, 1884-02-16
THE AMERICAN BoUsg OF LORDS.

1t is frequently 6 matter OF comment
and .sa argument against the creation of
any more small states. that any msn
With plenty OF money and aspirations
can buy up such stAt.s as Dsleware,
Rhode leland and Nevada, an6 secure
for himself the higaest 0 ffice III the gift
Of the people. Oar National Senate
is an aristccracy Of wealth and the ten
dency to make it rio-e and more e1clu-
sive, though contrary TO the ethics OF a
Republican form OF government, is evil
IDENTIFY stronger than party. Hitherto,
the wealth or the Senate has been largely
composed Of Republican Senator'S, but
II is nov notorious that the Democracy
OF so great a State as OHIO, has, in the
case of Payne, the STANDARD oil man,
sold its highest office 10 the highest bid
der for cash-to a san who represents
the most tedious mono; {y - the country,
hard money man, a National bank man,
and a protective tariff man-a man In
every leading respectth opposite OF every
principle taaI mas ben inscribed on Dem
ocratic banners for the past ten years.
The rginal idea that sought express
sion in the Senate among the farmers of
the Fedora. constitution, was 10 make
that body a plaza of retirement to those
men whose lives had been spent III the
public service, and were on the down-hiil
past the neridisn Of hte, men Of large
experien:e for counsel, men whose wide
reputation was a security against their
,andonment Of principles or which their
fame rested. In short, tie Senate, as
originally designed, was TO be all arIsto-
cracy OF intellect, OF men of large talents
who should concentrate IN themselves the
wisdom OF their states, in contradistinc-
ton 10 a member of the loser house, who
merely represents congressional DIS
trict. The Roman Senate Was the ma
terialised representative of this theory,
made Up as i. was of al those who had
grst held the highest office Of the Re
public by election.
Bat the fac, shows tha: the theory has
bean sadly perverted. Our Senator'S are
not, as a rule, men who have spent their
lives in public af .iss. They are not on
IN average, ary olcer men than repre-
senta:ives. They are remarkable solely
for their wealth, and through their money
men get into the Senate who could not as
easily get into the house OF Representa-
tives. In making the election Of Sena-
tors depend upon the legislatures OF the
States 1T vas supposed that 1t woa!d be
IoIged in hands tkas would insare the
eleciion oi only the fttest and best, but
it turns cut that man Of wealth always
prefers to operate IN a small, select body
like a legislature, rather than with q
larger constituency.
AMI unfprtunasely, orr Senate has
became Eor only a representative of the
wealth, but very largely Of the corporate
ReSlrh of he cOun, ?. Some are called
Republicans aud .one Democrats, but
below these surface sotatches these men
represenf very much ihs same. Some
are the avogei agents Of gigantic nOnop
olics, hone have the as.iare o. the peo-
pie CT heart ana all affect TO consider
themselves superior to ,hs maudatas of
public opiai3n- Tn2y ars not OF the
people aad they DO not represent the pco-
pie. i;isa serious b.emish IN the Fed
eral constitution that needs close and
serious study, AMI speedy relief from the
imposition of body which approaches
nearer to The British house of Lords than
to the Senate OF a free people.