Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-09-03
Ght 0rfgon 8epub.i au.
COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.
Our Third Reform.

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particular form of government must
observe certain rules, fundamental
among which is the great natural law
of race, fixed by deity himself. This
rule will be found infalllble, whatever
may be taken as a starting point; for,
if any particular race Of men shall or
ganize government, no matter what
its form may be. and receive into their
connsels, as political equals, all other
races, the experiment will be failure
In less than Que fourth of o century
and if any considerable portion Of
the several RACES Of men upon the
earth should attempt, in conjunction, to
organize governmont,in in any form. we
venture the opinion that the effort
would be signal failure, and that even
before fundamental law could be estab
: lished, upon which to organize, the re-
suit would be anarchy.
Another rule which they must
observe, not less in Importance, is
this: Immediately upon the establish
ment of any government, after first
strictly observing the rule above laid
down, the people who organize it must
make and continue to make, as they IN
crease 10 numbers and wealth, such
amendments and alterations in their first
and fundamental law as will tend di,
Tectly to the perpetuity OF the form of
government they are desirous of estab-
fishing; for, if they shall, for any con-
siderable length of time, neglect those
matters which most concern them IN
national point Of view, and shall spend
their time legislatlng concerning mat
tsfs OF minor Importance, or in effect
ing changes In their government which
has q direct tendency to another and
different form, the experiment will
still be a failure, for if the efforts of
any people are crowned with success.
they must go on to perfection in the
form of government they desire to es-
tablish. But the objector says you nre
opposed to progress. No, sir; We fa>
yor progress; but what We claim Is,
that progress must be in the right di-
rection. A man or people may make
progress in wickedness and corruption
as we'll as in righteousness and virtue,
and the great question to day with the
American people is not whether We are
progressing or rctrograding, but, admit.
ting the fact that we are progressing,
the question is are we progressing in
the right direction Progress is to
move forward Are We politically
going in the right direction, which will
finally establish Republican institutions
upon firm basis so that We can trans
mi. them to our posterity, feeling an
abiding confidence in their perpetuity ?
We hold that no republic can be es-
tahiished and remain unless the people
who attempt to establish it shall direct
ly govern. The republic of Ragusa,
situated on the shores OF the Adriatic,
remained for more than a thousand
years, but the, people were so jealons
Of their rights that they elected their
chief magistrate annually, and when at
length they permitted the executive
branch of the government to perpet-
pate itself in power, at the expense oi
the total abolition of the legislative
branch, the republic soon fell-no more
10 rise. Our republic 10, also, an ex-
pertinent, and we have started out with
the popular idea that the people who
= established the government should gov
ern it, and in such manner that the
will of the majority shall not be thwart
ed. Now, if this idea and system is te
be carried out and perfected, then, We
say, the people must reform their Con.
stitution 80 that they can vote directl,
for Preailept and Vice President d
the United States, and for mep to fl
pill other important Offices. and IL il
high time this most important reform
was effected. If this were done, ther
no man could act as the servant Of tn
people who was not of their choice
but nov, under the law as it stands,
man for President of the United State
who has received majority Of th
electoral vote. may hold that Office fou
Al L., ,,.4n