Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-21
Too Much and Too Slow Election.

Too Much and Too Slow Election.
The reason given by the majority in
the lower house of Congress for wishing
to adjourn now, is that no business will
- be done after the presidential nomina-
tions are made and the presidential cam
paign is opened. The fact is probably
so but the admission of it is not calcu-
lated to give us great respect for our po-
litical constitution. We naturally com
pare the speed and quietude with which
change of government has just been
made in England with the heightened
period of turmoil which is before us be-
fore we can get our government started
on another four years term. In England
the administration which has just been
turned out by the people has ruled the
nation for six years. During this period
there has been no election excitement
and the people were left to give all their
attention to their affairs of business,
pleasure and study. When the time came
in which it became a question whether
the administration of public affairs was
being conducted according to the peoples
wish, the matter was referred to them,
and within a few weeks their decision
was rendered and their new officials
placed in power.
We declare that no one can view the fa-
cility and frankness with which the pop
ular will was thus obtained and executed
in that monarchical form of government
without seeing that in these regards that
country's political constitution is more
effective than our own, and more truly
democratic. Monarchy is but the form
of England's political constitution, De-
mocracy its essence. We surely ought
to profit by the teaching which it gives
us of the way to secure popular YER
dict. Why should we be constantly dis
turbed with elections, and after all con-
stantly suffer under government which
is no longer in sympathy with the people I?
Why should we for months have
nothing more interesting to talk
of in our newspapers and clubs
than the question as to who shall be
the party candidate for president And
why, for the next six months, should
we be excited over the contests
of the parties for supremacy And
possibly for still another term of
months he in agony as to the seating of
the successful candidate ? Why should
our representatives he disabled from at
tending to their duties now by the inlu-
ence of the far-off election? How can
we contemplate the English Parliament,
dissolving at the first note of the contest,
its members going themselves to the
people for instructions, and shortly reas-
sembling with the issue settled, the eX-
citement over, and ready to transact the
nations business, without feeling morti-
fled at the contrast afforded to our own
clumsy and time-consuming election
methods?
The facts are disgraceful to our
democracy. 1t is disgraceful that
our Congress needs to adjourn now,
with thousands of measures de-
manding its consideration, because
it cannot give it to them in the
coming protracted period of political agi-
tation. 1t is an outrage upon the people
that their business must be thus neglected.
1t is shame that the people themselves
must be fretted with six months po-
litical battle. They are ready to give
their verdict today. They will not be
any more ready when their minds have
been inflamed by months more of politi-
cal agitation and politicians badger
ing. Our political battles are simply
disgusting and disgraceful, and insanely
absurd. We have other more important
duties in life than to decide whether
Tom, Dick or Harry shall rule us. That
is an important duty. But there is no
manner of need that we shall talk about
it, and fight about it, and get drunk over
it with excitement, if not with liquor,
for half year before we are prepared to
meet the responsibility and discharge the
duty.
That we are such idiots discourages
any confident belief that we are fitted for
self-goyernment. After all our conten-
tion we all know that the chances are
small that we will select the best
men. That kind we are afraid to nomi-
nate. We need a peculiar kind of candi-
date to run successfully. eneeds to he
hardy sort of a jackass that can run the
gauntlet of all sorts of attacks and have
life enough left in him to totter over the
goal. He must be an animal who will
run kindly under the direction of his
trainers, who will mind the bit and take
the whip well, and who won't care how
much he earns the worlds contempt, so
that he secures the purse.
We do think that some speeder and
more efficient methods should he estab-
lished of finding and declaring tie popu-
lar judgment. Good sense commands it.,
and nothing forbids it that we can see.
Afflicted editors cry for it, disturbed
people pray for it, and even perspiring
politicians would welcome it. Why can
we not get it?
The Star Routes.