The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-03-31
The Place for Reform.

The Place for Reform.
Some of our friends are disturbed BY
our disclosures of the monstrous enor-
m ties in the consolidation OF power in
the hands OF the President But we
say. that there should be no disguises
in matters of moment deeply affecting
the most sacred rights OF the people.
That the President has become 3 mon
arch of vast powers has been proven, Is
undeniable. 1t is said. however, that the
people have become Infatuated to this
oneman power-this monarchy; and
that reform in this regard is impractica-
BILE. Never despair Of the Rep. bile is our
motto. The people are right. and viii
set things right when they have a chance.
But remember. Washington is not he
place for reforms to start. The Capital
tourishes best ON high salaries. exalted
honors, and pridcely emoluments. Here
everything is under the surveillance OF
power. Reforms must start among the
people in the States. They are our
masters ye', though they may be so but
a few years to come. Let the good and
VI uC AAACn III Vic ot0OCo L0kC COuuSet tO-
gether, communicate with each other in
the different State Legislatures. and
start the ball among the people. 1t will
roll when once fairly started.
1t is argued. that the literature of tho
country. the school books, and early
training of the people are in favor of
this monarchy. Not so, the ira ming of
the people has been in favor of re-
publican government The war of the
Revolution was fought against mon
arch. The people are against it The
literature OF the country and early
training of the people have been against
it. The people have not been aware
have not as yet reali ed the fact that .
dangerous and overshadowing mon
arch has been growing up here to de-
stroy the States and enslave the people.
When they come to due sense of this,
popular connections will wake up the
country like the shock of an earthquake.
Our people are in favor of free Gov
eminent And they believe that free
government is government of the
people, democratic representative re-
public. And when they find out that
the President has become q monarch of
vast powers, they will depose him, and
make the Executive branch of the Gov
ernmen: representative as veil as the
legislative and judicial.
The vital principle of q republic is
that OF representation. And as a sim
gle ruler, although elective by the peo-
pie. is actually monarch, he is as GER
tain to become despot as ambition
and cupidity arc certain to reign in the
human heart The people should be
re resented in the E. ecntive branch as
well as in the Legislative and judicial.
Representation by an Executive Coun-
Gil OF three, five, seven or nine, taken
from distinct and different sections of
the country, would be sufficient This
would liberaize our Government, make
it republican in form. and do away with
kitchen cabinets, rings. bosses and ire
sponsible cabals s.behind the throne,
greater than the throne ITSELF" The
members of the Executive Council
should be co-ordinates-equalin author
ity. and decide all questions by vote of
. majority, of which public record
should be kept.
The Argument OF the monarehist is,
that one man must govern er ssecessi-
ate. Two or more would differ would
quarrel. and would never agree about
Therefore the world must
aver be governed by the one-man pow
sr. If this were true, then the leeisla-
i've branch, and also the Judicial
branch. sho1ld be governed by one man.
The principle is tie same in either case.
Il difference of opinion can be read
" settled by a vote of the majority in
he one branch. it can be ear ally SO in
either of the others. Congress has its
differences, and sometimes boisterous
but readily settles all uues-
ions by vote under their rules. The
Judges OF the Supreme Court have their
differences of op MON, but, after con-
settle them all with dignity
md decorum by q vote of the mSiori-
y. And to say that an Executive
,ouncil con d not do the same would be
.bsurd and fallac;ous. The history of
he world is aga INST the argument of the
All the republics of the
ncient world had plural executives
Ithens had ten archons. ard Rome two
onsuls to administer the executive
lower. And Switzerland, the model |
epublic of the modern world, has .
lief Executive Council of seven. which
las successfully administered their ex-
cutive power for over i've hundred and
evenly years. The execut We power
q Great Britain has been in reality adj
. Mustered, and most efficiently. by the
'abnet m n:stry. composed Of twelve
lembers. This has been most especi- |
lily the Gas under Queen Victoria.
The change can be easily made here
y an amendment Of the Constitution.
riking out the second article creating |
10 Presidency. and substituting the |
esds OF the seven ecutive Depart |
tents, making an Executive Council of
wen. to be elected by the people. Hut
lere may be other and better forms of
o:ng it We do not propose any
mango. but simply suggest Its prac-
cability- We cannot possibly have
~ personal interest in this matter. A
lew to the public safety and welfare
1e,k- IN -