Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-04-17
THE RIGHTS on TIH MINORITY.
(Rcproductien.)

(Reproauction.)
'"rhc voice of the majority is no
proof OF Justice. "-Sohiller.
We have regarded with much con-
Germ the steady disposition of the
present day statesmen and diplomats
30 break down the legislative and con-
Stitutional bars erected by the fore
most statesmen Of tho world as a re-
suit Of centuries Of experience in
projecting and defending the rights
Of the minority as against the ruth
less and autocratic exercise of authori
" and power by an inflamed ana
' tEoxghtlcss majority. These restric-
.tious aud safeguards have been abus
cd. but the resulting damage by their
complete elimination is now just be
ing realized.
No class of people on the face of
the gtoba have suffered more than
the colorcd people in this country by
the ruthless exercise OF power by an
irresponsible majority. Hon. Will
liam J. Bryan has done more than
any other individual to destroy thoso
safeguards and he was later support
eli by that peerless leader, Coz. Theo-
dore Roosevelt. AS result, the
trusts voro attacked and noarly de-
slioSed. Thea legitimate business
camo in turn for its era Of pcrsoou.
lon, Then came the public press, the
newspaper and publishing interests
anu then tho railroads. tho meat in
t"raSls and last came the whiskcy In
tcresta which saw millions Of dollars
OF heir capital aad products destroy
Ell without let or hindrance from
ANY quarter.
~ line with this spirit Of intoler.
a.,c0 and the ruthless exercise Of DOW
ca oame the destruction Of parties
aid laber organizations OF a certain
kind Under 'thel plea that they were'
disldgm end were plotting tho
oyeffthrnwj2. OF IS, the Is present : ayss
tenn Of gsvernment tho Industrial
Wor4ers OF the World Became sub,
NctS OF prosecution Faad parseoutiori.,
The Socialists found their turn next
ana one ct tho a1,lest advocates of
the.'princiMes and policies OF that
great organization snA party was IN
carcSSated In Federal prison. from
the cell OF which he IL now wagine
canvass for the presidency of the
United States Aiong the line of this
sans spirit OF intolerance, which ia
INC unconfined sweep Of the will of
the majority five Socialists daily elect
"a members of the New York legis,a-
lure have been denied the seah IN
"hitk they have been legally elected
This denial Is based upon the ground
lhat tho political party, to which thew
Ce!oag is disloyal. that its TEACHINGS
ana principles are inimical to orr
10TH OF Government Is the Amori.
can "opablic q failure? Has the man.
o''e or law boon replaced by the
- lhi4ahd OF the mob, now called tho
'" NY what redress can these mon
u 'hls Party have, when the oonsu.
'utloh and the law provides that o,o,,
legislative body shall be the iadc. n
'he eligibility and Qualification or
tEose persons elected to nembershi,9
'he legislative and the judicial de-.
H'-ll4mtS of the government ara
ee-efHinate that H. easaI
ohoer this construction, the ono
''''s no more power than the Other n,
''oAs 10 us as though Representative.
so'eFhment Is ON trial, a yerv sevoro
tr1M. and that the day or r.o.o..,
l"'r play has not davned in th;s
country Tor more than a decade
we take 1t that this is the ,oe,co,
result OF tabooing and discard;,a
e"o hsFs and privileges of bIae,,
people IN this country. It has lon ~
"'e noooing and the discarding or
inc sashts and privileges Of w,,ts
peo!ns In this sans Reprb,ic ~
.'0~ son YORK World In tts issue Of Api,
W. &<vH.
.He legislative lyncAfns that too,,
p,"ce yesterday in Albany uos aon;c
Gu upon nearly three months ..n
~hen Speaker Swaet suapepded ftSe
socialist members OF the Assemhlv
o." ",,, the ground tibet the platform on
"hich they wero elected "is abso,sta
H4mical to the best interests of
me State of Now York and OF the
United States
The hearing before the Judiciary
committee was merely concession
TO form. Having set out to promote
ms candidacy for Governor by OK
p"llng the Socialist Assemblymcn I'm
PROOF Of his militant 100 per cont.
Amerfcanism." Speaker Sweet was
Obliged to sec the thing through, in
SPITE Of the protests of bar associat
ions and of tho ablcst and most 70.
spdnsibe members Of his party.
1t Is not difficult for Speaker to