The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-08-06
against the United States be a mem

against the United States be a menu
Der of the General Assembly.
The. veto power, the shield of
reason. against haste and power, gives
the voice of the whole people hear
ing before the mandate of part shall
be law.
4. Cumulative Vottaq. Lord Broug-
ham we'll said that representative
Government is q no lern discovery in
political science. And the ablest
thinkers at home and abroad now seek
to extend the idea so as to give as
nearly as may be representation TO the
whole people. | think this idea is
not introduced into the new Consti-
tuition in quite the best way but il is
there, and even in its imperfect form
will be of great benefit, As to Judges
if the Minority representation is
adopted, it will, in the higher Courts,
give pretty fair expression to the
idea. AS to the Legislature, the re-
form is less complete, but the difficult
ties of introducing the system were
greater. But even as it is, ii is an inn
provement. At first sight it looks an
fair to certain counties, but it is not
so, all things considered. Hamilton
and Cuyahoga counties conld hardly
!
a new organic law would be willing
| TO give them, with preponderatfng
power in the General Assembly
amounting almost to an "imperium in
| imperio" = that consolidated unity
which the majority rule now gives.
| The other counties might Justly in
sist on single districts. AS an alter
native, cumulative voting was wisely
! adopted by the Convention. And,
Notwithstanding it looks at the pres
ent moment as though it may operate
temporarily in favor of one or anOth-
er political party, we ought all to re-
member that political parties are very
mutable and all attempt-
ed constitutional guarantees of their
power are not only generally mischiev-
GUS, but, like Arab curses, often ''come
home to roost.' 1t may be very fiat
tering to the vanity of local poten-
tate in a large county to WELD a cast
ing vote, but it often endangers his
cherished schemes by concentrating
opposition to what is so likely TO be-
come, or thought to be, dictatorial ar
rogance. A sense of fairness is not
/ always excluded even amidst the wires
of politics. But above all other con-
siderations, minority representation is
Just and right. Political power is not
inherent in the majority; il resides in
the whole people, and as nearly as
possible political arrangements should
give voice to the whole. Let any cit
izen live, as / have done, where for
twenty years, counting all officers
elected, he has not voted for one sue
cessfuI candidate out of hundreds
chosen, and he may begin to appreci-
ate the practical Acknowledgement of
the majority rule.
5. q BtennidI Elect6ons.-This is an
important change for the better, not
only in fixing the time in November
in this climate, but in saving the
trouble of two elections the same
year, especially in Presidential years,
when the State elections in October
are made 10 turn wholly on national
issues, because they are finger-boards
pointing the road to national results
in November, And the change is
wise, too, because the Union and the
State should have equal place in the
affections ofthe citizen, and he should
be taught to feel that they are co-or-
dinate but separate arms of the same
double-headed government.
6. MunScspdE and PriUate COq,0O-
thrown. round these institutions, if not
another change was made, entitle the
new Constitution to adoption. Mu-
nicipal taxation, the abuse of which
has been q crying evil, is wisely regu-
lated and limited, and the numerous
checks to the vast and growing power
of private corporations, especially
railroads, are demanded not only by
public sentiment. but by the best in
terests of these corporations them
selves. Foreign corporations are made
fully amenable to our own laws, aud
old special charters and privileges are
definitely prohibited, (Article II, Sec.
81 and all railroad and other coFpo-
rations brought under the impartial
dominion of general laws. Besides,
shareholders are enabled by cumula-
tive system of voting TO protect the
interests of minorities and small
stockholders from the combinations
of aggregated capital. Railroads are
great benefits to the State, and should
not only be treated In a generous spir-
it, but corrected even, if that be nee
essary, with a loving hand. But their
powers should be guarded with watch
full vigilance, as, indeed, should all
the accumulations of power.
z. Judiciary Art5cle.-But, above
all the other changes, the new judicial
system most deserves adoption. 1t is
not what l would have made it-in
such a manner magnanimity is not to
be expected. But the old system has
in practice proved essentially a failure
and some changes must be made, or
the wheels of Justice, at least in the
Supreme Court, will become SO
blocked up as not to revolye during
the lives of the first litigants. Al
ready four years behind, where would
it be in ten years more? Under the
new system all Courts will, in effect,
Except the Supreme Court and the
Probate Courts have such lurisdic-
ton, original and appellate, inferior
to the Supreme Court, as shalt be con-
ferred by law, The system is COM
pletely flexible both as to the number
of Judges and the extent of their iuris-
diction, with the Limitations already
named, and may be nodded to the
wants of the people as occasion may
REQUIRE. Ofcourse Courts themselves
cannot be abolished without cOnsti-
tutional amendment, but in most other
respects they are potteR's clay i'm the
hands of TIM Legislature. That body
may make the system most effective
one. We have TO trust 10 its wisdom,
assured that folly itself could hardly
make worse system, as now admin
istered, than the present one. The
danger is that the Circuit Court will
overloaded ii that is mol done the
judicial machine will revolve smooth
ly. Then the Commissions provided
for, and The temporary Judges author-
lied, will prevent delay elsewhere
Again. the Judges serve for longer
terms, and this will secure greater sta
bility and efficiency, and will be like
ly to command greater experience and
ability on all the benches. While
short terms and frequent elections
may better secure the observance of
the popular will in the law-maKing
power, the. Judiciary should be with
drawn from tho too oft repeated ex-
citementS of an election canvass. For
these and number of other reasons
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