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The Majority Should Rule.

One favorite political principle with Mr. Lincoln is says, the Philadelphia Ledger, that the "majority should rule." This axiom he is continually repeating on all occasions, when publicly called to address the citizens. In a popular government this rule certainly ought to be a sound one; being recognized as one of its fundamental principles. But it is singular that Mr. Lincoln and his friends both fail to recognize the force of this principle practically in their public action. It is a well established fact that the republican party now hold power as a minority party. The returns of the presidential election show that three-fifths of the voters of this country were opposed to his election. The events which have occurred since that election have tended to increase the number of people opposed to the principles of his party. Now all this great majority of the legal voters of the land ask that measures shall be adopted by the republicans which shall quiet the country, and prevent any more states dropping from the Union. It is in the power of the republicans at any moment to put an end to the present state of affairs, so disastrous to the best interests of the country, and so distressing to large bodies of its industrial operatives. A word from Mr. Lincoln himself in favor of compromise measures, would at any moment re-establish confidence, and restore amity and good feeling.

But, so far, there is not the least approach towards conciliatory measures. In congress nothing but force bills is talked of, which are proper enough in their place, but ought to follow, and not precede conciliatory action; nothing is proposed to settle the present difficulties, and, from all appearances, will not be. Even in the congress, met for peace purposes, the ultra republicans oppose any satisfactory compromise, and fears are strongly expressed that nothing will grow out of that congress likely to heal the present troubles. Therefore, practically, Mr. Lincoln and his party ignore the principle which they profess should be the governing one. The majority are denied their wishes. So far from ruling they are powerless, as if they had no voice at all in the government. The two-fifths minority hold them in subjection entirely to their will. Either Mr. Lincoln should cease to exalt the majority principle as the controlling one, or he should at once conform his action to his principles, and ask of his party to yield to the demands of the people, and go for compromise.