Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-11

powers in another until finally all of
these little inroads are CORRUGATED and
overlapped and the minority or the indi-
vidual is deprived Of many Of the rights
accorded under the Constitution, with no
definite place of attack visible where lie
gal defense may be made by those right
fully resisting the encrOachment.
This evil, strange as it may seem, -four
ishes best under a democratic form Of
government where delegated authority is
either abused, perverted or redelegated to
bureaus, boards and commissions. The
tyranny of the majority was much in evil
dence in the early colonial days. The
majority Of the Colonists were engaged
in Agriculture; the minority were the
tradesmen. As a result, the minority
were soon grooming under the burdens OF
laws giving relief favoring agricultur-
lists and placing hardships on the minor
ity. This practice has continued In vary
ing degrees since then but more especial
ly in the last twenty years. These in
roads work both through legislative en-
actment and through social, educational
financial and industrial life. In them
those who, being temporarily endowed
with what some are pleased to call pow
err" proceed to dominate and drive"
their fellow citizens.
During the World War there were
many instances in this country where
the tyranny of the majority was notice
able. This may have been inspired as
war measures, through a sense of neces-
stty, or an incorrect idea Of patriotism.
Orders of councils, unconstitutional legal
enactments, patriotic movements and even
social life imposed Undue pressure upon
the rights and liberties Of the minorities
IN, - fr,-f
citizens whose loyalty and patriotism
were beyond question. This situation
was growing in strength but the war ac-
centuated It. 1t was present before the
war and exists TO our peril now.
Today we are confronted with various
forms Of tyranny that an unrestrained
majority increases rather than removes.
Sometimes 1t has acted N the open, as
during the war. under the guise OF neces-
sity; other times II operates insidi0usly
and under cover. Unless steps are taken
to return to the Constitution and to ad-
here to the spirit Of government given
by our forefathers,- citizens will find
themselves under a reign OF tyranny OPP
Grating through a temporary majority.
controlled by bureaucracy and paternal-
ism, and the Nations birthright Of con-
stitutional government for which it bled
in the past and for which so great a
price has been paid. will vanish.
Under such n regime. when society is
itself the tyrant, the means OF tyranuiz-
ing is not limited to acts or laws which
the majority may strive to enforce
through It's political officers but goes be
yond these IN degrees varying with the
whims and fads Of its followers.
W II. Taft. when President OF the
Il. ~
headed man. however great a lover Of
popular government. can deny that the
unlimited expression Of the majority OF
a community converted hastily into law
OF action would sometimes make a gov
eminent cruel and tyranuicaL"
The tyranny Of the majority was at
first and is still, generally considered as
operating chiefly through the acts Of
public aut hority. Protection against the
tyranny Of the magistrate is not enough.
That is the lesser Of two evils and fol
lows rather aS result than as the
cause Of the minority's oppression. The
need Of protection against the tyranny
Of popular and hasty opinion is most es-
sential The falsely inspired enthusiasm
egotism and bigotry strive to impose
their own ideas and practices upon those
who fail 10 agree with them. Each make
Illegal efforts 70 hinder the free express
sious Of individuality which are NOT in
harmony with this wrong conception.
Lord Bryce says. a majority IS tyran-
meal when It decides without hearing the
minority, when IL suppresses fair and
temperate criticism Of its own acts, when
Il persists in retaining men in matters
where restraint is not required by cJu-
mon interest, when Il forces men 10 con
tribute money to objects which they dix
dies not demand"
The most evil element Of tyranny does
not consist in the form Of the act which
may he outwa-dly legal The deadeniug
and vicious element is in the spirit which
is revealed In the enforcement. in the m
justice and expressions upon the COM
munity This tyrannical attitude is the
greatest foe Of Individual liberty, initia-
tive and development and is one which
America must coura gecusly meet and
master.
The Constitution has provided protec-
tion md the only way the American
citizen can come into his full heritage
Of individual liberty and freedom IS to
60 back to the Constitution. tear down
every vestige Of bureaucracy and pater-
nalisin and re- establish the dearly bought
birtlrights Of free citizenship and the
sacred rights Of the minority.
As long as the Constitution OF the Unit
ed States remains the corner stone Of
our Government, It viii be possible for
the minority TO hLd relief from the
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