Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-07

We will begin with the assertion that if
the citizen believes the central power to be
more efficient for his protection than the
State can possibly be, he must be lamenta-
bly, ignorant of the nature of the methods
through and by which the central power is
exercised The fundamental principle of
representative government is that taxation
without representation is tyranny. That
is true, but modern politicians have found
means of establishing this form OF tyranny
under SO plausible pretense of liberal in
situations that the ensaved people do not
realize their condition, and allow them
selves to be plundered almost without re-
monstrance Statesmen laboring to estab-
lish the democratic form of government
have found by experience that the only
way to secure honesty and efficiency in
governing bodies and representative bodies
is to make their accountability to
and connection with the people as
direct ahd close as possible. To the
extent that this accountability and
connection are weakened the securities
against corruption and usurpation are d.
minished, and it is impossible for the peo-
pie to choose representatives so patriotic
and pure that they will not be amenable to
the seductions of power unaccompanied by
responsibility. Now in the form of CEN
tralization which is being built up in the
United States, the process of the destruc-
ton of responsibility is among the most
conspicuous features. The tendency is to
lodge all power in the hands of Congress,
and at the same time Congress is being re-
moved more and more from popular con-
troll. Party ambition and greed, and the
requirements of a rapidly growing nation,
have created in the civil service machine
of almost masterful power when ap-
piled to politics. The machine is
PIT in operation through the connect
ing band of party, which unites the
simple voter and the plotting politician
in connection which makes the former the
docile instrument of the latter and con-
verts the machine of civil service into the
means OF perpetuating in power men who
have ceased to respect the will of the peo-
pie, and who are concerned only to keep
the allegiance of the cliques on whose
adroit manipulations they depend for re-
nomination. 1t has long been notorious
that the mass of the voters have no real
influence upon politics. They cannot nom
mate Congressman. If they attempt it
they are laughed to scorn by the pro-
fessional workers." and without trouble
are baffled. They must, therefore, accept
the dictation OF the few men who run the
machine, " or by boiling practically dis
franchise themselves. 1t is not possible
that under such system as this the citi-
zen can, if he has any intelligence, "be-
lieve that the central power is more
" ef1ectual agency to protect his rights and
"work out beneficial results to him than
"the State can possibly be-" It is not
that there is any magic in the name of the
State, as some have appeared to think. 1t
is that under State Governments the pos
sibilities of popular supervision are neces-
sarily greater, and that therefore the op-
portunities for corruption and usurpation
are necessarily much fewer.
Men cannot be trusted without checks