The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-19
srxRxx OF rHn PRESS.
Editorial Opinions ofthe Leading Journals
upon Current opics-Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
EASTERN AND WESTERN POLITICIANS.

EASTERN AND WESTERN POLITICIANS.
From the NJ Y. Times
The Buffalo EGpresS calls attention, and
with much lamentation, to the contrast pre-
scented by the efforts of the people of Illi-
nois to amend their Constitution and those
made by the unhappy citizens of New York
two years ago. The contrast is, indeed, suffi-
ciently humiliating. We got our Constitu-
tional Convention together with as much
fuss as the Illinois men, if not with more,
as our facilities of calling the attention of
mankind to our doings are far greater than
those of any Western State. We sent
to it as delegates a great many excel
lent and eminent men; but it proved
very helpless body. 1t could hardly
agree on anything; its reforms were of the
very mildest kind. Some of those who went
there, pledged to deliver the State from all
its evils, we're found, on trial, to be afraid to
vote for any change whatever, and were in
deed apparently in doubt, all through the de-
iberations whether their souls we're their
own. The Constitution they finally drew up
was considered, as reform, as harmless as
new milk. 1t could not have hurt a COM
munity of babes to have tried it. But when
it was submitted to the people, it was found
that there was scarcely enough interest felt
to get o vote on it at all; and what interest
was felt in it appears to have belonged
mainly to those who were opposed to all
change. The judiciary clause, on which,
luckily, a separate vote was ordered, was
saved, but rather owing to the over-conf-
dence of its opponents than to the zeal of its
friends.
When we compare all this with the action
of Illinois, we can certainly hardly avoid the
conclusion that mental and moral vigor has
been following the march of empire, and that
the work of reform, like many other kinds of
work, is going to be better done in the Mis-
sissippi Valley than on the Atlantic coast.
New York led the way in the great demo-
cratic movement which resulted in the Con-
stitution of 1916, under which we are now
living, and her example was followed by
great many States But what State would
follow her example now, or where is her
political action spoken of except as
warning? Illinois was, perhaps, year
ago laboring under as great load of abuses
as any State in the Union. Its very vitals
were being eaten out by what are the
curses of all States-legislative corruption,
special legislation, and the granting of public
money in aid of private enterprises. 1t called
Constitutional Convention, and sent good
men to it; and the debates, instead of being
series of wranges between tricky politi-
cians, anxious about their record, and so
excited about ''the nigger" as to have little
time or attention for anything, or of orations
from 'lofty enthusiasts" were marked by
good sense, shrewdness, reflection, fore
sight and Wilderness of information
such as have not been displayed in this
country on any similar occasion for
many a long day. Moreover, nobody was
afraid to touch things. Abuses were taken
up one after another, and subjected to radi-
cal treatment. There are no half measures
in the entire Constitution. The experience
not only Of the State, and of the other States
but of all other nations, was turned to account,
and the result was just law, which thus far
has no match. 1t is difficult to overestimate
the Importance of one portion of the expert
ment-the minority representation clause
Should it prove on trial a success-that is,
should the political tricksters prove unable to
use it in the prosecution of their trckery-it
is safe to say it will bring in a new era in
American politics, and introduce into public
life a class of men who are among the most
valuable in the community, and who now find
it impossible to get nomination.
Now, the instrument was just such one
as any average politician would have been
sure to tell us that the people would reject
1t was full of innovations and new-fangled
notions; it offended great many interests,
and ran counter to great many prejudices,
and took from the hands of political mana
gers great many dearly loved tools. In any
State on the Eastern sea-board it would, we
venture to say, have been voted down. and it
WOulu nave tak6n only very buall vote TO
do it, so great would have been the apathy
about it, or the fear of It. But the people of
Illinois went at it, and adopted it from top to
bottom, minority representation and all, by
large majority, and now bid defiance to all
classes of jobbers and swindlers at present in
existence. New ones will doubtless arise, but
we venture to say they have found their
match in Illinois.
We think it would be difficult to overesti-
mate the effect this will have on the people of
other States. 1t will do much to remove the
apathy as to reform which the doings of the
New York Constitutional Convention and of
the Massachusetts, Legislature have of late
helped to spread over the East. A feeling
has grown up among us of late that the pro-
cess of decentralization which our constitu-
tions underwent in 1916, and the succeeding
years, was q kind of last appeal to the people,
and that this having failed, there was nothing
left for us but to pray; that there was no use
in trying to get the people to set things to
rights. Illinois has, we trust dissipated that
delusion, and shown that in democracy, as
well as under other forms of government
nay, more readily than under other forms OF
government-thorough-g going reform is pos
sible.
1t seems, too, as if the good beef and good
bread and good air of the Northwest were
making men better politicians, as we'll as
more energetic farmers and railroad men anG
spectators. One can hardly help noticing
among the Eastern, as compared with thf
Western men, decrepid love of old way
and a kind of servile fancy for well-estab
lished abuses. Even Eastern radicals ar,
either weak and vapid in their extravaganza
or exhale their zeal in vituperation and bom
bast rather than in action. Let us be thank
full that there is good rich blood forming