mary right is to rule justly. He who rules otherwise rules for some personal 

 motive, and ruling for mere self is not justice; selfishness should no more have 

 place in a government than in the creed of an individual. And the people also 

 are sovereign only as they are right, and endeavor to govern justly. Often 

 when differences exist among a people to such a degree as to culminate, it may 

 be in open rebellion, the majority rise up and affirm that there will is to be 

 recognized. Xot at all. For a majority, as a majority, is to govern only when 

 it is just in its demands; and minorities, also, are right when they demand that 

 this same law of justice be given place. This is the bottom truth, or knotless 

 plank in the State. 



But without discussing any further the great principles involved in the State, 

 let us give our subject a practical bearing. If the State has its origin in that 

 high and holy sense of justice of which we speak, it is then the solemn duty of 

 every citizen to take an active interest in its welfare. I know of no offense that 

 seems to be more universally committed by worthy men in our day than the 

 utter indifference which some at least manifest in what pertains to the govern- 

 ment under which they live. It would appear that not a few look upo)i the 

 relations which they sustain toward the State as positively forbidden, if not 

 almost as criminal: seemingly they are something of which they are ashamed. 



If ever a people should take a most active interest in tiie administration of 

 government, Americans are that people; and for the double reason that the gov- 

 erning power is a derived power, and, also, they are so often called upon to change 

 their rulers. The policy which is to shape and direct monarchial gover.iments, 

 for the mc st part, is fixed ; at any rate, grand and fundamental changes are 

 few, whereas it is altogether difl'erent in the State where universal freedom jire- 

 vails; here, freedom as likely and as often secures a change of policy as the 

 permanence of monarchial sovereignty contributes to oneness of action. Take 

 any of the exciting political agitations into which, as a people, we are so fre- 

 quently thrown — that period, forsooth, in wliich our own State is called upon 

 to reaffirm or change its policy, and how few of those possessing the ballot have 

 a full, free and definite understanding of the change, supposing it is a consti- 

 tutional amendment upon which they are called upon to vote! In national 

 questions of similar sweep, how small the number who may be said to really 

 know and take in the fundamental purpose at issue! 



Unhappily, not a few individuals are wholly indifferent to all these struggles for 

 change ; some, also, vote not as they have learned, but as they have been told : while 

 with others again, its not principle that guides their action, but money. Xow 

 the bought vote, if known, should be a negative vote, and its repetition should 

 be the forfeiture of the right to suffrage. Think of a certain politician affirm- 

 ing that in a close election, two-thirds of all the votes cast by the day laboi-ers. 

 minor mechajiics and men of small means, could be purchased. Although the 

 coast of our country be washed by two mighty oceans, there is no room in it for 

 a ballot that represents a drink, a dime or a dollar. Behind every vote there 

 should be intelligence — thought: if not, in no sense has it a representative 

 value. The same is largely true with what is called a [)arty vote. Following 

 party at times is like accompanying the devil-bewitched swine tluit i-an head- 

 long from the Gadarene fields down into the sea. 



Indeed, from the actions of some " party " is but another name lor ambition, 

 or the committing of one's self to be led here and there by irresponsible and 

 self-constituted leaders to be severely let alone so soon as their purpose have 

 been attained. The citizen who seemingly knows nothing l)ut " party " is not 

 unfrequently as oblivious to the end of government as to the inspiring motive 

 of patriotism. 



Politically considered, the wisdom of several millions of votei's is much 

 greater thari that of a few party leadei-s. Personally. I have more faith in the 

 people of the United States than in any chairm.an or national committee ever 

 formed. The errors of public opinion are self-changing. As the essential 

 force of a government is in the individual, men should do their own thinking. 

 Bits and bridles are for the mouths of horses, not for freemen ; God never meant 

 that any human being should be harnessed — that was decided for our country 

 under an apple tree at Appomatox. 



Friends, justice is a priceless boon, nor can any one be indifferent to its 



