The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-20
vote for a measure as for man who is
to uote upon the same.

to Uote upon the same.
IF it be held that the people are incap-
able of wisely voting for their own laws
then it follows that they are equally
incapable of wisely voting for the men
who are to make them for them. The
objection Of: distance and territory with
present and future facilities Of commu-
nication will not hold good. nor will the
objection that it would constantly con-
fuse and call the people together; be-
cause let the fundamental laws once be
established to suit and work in the in
terest Of all the people, not one bill out
lof every 1000 now brought forth would
be proposed. The consequence would
be fewer and better laws.
There is vast difference between the
the representative and the original. In
monev affairs money is regarded as the
representative, and coin money as the
original; the government seems to be
unwilling to trust the representative,
but adopts the original. IF the govern
ment cannot trust a harmless dead
representative, why should the people
trusta treacherous living representa-
tive?
$50 long as the passage and execution
of laws are at the mercy of men who are
liable to be in Office to, day and out to-
morrow, and who by tue laws of nature
human or dlvine) make hay while the
sun shines; SO long as men are elected
to represent their own-or special-in-
terests, it will remain simply compet-
tive warfare. in which the strongest
(the money! power will come out ahead
every time. To honestly expect any re-
form under system which subjects
both the franchise as well az the repres-
entative to corruption" is, as you will
see at glance, mild form of. delusion
Suppose the working people were to
elect every officer in the land; would
that necessarily better their condition?
No; because human nature, under the
same conditions and surroundings, gen.
orally proves about the same. So long
as the people themselves do not make
the laws that govern them, they are SOW
ereigns in theory but slaves in practice,
So long as the people themselves do not
make the laws, they can in justice not
be held responsible for them. The old
motto applies: IF you want anything
done well, do it yourselves
"I am bold to ASSERT that no measure of
reform more radical and yet perfectly
simple, legal and peaceabfe, and capable
of being used by all the people in the
interest of all the people, has as yet
been submitted to you. 1t embraces all.
"That the merits of this proposition
have been recognized by the trainers of
the constitution will be evident from the
fact that they provided in the constitu
ton that amendments to the constitu
ton must be submitted to and voted for
by the people, so that it would onlv be
an extension of the principle, and the
method of submission should be
changed. Again, when the declaration
declares that all Just governments de-
,-ive their potoers from the consent of
the governed, and the governed are the
people, it comes strictly within the pur-
view of this proposition.
II am, with great respect, yours, ETC.,
ISAAC COHEN"
To this communication is appended
statement of the chairman, to-wit: "We
have also memorial from Isaac Cohen
treating the subject from the standpoint
of a workman. The point of his COM
munication is that very substantial leg
islation touching the constitutions of the
states and of the country is necessary,
aud that all constitutional amendments
should be voted for by the people di-
rectlv." If the chairman of that com.
mittee we're to analize all communi
cations and testimony in the same man
ner, it will be seen what a "mess" we
would have. First, it nowhere appears
that treated the subject from the stand
point of a workman; to the very con-
trarv, l assert it to be a measure capa-
BILE of being used by all the people, for
all the people. Second. did not say
anywhere that substantial legislation
touching the constitutions is necessary.
Third, I did not say anywhere that con-
stitutional amendments should be voted
for by the people directly-for I dis
tinctly say that such is the case already
and the principle only needs exten
sion, namely: that the people should
vote for all laws directly, instead of vot-
ing for representatives. Were it not so
well known that Senator Blair, of New
Hampshire. is bold and trusted advo-
cate of temperance, would be tempted
to believe that he was a little under
the influence when he read, studied.
analvzed and submitted the points con-
tanned in my communication.
On this subject DR.. A. Douai, of New
York, beginning on page 710 says: "Our
party maintains that we have not popu-
lar selfgoyernment. We have only rep
resentatiye government and the repres-
entatives do not represent the will OF
the people, but of the ruling classes, and
this cannot be otherwise if representa-