New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-20
FUTILE ENACTMENTS.

provide for.
FUTILE ENACTMENTS.
The proposition have laid down that institutions ana
political arrangements cannot he arbitrarily created
dpds its proof also In the attempts which the Consitu-
onmakers did make TO foreSee political eXigehcies anu
10 provide them by special devices Most OF 'hese
were devices against democracy. Every one OF them
has been brought To naught. The fathers never IN
tended TO have the President elected by grand demo
cratic pi6biSeik. They under impressions when
were hostile 10 democracy They would have held any
snch project dangerous IL practicable, and they WOhu
not have Judged likely to produce good selection
They adopted the device OF the electoral college TO ue
vent this the fourth election. the first one at whch
there real contest their plan broke down. III was
amended in detail hut in its subsequent working mass
of tradition and unwriten law has grown up upon IL
which has made It accomplish only under State limita-
TONS Just what they meant to prevent 30 lnpossip"
Is for law makers foresee the operation OF arbitrary
constitutional provisions or to set any letters 70 t"
Volopmeut OF the natural forces which lie IN Inc genius
the circumstances OF the nation: ., e.,
senator, a recent publication, mas expressed uie
opinion that tho IN these antieno
Sf fser cie g failed He also saws that is not the
people who wanted changes, but the philosophers
the trouble do not trust myself 10 solve the hard
questions. When ANY number OF us aie added lse,ler
folly and ignorance are added as wei as our WISDOM
and knOwledec The people no mysterious cnti anu
numbers have force where ideas are concerned We
thrown back upon The necessity OF bringing reason
and judgment TO bear upon those tasks ana lrobehls
which not physical IN their nature THIS b3wsser
is just whore started, and when We nave asked INC
people for an answer We have only asked oniSenfs
are always questions what shall dc II is We the
bear The consequences Therefore talk about trusting
ourselves Is to use meaningless phrases
There is in the Town democracy no government, prop
.Tly speaking There no institutions on tie lnsttu-
OF parliamentary character Ihe oihceIs
are only administrative tunctOnagles. Their powers
are closely defined ana limited Ih'S aet u ,a
immediate direction. They exercise routine lunc-
tons They have initiative and little discretion The
initiative lies in the town meeting, with the niN uua clt-
izen That body also retains m ls own hahus NE "hoe
formative process, and acts by committees Wheh II Is
necessary 90 frame measures, WREN thc mass lneeLns
cannot conveniently 40 Inc execution vi Sleolat @
taknas rs also ntrUsted 10 committees OF commissions
created FOR the purpose
DEMOCRACY IN CITIES.
This arrangement well adapted for small and sim
pie community where public duties light where the
occupations and interests substantially Tho same ana
equal where the population Is homogeneous, ana where
responsibility the public opinion OF ne'ghbors and
friends great, because universal observation I"o"s
every public detail. soon, however, the town IL
CleaseS in mere physical size, difficulties arise "iich
multiply rapidly as the increase goes on large
town has large town meeting Inc dVisOh OF
labor and the Introduction OF diverse occupations break
up the old simplicity and uniformity. The requirements
of large population spot Of ground increase so
rapidly that public affairs become lar more important
Universal acquaintance longer exists among all towns
supervision is not close or continuous anu lo-
sponsibty declines. As soon therefore, aS the Town
meeting a certain size becomes an arena Tor
clucaneIy and faction. Busy citizens cunol attend so rs
10 MAKE the meeting ful, and tine opportunity iOr pach
ing" a meeting is offered The town Is. therefore the
pose which s determined 10 accomplish PRIVATE anu
special interests ma an arena OF cDhl,ct ~ tas Town
cepon public interest Is lost The notion that the
people desire only Tie public good ana that we nSt9
Tor, is delightful political dogma winch u wond ne
pleasant believe but winch Is conradicled by the OBJ
servation OF town dcmOuaces. The people do not posi-
lively want what is for the pubic good ILol want, im
positive and active sense, what Is Tor th, interest IEJ
vague and benevolent preference for tue pubic goOd
which feel when then own interests are moi M
work. and conflict Hence the public interest needs
guarantees in constitutions institutions, popular llJh
diocs, and III the character oi l9he mon whose ~
taton and pTosS, ioial s9ccoss iic III 81 Vi ,u
things aud is. therefore at the mercy OF private lhle
ests
In such political system, skill in party warfare be-
comes most highly priced political ability Tie tai
cuts which the valuable knowledge OF lael
and shreWdnoss in managing them. The struggle for
nai0rtos becomes conflict in which there Is nothing
10 temper the arbitrary will of the yctor and in which
no rights arc recognized to the vauquished
aie openly rccog ized, the results be
iates,C1 I'm farf the rsf rconsc i'm leader is that
he shall dcpreca,e leadership lie must at lc 10 icgn
In0desty TO that Ac wants Office l. 30 condemn tc
candidate 40 one may oler himself The surascs Of
his icow-cizens simply because ne Thinks That Do
serve them. and Is willing TO abide by ticir decision
whether they Jihnk too or not such action which Is
open. honest, and honorable, seems esoise ad the
candidate driven 10 secret lnancuvcrs and 20 ~ o
criucal professions In ilkr manner man VINO Shows
independent zeal IN pubic atiis Is thought 10 lit NM
presuniIg wealth, or education, on position FINALLY,
may De added Thai Town deGocracies always develop
in the conduct Of public or political conflicts. .
The first step IN advance, therefore, consists III TIE
adoption of representative government moi ln IT'S lil-
ness separate political Organization but as make
shiit 90 avoid the difficulties which come iou pL, cu
size. This is The representative demOuaoy The repre-
sentative of democracy, however, j. ohy a0oi.saie
,TcseItatNe is properly il1n selected because Ae
represents. and hc endowed with independence ana
responsibility. The deieeae OF democracy ls ah agent
specific uutF. Tie dcmOciacy docs not
with its sovereignty 10 the delegates, nor leave ihtn 60
Use its sovereignty for IT, 10 binds them ny leses IL
claims TO control them 10y instructions. Ine delegates
are agents OF local and other interests They Mc sent
lAtO AN arena Nhele iil rests are sos OF "'I' I'D A-n
for particular ones. They 80 NOT, therefore, form great
council ot the naron bat body al struggling ana
ecUIruiGE attorneys The pubic interest ls vague ANA
uudciul4e notion which finds little expression among
them ard has little chance OF prevailing. cA-
ccit lar Tho local and private interests mas
keutrazc each other. man who went not long ago 10
STATE capital 10 try 10 gel suuctlung dut, came Uch
very much dissatisfied with The Tcrfc,eula. from las
representative " was utterly unlIacltd lie Keep Pc
ieIrHs To something which no called thy puAc inter-
. DREAD OF TIE EXECUTIVE.
its relaons with the executive thc democratic s
Iature ie0ously guards its independence open and
honest relations which would therefore necessarily be
proper viii allow. Il preserve tho iu atiyc and
testrains the executive TO empty recommendations. 1t
breaks up into committees Us only practical means Of
investigating and performing the drudsy of pre-
pairing business. The great guarantee OF publicity suffers
fIein this withdrawal public business into a
Inittee-room while the plan also oilers facilities for
private relations and doubtful influence the part Of
the executive.
Te democracy, in it, dread of executive power knows
40 better Of weakening than to divide it among
independent officers fears above ali ''one-iuan
power" and sacrifices this fear the efficiency Of the
administration. II insists also electins all officers, or
as many possible, by popular vote although ii Is m
possible that the OF voters ever form any judy
ment as TO the qualifications Of candidates for purely Id