“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 8

“The Press” In 1866

June 19 MINISTERS.—We are very glad to see that the question to which we have frequently called attention in these columns is at last beginning to obtain notice in other quarters—the question, are Ministers responsible at all? No man is responsible for anything unless ' he is liable for the results of his I conduct But are Colonial Ministers I liable? It is said that they lose their I places if they act contrary to law; but 1 does that follow? It would seem, not ■ always. Victoria has recently afforded K us an example of Ministers who were

guilty of the most gross and shameless violation of the law—of conduct which in private transaction would have been fraudulent—and yet who were backed up in their conduct by a considerable majority of the popular Assembly. Those who imagine that liberty rests on absolutely popular institutions are strangely ignorant of Hie science and history of government Popular institutions form one of the safeguards of liberty. They protect liberty against invasion by despotic power in the ruler, but they do not protect it against invasion by a majority of the people thyiselves.