Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-12-06
I. RrspoNsrsLE MINISTRY.

RESPONSIBLE MINISTRY.
The New York Herald in very ably
written article urges the absolute neces-
sity OF such an amendment to the Con-
s,itution, that the Cabinet shall be d.
rectly responsible to Congress. The
Herald says, and very truly, that since
the close of the war. that the President
has been growing stronger and stronger
more and more autocratic. The same
with the Senate. it is rapidly merging
into a downright olisarcby. seizing'
holding and maintaining executive pow
ar REGARDLESS of the wishes OF the people,
whom they should represent and not
defv. OF the increasing and dangerous
power which the incumbent Of the presi-
Dental chair possesses, there is no more
striking proof than is daily being pre-
sented BY the Southern States. All dis
putes, disagreements or disturbances are
a. once appealed to the White House.
and the aietnn OF its occupant is as ap-
solute and as effective "a tne "Aase Of
the Car. Such q condition Of things
can hardly be called republican, in fact,
to call things by their right names, it Is
not only not republican but is imperial
ism and nothing else. The same with
the Senate, the members of this body
are not elected directly by the people
and also hold for long terms, and ire
auently act in direct defiance to thu
wishes OF their constituency. Aided b!
Chief Magistrate that would act II
unity with them, they could utterly de
feat and defy the more popular branch Of
the Legislature, the only hold the latter
would have being the control of the
supplies. The political horizon OF the
day presents the very singular spectacle
of q Cabinet, a Senate and House of
Representatives, in direct antagonism to
the wishes of great majority of the
American people as expressed at the bal
lot box in last November. The theory
Of our government is that the people
rules; but at the present time
it is evident it is not the people who
rules, but a Cabinet and Senate and q
Congress, of which the people have SOL
EMMY and formerly expressed its disap-
approval. Not only that, but We daily
hear that plottings, cabals and conspira'
cies are going on among these very mer
to defeat. ignore and entirely controverl
the distinct expression of the peoples
desires. Lobby schemes are boldly be-
ing pushed. and vicious legislation pro-
posed, against all Of which the country
has Just set an emphatic mark of disap-
proval. But no matter, there
are these ministers and represen-
tative still holding their power
and doing IS they and not as the people
pleases. Who then will rule the United
States of America for the next few
months. Why the very men from whom
the people have withdrawn their conf.
dence, but cannot dislodge. As the New
York Herald remarks. the theory and
practice of a responsible ministry is bet
ter than this. Then the ruling power o
the country must then be in harmon.
with q majority Of the electors, or it can
not stand. In Great Britain the minis
try of the day is responsible to and mus
command working majority in tn
House of Commons. II it does not it,
members at once resign. By this mean
the people really rule, but in our system
we find the singular anomaly of not onl.
ministry which is not in accordance
with majority of the citizens OF tn,
citizens of this country, but also tn
popular branch Of the Legislature
Therefore, to carry out the Herald sug
gestion, Of having government whicl
really represented the people, and not
mere clique of shoddy sharks and specu
lators, the Cabinet should not only b
directly responsible to and command
majority in the House, but the Hous
itself should not be allowed to me,
when it has lost the confidence of Il
people, and another had been elected
fill its place. This short session of a
outgoing Congress is always q season {
peril and alarm for the country, bu
never more than at the present time. l
any point of view it is time that til
government was compelled to mold itsel
according to the wishes of the governed
and not as it appears likely the presen
one will do. deliberately disregard th
public will, Of which they should be tb