Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-29
With Other Editors
The Rights of Minorities.

One of the slogans Of the Democratic party in the
United States has been for many years THE people
shall rule" During the larger part of the time for
the past fifty years or more the Democratic party
has been out of power in the nation. But it has
never ceased to claim and has been conceded the
right, aminority party to have more or less po-
tentai voice in national affairs. Perhaps, if list
OF beneficial legislation automatically compiled
and published, it would be found that most of such
Legislation had its origin in the Democratic party
and to that party would be due the credit for its
enactment Be that as it may, minorities in this
country. whether Republican or Democrat have al
ways advocated. presented and put upon the
books. laws that for the good of the people were
beyond criticism.
THE people shall rule" means all the people. not
necessarily majority. but in the ultimate the well
considered opinions and righteous judgment Of both
majority and minority. Sometimes almost incense
quentiai opinions at the beginning have become
formulated legislation and the voice of the people
IN the enactment OF Inws
Take, for example, the Prohbitionists. At the
start those zeaiots weak minority But they
had RaiieRable rights and exercised them at all
times and in places propagandists their views
and their principles The result is that today ma
jority, in both houses of congress have adopted
prohibition amendment to the federal constitution
voted for by both Democrat and Republican mem
beFs
The rights of minoFiues is one OF the fundamental
principles upon which great republic is founded
and by which it has risen to it's present power ami
glory.
The lack of the principle the right of miHori-
ties to exist and influence the public opinion so far
they can is the vital reason the absolute cause
why BoIsheyikts failed in Russia and will con
time to fail everywhere in their attempts to form
stable, weii-ordered government. The word Boil
sheFiki which gives the that faction in Rus
STA means belonging to the majority"
The ruling forces in that party in Russia, and
elsewhere have for the fundamental principle OF the
party, that People shall rule, and minorites have
no rights that majorities are Bound to respect"
Perhaps majority Of the Russian people are Boil
sheviks. At least they have control of such
government Russia possesses But instead of Civ
ing minorites the right live and civil religious
and political rights they suppress. Cypress sIav and
punish all people who do not agree with them Such
party has right to hope for success. much less
succeed in establishing stable government The per
secution Of the bourgeois by the Bolshevk govern
ment is heavy handicap that can not be removed
by Staying and furnishing those who belong 10 that
class. II is absolute prohibition Of establishment
and profitable continuance Of the needed industries
Of the country. But it appears that I4enine and
Trotsky, whose word is law to Russian Bolsheviki,
are determined that only Bolsheyild shall rule. and
rule by eavagery and slaughter
Russias problem today is to find a way to get
rid Of the BoIshevih government and the principles
upon which it is founded. Minorities have rights
that every government is bound to respect and that
nation, to have a stable government, must respect
Illinois State Register