republican
party the personalities of this cam
paigu. Its unGtness to rule the repub-
lie Is disclosed by its inability to keep
its temper. IL was cohesive so far as
its leadership was concerned While lt
was engaged In looting the public, but
even its leaders are now disorganiZed
while quarreling over the loot. AS for
the party's bosses, the improper inhu'
ences in American political life are
about equally divided between them.
EVERYWHERE Boss Barnes Ia crossing
swords with Boss Finn, and their
charges and countercharges disclose
greatness only when we apply Emer-
sons statement, Consistency Is the
hobgobIin Of little minds"
How comes 1t that we have reached
such condition of affairs in American
life that the party In power is rent in
twain. that boss Is charging boss with
knavery, crookedness and dishonesty
and that each faction is claiming an
exclusive patent upon honesty ana
patriotism while avowing that the sue
cess of the other would spell irrepara,
BILE ruin for the republic2 And, more
particularly, how comes this TO pass
nnder q Republican system OF govern
ment consisting of coordinate branches
to which were coded by the people
none of their nalienable rights. but
only such powers as were thought to be
needful to redress the wrongs, pre-
serve the rights and keep unshackled
the moral. intellectual and physical
forces of mankind2
Though majority of the people
have been voting the Republican ticket
and have been assuming thereby that
the majority would rule, the disgrace
full but purifying scenes which have
been enacted recently in Republican
conventions disclose that large num-
her of those who have been voting the
Republican ticket are Democrats al
heart. These scenes disclose further
that we have been mistaken in some OF
our conclusions touching government
in America. We have yielded quiet
assent to the proposition that major
ity Is all powerful and that minority
has no rights which n majority Is
bound to respect But now we Know
that the theory of the historic Demo
cratic party-that 1t is the right OF
majority to rule, but only within con
stitutional limitations and without the
usurpation of a single inalienabe right
of a single individual-ls correct
Majority a Minority.
It is only when majorities thus rule
that governmental machines move
without friction. The right of a ma
iority to thus rule must always be
conceded. wonder. however. If 1t
has dawned upon the sober second
thought of this people that 1t is posi-
BILE for a majority to be a minority
and that 1t is equally possible for a
minority to be a majority. AT first
blush 1t would seem that the officials
elected by the plurality of votes be-
come the representatives Of the major.
fly and that as such they rule. But
am not in error when | declare that 1t
ia not the mere number of votes which
determines a majority in America in
the sense OF having the power to for
muate the policy. enact the legislation
and control the government, and
point TO the election OF 1905 for PROOF,
The protest of every man who voted
for President Taft and who is now dis
satisfied with the presidents manage
ment OF public affairs proves that for
four years a minority has been the
majority in America. At the risk OF
offending the sensibilitles of the Re
publican who voted for President Taft
only TO he dissatisfied with his ad-
ministration. / am going to tell him
that he is one of the men | counted In
making so per cent of the voters OF
this country members of the historic
Democratic party. Hin present protest
against the result of his ballot reveals
his belief that it is not the business of
government to grant, under the guise
OF taxation. to any class of citizens or
TO any member of society special privi-
leges which are not granted to every
other class and to every other member
OF society.
The social condition which we call
Darooorocr and VI, b{cb 6ndc i+e ovapua