Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-28
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS AND
SONS.

SONS.
The Portland Press thinks the case OF
the difficulty in Louisiana over the office
of Governor, the term of which is foul
wears in that State, has but little relevancy
to the matter of biennial elections and SEES.
sions, now being considered in this State
because we have q better civilization than
that in Louisiana. We think the most oil
our readers understood the purport of the
suggestion which we made. 1t was that
if The Governor of Louisiana were elected
annually instead of quadrennially, the dill
ficulty about the election Of 1872, and all
the other difficulties following in the train
of the first, would probably have been set
tied peaceably before this time. We spoke
of this case because it is one conspicuous
ly before the public, and because it seem:
to us to bear directly and forcibly on the
question now under consideration in thi:
State, whether we shall reduce the fire
quency of cur elections and increase the
term of Office of members of the legisla
ture and Slate officers. or continue then
rs they are now established.
1t is said that annual elections agitatt
the people too frequently and too much
and that they are expensive. Have the
people of Maine or Massachusetts beer
more excited on political subjects the last
two years than the people of Louisiana
Not man has been harmed in Maine OF
Massachusetts, since 1872 because of poll
tics, while in Louisiana thousands have
been killed. AS to expense, Louisiana
has suffered immensely more for the want
of annual elections of Governor than the
cost of annual elections to Maine and Mas
sachusetts. Anarchy costs far more to
any people than good government. 1t
may be said that Louisiana is an extreme
and exceptional case, owing to the pecu-
liar state of society existing there. but that
makes no less true or important the fact
that the quadrennial election of Governor
is weakness in the State constitution. Ii
is extreme cases which test constitutions,
as it is in storms that the strength of YES
sells is proved. LII fair weather pooI
craft will answer for navigation bnt the
first tempest sends it to the bottom.
1t is an old saying "that where annual
elections end tyranny begins" As the dis
lance between the officer and the people in
creases, SO grows the danger of misgov-
eminent. A close review of the admins
tration of State affairs every year in a po-
iiiical campaign is the best prompter to
honesty and efficiency in the government.
Annual elections afford the opportunity to
displace incompetent or bad officials, or
public sentiment upon political questions,
while AT the same time they do not dehar
the continuation Of such officials AS il is
desirable 10 retain in Office Il longer tine,
since they may he reelected.
As to annual sessions of the legislature,
they are SO important that the people will
he very unwilling TO give them up. Once
year i, none too often tor the represen.
iitives Of the people To assemble for max
ing and amending the laws under which
they are to live. New subjects for legis.
lation are continually arising, and for the
people 10 tic their hands so that they can
only act upon them once in two years is
unwisc. Defects arc fourd in laws for
which remedies are required, but none can
be applied under the biennial plan
until the two years between sessions
have elapsed Thus we should be COM
PEELED to live under imperfect laws
and without new laws required by
new conditions or circumstances. longer
period, simply bocaUse we have prohibit
ted ourselves using within The year the
means of correciion-the power Of legis-
lation. True, the Governor may call the
legislature together il he chooses, but it is
only in some great emtrS ncA iiat the
Executive will take such step. For the
common affairs of the State he will never
summon the legislature 10 assemble, and
not to blame either, for if the people de-
liberately tie their own hands by putting
it in the constitution that they will have
only biennial sessions, the Go, ernor ought
not to be expected to restore them the
privilege which they have declared they
ill not have.
In our State the matter of representa-
ton as it would exist with biennial ses-
sions is worthy of serious attention. The
In the Legislature would
be elected for Two years. Now the greater
part of our towns are SO small that bu
-ew of them are entitled alone 10 a repre-
sentative. They are classed together and
,ach by turns has the representative sup
rose three towns Of equal population form
LOT.