National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-03
OUR FUTURE GOVERNMENT
THE PLAN MR.. WILLIAM DICKSON
PROPOSES.

REGULATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION,
BOARDS OF HEALTH AND POLICE-PUB-
Lie SCHOOLS AND THE FUTURE OF THE
DISTRICT.
One of the objects in publishing this series
Of interviews with prominent citizens on the
subject of our future government is to let
every shade Of public opinion have its true
colortng in the columns Of The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN. Mr.. William Dickson, whose
views are presented this morning, is repre-
sentative Of the young and progressive Democ-
racy of the country-one who, while he holds
fast to the fundamental tenets Of the Demo
cratic party, admits its errors, and strives for
the adoption by it Of advanced ideas and pa
triotic measures. During Mr.. Dickson's resi-
dence in Washington of twelve or thirteen
years he has steadily gone forward in public
estimation as a man Of prudence, sagacity and
integrity, and among the young men OF the
city he is held in special regard. Last evening
a reporter of The NATIoNA1 REPUBLICAN
took a sail down the river with Mr.. Dickson In
the yacht Americas, and while on the trip the
following conversation was held:
MR.. DICKsoN's VIEWS.
TIE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN. eve think
your ideas on the subject Of our future govern
ment will be interesting, and if you'll talk a
little wen take them down"
Mr.. Dickson. "While hardly think that any
views may entertain will have a bearing upon
the subject, (for Congressional committees,
holding sessions at Saratoga in racing season,
will be apt to get through their labors in fast
tim y still you are welcome to my opinions,
based upon what little experience and knowl-
edge have had of the workings Of our late
municipal and territorial governments"
"Then you look upon our former govern
ments as experiments %
every stepin the onward march Of improve
ment by the human race is regarded as an lex
periment'-aud the present is most emphatic
ally an age OF experiments-whilet the District
Of Conmbia is a national propagating garden,
in which sprouts forth all the ills that party
necessity produces"
eyes, but what do you think Of the old cor
porationsl"
1.-THE old corporations under former mayors,
with their divided responsibilities, were a de-
cided failure, and the late territorial govern
ment is condemned for its recklessness and ex-
travagance, and neither experiments have
proved satisfactory to the communicable
former being too slow and old fogyish, while
the latter was an expensive luxury, with all
the power concentrated IN q Board Of Public
Works, who plunged headOng into system
Of improvements, wooden PsYenents, concrete
crossings and subterranean passages, and
damned the expense"
"What do you regard as a good govern
mentl"
1.-THE best government is that which governs
least, or that in which the governed feel the
least restraint. The capita! city of this repub-
lie should be the freest place on Gods earth,
with government simple in form, and pro-
tecting the interests of ALL rich and poor alike.
In our present condition, with heavy debt to
meet, strong feeling is expressed favorable to
o government Of this District in which the
United States would assume absolute control,
the Congress framing such laws as were
needed for local purposes. This might be well
enough provided the Government would pay
its full proportion of the cost of improving the
capital, and guarantee tho redemption Of all
the varied securities which have been issued " |
"Can you imagine that this idea would be
popularP'
"Such a government would probably be ID
popular, for the reason that the officials com
posing the commission would be selected from
class not directly identified with our interests,
and who would hold their place through the
favor Of the political party in power, aud in
every defeated member Of Congress and dis
charged employee from the Departments you
would find candidate for Office in this District
who had failed in their aspirations elsewhere.
If we could rid ourselves of this partisan inhu-
ence, such government might well be advo-
Gated and would meet with favor; but as long
as Washington is regarded as political centre,
and the 'ns' have to provide for constituents
who rendered service at the polls, such con-
summation is impossible. We are now eI-
psriencing the results of a governmental com
mission dd Interim"
'FYou do not mean to say that the Commits
sion has become unpopularl"
"Well, what mean to say is this, that peti-
tons from citizens for relief and delegations
who have called seeking redress and informa-
ton, have been politely informed that the
Commission were in no wise responsible to the
people of the District for their actions, but
were carrying out certain duties vested in them
by Congress, to whom alone they were respon-
sible, and to that body they would report.
Recommendations for place from New York,
Ohio and Missouri will meet with prompt at
tention, while petitions Of similar character,
bearing the autographs of our oldest inhabit-
ants, are consigned to The pigeon-holes in the
desk Of the member from Ohio, or to the coat
tail pocket of the gentleman from New York"
"What are your IDEAS Of sufragep'
''WeIl, as the Dutch. minister said, ret US
shay a few words before we Begin The
largest vote polled in this District was in the
Merrick- Chapman campaign Of 1871. The
registration of that year footed up total of
about q, OOO-eleven thousand colored voters
in a population Of about 10000, equal to one
voter in three and a half, to 5000 white
voters in . population of about $4,000, equal
to about one in five. You beat us in that cleo
ton by depopulating the fishing shores of
Maryland and Virginia, and by pressing the
Government employees through as odd inhab-
itauts.' On the subject of suffrage, do not
favor any measure that will grant exclusive
rights to any class Of citizens. The basis of !
representation throughout our republic is man |
hood. Neither birth, wisdom nor wealth cor |
fers on its PossessOr anezclusive right to select
those in whom the legislation is placed. |
Power emanates from tie people, and it is |
transiently delegated, TO be welded for their |
benefit. The best government Is that whose |
rule Of action is simple Justice 70 all. have |
an abiding confidence IN the virtue, intelligence
and full capacity for self-governmeut of the
great mass Of our Teople, If our laws were
properly framed 70 prevent colonizing and
fraud. The prevailing theoretical doctrine is
the majority shall rule Though the major ]
ity is not always right, probability is in its
favor. This is Democratic dOctr ine, as IN
dersCand it, aud believe It is right. 90 not |
favor any form Of representation which by |
length Of tenure Of delegated power tends to |
weaken that responsibility to the vigilance Of
public opinion, which is the true democratic
principle that should control our institutions -
"Why is the elective franchise so unpopular
herel"
''MRny persons are too apt to condemn
continuance Of the elective franchise in the
District, because our elections in the last few
years were farce little or no interest being
taken by the taxpaying citizens, who in many
instances allowed the elections to 20 by de-
fault, without eXerting themselves TO elect
e1rifa b1a and yvorthv re-rarb,t,4fr-,- IT.. -.