Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-17
AN AMERICAN ON AMERICANS.


bulls style is charming, somewhat of
a commingling of the style OF the
best English and French writer's. That
there is an aristoetracy OF wealth
in America no one doubts; that
aristocracy "has been deliberately es-
tablished in the Constitution" may not
only be doubted, but successfully dis
puted That social consideration comes
from official position is true, and perhaps
the more permanent the official position,
the more permanent the social considera-
ton. Wealth is the true basis of aristoc-
racy in America, and those who deem
themselves, and are so deemed by others,
as the most ancient aristocracy in Amer
lea, are the wealthy families of
Dutch descent in New York. The aris-
tocracy of Virginia bases its pride
upon family rather than wealth, that is,
great wealth; the wealth sufficient to
maintain high responsibility must always
accompany born aristocrats if they wish
to maintain their position in the aristo-
cratic and social world. But even in
England the ranks of the aristocracy are
recruited from the wealthier upper mid
die class "a breath can make them, as
breath has made" The great majority
of mankind would prefer social consider
alton to political consideration; it is the
desire for social recognition rather than
for political recognition which causes
popular connections and revolutions.
In speaking of the Senate, Mr.. Trum-
says: 'The American Senate is the most
important political aristocracy that has
existed in modern times" If the Ameri-
can Senate is an important political aris
tocracy, it is not because American
Senators hold their Office for term of
six years, but because they represent
sovereign States, that is, States sovereign
within the sphere of their legitimate
action that action is limited cnly by the
powers that have been granted to the
General Government by the people. If
the members OF the House of Represent
atives were elected for the same period,
still their position would not command
the same consideration as does that of
the Senators; and for the reasons above
given.
Further commenting upon the Senate,
Mr. Trumbull SAYS: "If the Senate can
not be abolished, it can be reformed. 1t
can be made elective by the people; its
term of office can be reduced to two
years, and it can be made to represent
the States in proportion to their popu
lation." Certainly it can by Consti-
tutional amendment, but to so amend the
Constitution would be to abolish the fed
eral form of our Government Mr. Trum-
bull either forgets or ignores the federal
form OF the Government But while for
getting or ignoring this fact, he makes
this startling announcement: "The
Senate is firmly intrenched in the citadel
of the Constitution it cannot be swamped,
like the House of Lords, by the creation
of new Senators, nor can the Constitution
be amended except three.fourths Of the
Senate agree thereto" The statement is
in every way misleading, and our Eng
lish cousins will have a more confused
idea OF the American Constitution than
they now possess.
But Mr.. Trumbull is so .elated with his
idea of the aristocratic character of the
American Senate that he cannot refrain
from introducing documentary evidence
of the fact Mr.. Gouveneur Morris,
delegate from New York, said He wished
to make the Senate a permanent body
He said, TT must have great personal
property; it must have the aristocratic
spirit; and therefore its term of
Office should be for life. ~
There were other ideas concerning
the Senate, and why it should be of
mere permanent character than the
House. John Adams, one of the leaders
of the Federalists, concerning the Senate,
said: ''No republic can be of any dura-
ton without a Senate, and Senate
deeply and strongly rooted, strong enough
to bear up against all popular storms and
passions. The only fault in the Consti-
tuition of our Senate is, that their term
of Office is not durable enough" Here, |
then, was the true reason for the long
tenure of Office of Senator as given by a /
leading Federalist, the party that CORE
sponded with the Tory element OF which |
Mr.. Trumbull speaks.
Mr.. Trumbull also says: 1.-THE House /
Of Representatives is the only branch OF /
the American Government conceded to /
the democracy by the Constitution. !" I
Such to a certain extent is the case. and /
the remark recalls a similar comment bv I
Jefferson: 'In the General Government.
the House OF Representatives is mainly
republican; the Senate scarcely so at all,
rs not elected by the people directly, and
so being secured even against those who
do elect them; the Executive more re-
publican than the Senate, for its shorter
term, its election by the people, in prac-
ice, Oor they vore for A only on an
assurance that he will vote for b.
and because. IN practice also, principle
of rotation seems to be in course of
the judiciary independent
of the nation, their coercion by impeach-
nent being found nuga tory
Between the comments of Mr.. .Trum-
Dull and those of Jefferson on certain
points there is much resemblance.
kr Trumbull says, ''The men who
ramed the American Constitution were
awyers. They knew nothing practically