The Minority
group · 2 works · 2 mentions · 6 anchored passages
the minority · a determined minority · minorities · the weaker party
in the texts
An Essay on the Trial by Jury
The numerically smaller political party whose rights the essay argues must be protected by a veto.
Unless the weaker party have a veto, either upon the making, or the enforcement of laws, they have no power whatever in the government, and can of course have no liberties except such as the stronger party, in their arbitrary discretion, see fit to permit them to enjoy.
In England and the United States, the trial by jury is the only institution that gives the weaker party any veto upon the power of the stronger.
But, it may be asked, how can the minority be trusted to enforce even such legislation as is equal and just?
Law in a Free State
The numerical minority within a political community, whose capacity to resist and defy majorities is discussed.
In cases where the issue depends on the number of heads, and is pre-detennined in favour of the majority, it is no doubt wise and desirable to avoid violence by ascertaining and submitting to the inevitable, but we know very well that minorities are not necessarily doomed to defeat in their struggle with majorities under the present conditions rind means of warfare.
We advise majorities, for their own sakes, not to bring the minorities to bay.
Similarly, if a determined minority show their teeth;