The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-26

tu.ttd 49, 49,. sal y4I~.4ea - ..''Sii'
Of legislative corruption by. Astonishing w, Ia
possibility of private legislation, VIVA
the legislature does or grants II must theI
do or grant only by genera law, equali.
open for and applicable TO all cltlZehs' s.
that each citizen shall gam no more by
than the others may, ana thus Is Wlthou
rreater inducement for its passage.
: The two great political parties are nov
disnuting in Pennsylvania for the cred
II of this reform, and yet, by whomso
ever effected, it was reform in strict pur'
ance of democratic principles. Constitu
tional government-that is, government
according to fundamental law by which
the discretion of the legislature shall be SC
limited as to preserve inviolate certain
personal rights-was always the purest
democratic doctrine. We need only to
apply that principle to the existing condi-
ton of affairs to secure true reform. How
great such reform is needed in this state
all know. Would it not, therefore, be
timely and wise for the Democratic party
to take definite ground for it now, and pre-
sent it as one plank Of its platform for the
coming election?
But what is needed for the state is need
ed for the Federal government as well.
Congress has been less corrupt than the
state legislatures, because dealing mainly
with general and public and less with local
and private legislation. But year by year
the range of its legislation increases. 1t
is beginning to charter corporations, to
grant monopolies, to bestow special priv
leges. Having taken control Of all the
money and banking institutions OF the
it is now urged to take charge or
all its other business. To continue this
course without restriction is to follow
road leading to corruption and destruction,
since it pursued it must IN, the
end unite upon congress all the
demorallzing and corruptng influences
of the country. Already nearly one-thlrd
of the time # congress is spent upon pr
vale bills. Many Of them are, indeed, Tor
claims against the government itself; but
in almost any other great government
any person having claim against 1t can
prosecute his government and recover OF 1t
in open court according to the justice OF
his case. Yei, in the United States pay
ment of claims with few EXCEPTIONS Is
wholly dependent upon the will OF the leg
;slature. And yet congress must neces-
sarily be the worst possible tribunal to de-
| termiue such matters and 50 as no other
| is provided it cannot but result, as now,
that lust claims will 60 for years or forever
without payment and that others, txces-
sive in amount or without any merit what
eyer, will be allowed while the pressure
| for the allowance Of claims IS constant
| influence for evil. Surely some constltu.
tional PROVISION which shall make the obi
! CATION of contracts invioable by congress,
authorize public courts t. determine all
claims against the government, forbid all
gratuities and subsidies whatever, prevent
the granting by congress OF monopoller
and forbid its charteriug OF corporation,
to carry on business within the states ha>
come to be needed. Aud since there be
honest men who fear a reopening of the is
sues Of the past, il an effort be made tC
prevent these evils by strict construction
Of the Federal constitution, and since the
t strictest construction OF that constitution
t would not certainly and wholly proven
t them, let rs meet their apprehension by
, seeking such changes in the constitution it
self, either by revision or amendment o
r that instrument as shah certainly secur,
the country against these increasing dan
gers.
| Undoubtedly the constitution is to b.
maintained. 1t is u high and solemn com
, Confined ON third Dage.l