Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-07-09
TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES UNDER
TWO SYSTEMS


TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES UNDER
TWO SYSTEMS
The Americans, whilst continually boast
ing of their government as in all respects
better than that of any other country on |
earth, have doubtless overlooked certain fea-
lures of other systems which, if introduced
here, would undoubtedly be of great value
TO the people.
The presentation Of two important issues |
in the supreme legislative bodies OF Great
Britain and the United States, at about the
same time, and the defeat of both of them,
gives us an excellent opportunity to observe
the difference in the methods pursued in
each country under the same circumstances.
Atan election in this country in 1884 party
which assumed to be in favor of tax reduc.
ton and tariff reform beat a party which
was opposed to those measures, carrying
twenty of the thirty-eight States. The issue
was an important one in the canvass and
the result indicated clearly enough desire
on the part of a majority of the people for
an emphatic change as regards the tariff
The government which came into office in
obedience to this vote has recommended to
Congress legislation in accordance with the
idea expressed in the party platform, but
the Congress elected at the same time has
refused TO proceed on the lines to which it
and the Administration are pledged. Under
our system Of government this is the end of
the matter A new Congress will be elected
next November, but it will not meet until
year from next December, and in the
meantime the only Congress which will be
in session will be that which has acted con-
trary 10 the wishes of the people as ex-
pressed at the last general election. Either
the government which is in favor of tax re-
duction should go or the Congress which is
opposed to it should give place to one which
is favorable TO the idea. The people GER
tainly are in favor of one course or the other
respecting the tariff, and whatever their
wishes may be all branches of the govern
ment should be in harmony with them.
In Great Britain and Ireland at the last
general election the people chose Il Paria
ment that was supposed TO be in favor OF
home rule, and, as a natural consequence, IA
government favorable TO that idea was form.
ed. When the Ministry presented its bill
carrying out the principle it was found that
enough of its former adherents went over
to the o. zion to defeat the measure, and,
us is now The case in America, the legisat-
i've and the executive were no longer in
harmony. What then followsp Not dead :
lock or long delay. Nota remote election
at which body will be chosen TO sit in the
dim future; but dissolution and an imme
date appeal to the people on the one ques
ton over which the executive and legislat
i've departments are at loggerheads. The
end cannot fail to be a solution of the prob
lem. Either the new Parliament will be in
accord with the government, or, failing in
that, it will be hostile 10 it aud will set up
government Of its own with which it will
be in Thorough harmony. 1t is speedy, d.
rect, unerring. 1t permits of no subterfuges,
no political trickery by which interested
parties can conceal the real issue and delay
action. Delay, no matter how obtained, is
the chief aim of all defenders of ancient
abuses. 1t is all that they ask. Unde, the
British system 1t cannot be had without pop
tlar consent.
Always uncertain, and generally unprofit-
able, as it is, speculate on what might have
been, il is no more than reasonable to sup
pose that If the English plan of ministerial
responsibility had prevailed in this country
the slavery question, which two generations
fought over unavailingly in and out of Con-
gress, and which brought another genera
ton into armed strife, would have been set
tied peaceably one way or the other No
such friction would have arisen, and the
sympathy between the government and the
people would at all times have been so
close that the minority would have been
awed by that fact alone. The tariff-enriched
rings which have been able TO thwart the
government in its attempt TO keep its pledg-
es rs to tax reduction are now secure prob
ably for two years At the election which
will take place late in the Fall the tariff
will not be a conspicuous issue. The timid-
ity and ignorance of politicians will impel
them to dodge it, In one district man
will be running for Congress on his war
record, in another on his capacity as pen
sion grabber, in another as silver lunatic,
in another as an expert in office brokerage,
When, more than year later, the Congress
so elected gets together it will be made up
Of u grotesque mixture of men If sense,
men oil no sense, demagogues. cranks, IDIOTS
and knayes, whom il will be impossible to
unite in favor of any idea which has money
anl power arrayed against it,
Its indeed matter of grave doubt wheth-
er, as against the compact forces now mar
shaded in support Of the monstrous abuses
of protection, the people of this country, all
busy with their own affairs, can make any
heading unless popular excitement shall
first reach pitch which, dangerous in any
country, is fraught with unusual peril in
republic.
Citizens cannot be expected forever to
submit patiently TO these Congressional be
trayals Of their confidence. Ii they should
choose next Fall Congress overwhelming
ly in favor of tax reduction they would
receive no relief for more than year, and
in the meantime the force of public opinion
would Of necessity die out, and the agents
Of monopoly, ever active, would perhaps
again triumph.
In the face Of these manifest disadvan-
tages it is sel-evident that so far as the leg
islature is concerned that OF the British EN-
pire is much nearer the people than is our
own. 1t responds to their wishes immedi-
ately, and it registers their DEGREES uNfaiiiagly
The American system, founded in mistrust
OF the people, is now used habtually by de-
signing interests to the prejudice of the best
interests of the republic.