Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-02-28
THE HER AID
mlw c1aasrarCws G4cwAa
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 20. 1916.
rur, rEw CONSTITUTION.

We md that, upon tle supJec. " q" 49,
isa judiciary, we differ from our friend, the
editor of the Burlington Gazette. who is will
ing that Judges should be nominated BY The
Governor and confirmed by the Senate. A.
csinsi such method Of appointment we beg
leave, for reasons explicitly stated in our last
20 entsr our earnest proies,a,ion. We believe
that. 10 wha, we have written upon this sub.
iect. we have but reflected the opinions OF a
large majority of the people Of Iowa--we con-
slider the position we have assumed perfectly
lbs, and tenab,e--and we sincerely believe
that, unless provision for an elective Judiciary
be made in the new Constitution, the wishes
Of the people Of Iowa, upon this subject, Will
be sadly misrepresensed. We entertain the
settled conviction that practical recognition
or the people as the only source Of power,
due regard for their rights and decent re-
spec. for their intelligence, should each and
all, combine 10 give TO the people the election
ofthose who serve them in official stations.
Another inducement, and to our minds strong
one, for giving TO the people the election OF
their Judges, is the material effect 1t will have
IN cur,ailng tie patronage Of the Executive.
We consider the existence Of such patronage
a sure and unfailng source Of intrigue. dis.
honesty and corruption, which are the only
means Of supply Of "daiIy bTead"'o set OF
drouish, incompetent and worthless dema-
pogues who are always found pollu'ing the
purlieus Of the Capitol by their presence, and
ready 10 pick up the crumbs which fall from
The Executive table, with the mos, fawnins
hypocrisy and cringing subserviency. We
wonld have none Of the corrupt and degraded
parasites Of Executive power quar'ered upon
the people to extor. from their hard earnings
livelihood they are too indolen. or too igno'
ran, to obtain directly from the people them
selves. We are opposed TO allowing the
Governor the privilege Of quar'cring his para
sites and official favor,es on the Peop'e--and,
70 the full ex,en, Of our humble ability, we
shall continue TO advocate the necessity Of en-.
trely drying up that fountain Of corruption
known as "Execu.ive Patronage" and com.
plying with The true teaching Of the democrat.
ic faith, by giving TO the people the election
of their public servants. The sentiment that
.,hs farther all power is removed from the
people, the BETTER" though it might have
answered well as a maxim Of federal legisla.
zion. should find no response in the hearts OF
dsmocrats-,here should be no trace Of its ex-
is,ence in democratic, or "reople's" Constr
tuition. In such an instrument power must be
brought home TO the people, net removed from
them. In this country, and under this gov
eminent, they are the only sovereisns, and
thew must be recognized az such, else there
will be wide departure from the fundamental
principles Of our faith.
Political consistency is, indeed, a priceless
level, and one which it well becomes The dem.
ocra,ic party to sacredly enshrine in the cask-
g. Of The new Constitution. Ia that depos:o-
~ it should shine with no dimmed and faded
lustre, hut i, should burn and sparkle there in
oil the brightness and purity Of unveiled
Truth--wth no stain upon its surface. no spot
Upon is beauty. And in order thus to en-.
shrine this jewel, consistency, and preserve
ito native freshness and purity, the democratic
party mus. diffuse power among the people.
no, concentrate it in the hands Of the Execu.
tive and his favorites. The down.,rodden
masses Of England orce knew-and know
now--,he full meaning Of the term "royal
preroga,ve." II means the existence in the
Sovereign. Of rights. privileges and powers,
which do not Of right belong TO the people. and
upon which the people must never encroach. 10
wres. portion Of i,s enormous powers and
privileges from the crown, and bessow them
upon the oppressed people, has been the OBJ
g jecs OF many OF those civil wars in England
which have shakeo the stability Of the British
.ksose. cad sr'iafgel lhe sawe,s efshspeapls.s
"Royal -prsrogative," in monarchies, 10 the
main pillar of the ,hfone-in republics it Is
slike inimical and dangerous to the civil
rights Of the people. We say in republics,
because we fancy it requires no over.nice dis.
cerner Of Notwithstanding more than the
eye Of most common observer--to detect,
in the patronage usually lef. in the hands Of
the Governors Of our States, a concentration
Of power, a means Of intrigue and corruption,
and the promotion Of selfish purposes, too
closely allied 10 the royal preroga.ive Of Kings
to DO in consistency with the true principles
Of the democratic faith, or promote the happi.
ness and liberties Of The people. The Execu.
tive patronage Of Governors is, in fact, the
royal p:.eroga,ive Of Kings, modified by