"[Controversies arise,] and we divide upon them into majorities and minorities. If the minority will not acquiesce, the majority must, or the government must cease. There is no other alternative; for continuing the government is acquiescence on one side or the other. If a minority, in such case, will secede rather than acquiesce, they make a precedent which, in turn, will divide and ruin them; for a minority of their own will secede from them, whenever a majority refuses to be controlled by such a minority...
A majority, held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily, with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people.
Whoever rejects it, does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism. Unanimity is impossible; the rule of a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissable; so that, rejecting the majority principle, anarchy or despotism is all that is left."
Plainer truth is rarely spoken. Once one accepts the equality of all men, the permanent rule of a minority (whether of one or a few) is rendered practically impossible and principally unacceptable. Government by consent follows from a social state of equality, and equality cannot be undone without removing both Christianity and modern natural science from the face and memory of the earth.
If we wish to avoid anarchy and despotism, then, we must substitute the rule of a majority for the unanimous will of the whole people. Just government requires the consent of the governed to be ruled according to natural and eternal principles of right.
When the majority errs, or chooses wrongly, we must persuade our fellow citizens of their error and persuade them to choose rightly--and they us. It is, I grant, much harder, much more challenging, and much less convenient a task than convincing a sole ruler would be. Republicanism is difficult and prone to failure and abuse. The government of a republic requires a virtuous citizenry. Free men must be free to choose wrongly. That is the cost of republican politics.
No one ever said it would be easy.
A majority, held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily, with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people.
Whoever rejects it, does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism. Unanimity is impossible; the rule of a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissable; so that, rejecting the majority principle, anarchy or despotism is all that is left."
Plainer truth is rarely spoken. Once one accepts the equality of all men, the permanent rule of a minority (whether of one or a few) is rendered practically impossible and principally unacceptable. Government by consent follows from a social state of equality, and equality cannot be undone without removing both Christianity and modern natural science from the face and memory of the earth.
If we wish to avoid anarchy and despotism, then, we must substitute the rule of a majority for the unanimous will of the whole people. Just government requires the consent of the governed to be ruled according to natural and eternal principles of right.
When the majority errs, or chooses wrongly, we must persuade our fellow citizens of their error and persuade them to choose rightly--and they us. It is, I grant, much harder, much more challenging, and much less convenient a task than convincing a sole ruler would be. Republicanism is difficult and prone to failure and abuse. The government of a republic requires a virtuous citizenry. Free men must be free to choose wrongly. That is the cost of republican politics.
No one ever said it would be easy.
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