The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-12-27
NEEDED POLITICAL REFORM.

NhhDhD FULIIlOAL hhf
The Ballctnis discoursing very sensi-
bly, upon some much-needed Govern
mental reform. We are particularly
pleased with the views Of that journal
upon the present unwise provisions of
our Electoral College. Why the Presi-
Dental vote may not, when correctly
counted, be made TO apply directly to
the election of the candidate receiving
the majority of the votes of the several
States, has ever been an enigma to our
feminine understanding. One can cas-
lily see the power for good or evil that
is placed in the hands of Presidential
Electors. Suppose, for instance, in the
pending election, when the College shall
convene for the final decision of our
National contest, which has already
been virtually won by the largest pop
ular vote ever granted to a President of
a great people, these Electors should,
many of them, be induced, by the secret
offer of large sums of money or places of
power and trust, TO cast their vote for
lO'Conor and Adams. We all know that
Legislators can be and have been thus
corrupted by interested political wire
pullers, and we have no great reason to
suppose that more rigid self-sacrifeing
virtue exists among Electors at large
than among Legislators of given
State; and we can readily see that
should such contingencies arise as NOR
tails cannot foresee or prevent, by which
a commotion among the Electors would
create unusual excitement over some
newly sprung partisan scheme, there is
neither law nor ethics to prevent the
changing of the Electoral vote in di-
rect violation of the silent mandate of
the great majority of individual voters.
, There is no common sense in the Elec-
q toral idea; consequently its practical
application, in these days of bribery
and corruption, may well be considered
:, doubtful. We sincerely hope the Con-
=. stitution may be so amended as to abol-
!. ish the Electoral College; also the cleo
/. ton of Senators by the State Legisla-
= lures, and the repeal of all appointive
offices; and though the BullctiR's idea
= is not so clear and strong as we could
, wish, yet it augurs a perception of the
I, true Democratic idea of Republican pol
Z itics, and we are glad to notice it.
I Postal telegraphy is another very i'm
portant theme which that journal con-
siders very impartially. We are sorry
- however, that the "little disposition o.
Congress to take action in this matter
- (which the Executive and Postmaster
: General recommended n year ago." doe.
n not receive that scathing rebuke from
n the EDITORS powerful pen which thai
4 Body's culpability deserves. The fac
il would be amusing ifnOt so sadly impor-
% tant, that with the exception of an oc
n casional shining light, the great army
% of our lawmakers, from constable t
10 Congressman, are below the average o
# the intellectual manhood with whicl
J. they are associated at home; conse
Is quentlY they are little disposed TO tax,
/ action in anything important, becaust
% they have not suflicinet brain power t,
: comprehend important ideas. Says th,
~ Bulletin:
-, II is argued that the Government has NJ
III right To enter the domain OF private busincs
o. enterprise and compete with 10, as IL would d
by undertaking the system OF postal tcle
G. graphy. But the answer 10 this is that TIA
- acquisition Of the telegraphs and the trans
10 mission of intelligence thereby Squite as mucl
- within the province OF the Government as tn
= transportation Of the mails. Yet il must b
n admitted that under our mode OF Govcrnmcn
there are solid objections 10 such an enlarge
III ment OF its domain of business and duty. sue
4 a responsibility assumed by the GOvernmen
" would almost necessarily connect the telegraph
system, TO some extent at least, with parrish
politics There would De thousands of en-
ploycS and the whole machinery OF the estal
lishmcnt would be liable 10 fall into the hand
OF party. No civil service that could be devise
would render this impossible.
Reasoning from our present politica
! economy, there is no doubt but tina
;, partisan politics would control the pos
tai telegraph system, just as it now con
trolls the mails. But let all offices nov
: in the gift of the Administration be
come elective, and our system of parti
san patronage would topple over a
once. There would then be no heed +
fear government of the people by tn
, people," but such a Government as ours
as it is to-day understood by all parties
= having the power OF direct representa-
:. ton without the substance thereof, i
= liable at any time to become revolution
:, airy and dangerous.
. We feel that the most importan
:, work, and one calling loudest for tn
:, present consideration of the American
10 people, is the need for a General Con
% vention Of men and women, to form
= new Constitution, in keeping with tn
intellectual, commercial and financia
~. growth Of our present system of finance
,ie transportation, landed estates, tele
AT graphy, postal facilities, representation
.ai and taxation that these shall receiv
ITS that consideration which our necessitie
Is demand, and that scope for broade
>. comprehension of National ethics tina
=, could have been conceived by the origi
= nal trainers of the Federal Bill {
- Rights.
les
b. OUR FTREMEN.