The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-05
THE DECAY OF POPULAR REPRESENTATION.

Among the eloquent and scholarly ad-
dresses delivered at the recent Pilgrims
monument celebration none was more
worthy of attention than that of Hon.
John Cabot Lodge. He did not confine
himself wholly to eulogy of the charac
ter and worth of the Pilgrims, though
that were a theme inspiring enough
for any orator. Passing from that, he
traced with mastery hand the evolution
and growth of the idea of popular rep
resentatiOn as perhaps their most i'm
portant political discovery and legacy.
He called attention to the striking point
of difference between the Anglo-Saxon
conquest of America and those of other
conquering races. The conquests of the
early Eastern empires and of the later
empire of Rome represented the ideas of
subjugation and absorption only. The
principle of representation was lack
ing. Therefore, and, as the speak
er argued, merely from this cause,
these empires contained the seeds of
their own dissolution. They had moth
ing to bind them together. 1t remained
for the English-speaking people, and es-
pecially for those who came to this con-
tinent, to add to subjugation and incor-
poration the principle of popular repre-
sertation in government. In this the
speaker discerned the vital principle of
our system and the energizing force
on which the existence of our govern
ment depends.
Then he went ON to say that in our
House of Representatives, where this
great principle might be expected to
have, and ought to have, it's fullest de-
velopment and freest action, it had
really become almost imperative. On
this point Mr.. Lodge could speak with
authority, for he served some time in
Congress and declined reelection
because he found the position and duties
distasteful under present political meth
eminent he did not hesitate to say that
our House of Representatives has grad
ually drifted far away from the true
principle of popular representation; that
instead of rising in influence and force
it has relatively declined, and that by
voluntarily hampering itself with cast
iron rules and traditions it has almost
completely sacrificed the great princi-
pie ON which it's usefulness depends.
The majority has ceased to rule,
says Mr.. Lodge, and the mi
nOrity is unable to govern. In
addition to having tied it's own hands
with self-made rules and surrendered to
the Senate powers which properly be-
long to the House, it is crippled by the
mass of special legislation and detail
work thrown upon it, and by the cor
rupting influence of Office peddling.
Along all these lines Mr.. Lodge traces
the decline of the House in influence
and character, and the gradual but sure
decay Of the great principle of popular
representation. 1t is neither gratifying
nor encouraging to be reminded, at the
end of the first century of our national
existence, that the branch of the gov
eminent which was intended to be the
very flower and essence of popular rep
resentatiOn has SO largely lost it's polit-
ical virility. A few great men and bold
leaders of either party in the House
could do much to restore it to the posi-
ton of usefulness and power it was in
tended to occupy; but where will they
| come from?