The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-06-06

What can be done to remedy the blum
ders of the Constitution? First, we should
modify our national self-conctit suffi-
GENTLY to acknowledge the fact that our
general government does not respond to
the people; that i. is petrifaction handed
down to US by men who died long ago;
that the government should respond to
the living; that the living should carry
the responsibility of their own time; that
wi. dom did not die with the fathers; that
the people of the present should rule in
the present, and that the people of the
future should rule in the future; that that
government is not free which does not 70
spond to the people; that our government
is like a ship that yields no OBJ dieuce to
its captain, but is run by clockwork set
a century before.
These conclusions put into practical
effect, he declares, mean abolishing the
United States senate; revoking the presi-
dents veto, and requiring him to resign
when not in harmony with the majority;
dispensing with the electoral college and
either choosing the president by direct
vote of the people or through the house
of representatives, and, finally, abolishing
also every state senate.
Such is the sweeping, the radical, reform
he would inaugurate, and this, for the mos
part, if we have caught the drift of his err
gument, because of the rapid growth OF
the spoils system. Had We not, as ma
tior, better go slow in this? Will not the
remedy prove worse than the disease
True it is, he argues, in most part, from
Just cause for complaint. The spoils sys
tenn is a monstrous growth, and most une-
quail does it seem that the majority of our
people cannot, in every instance, elect
their president. Also it is unfortunate
that congress, because of branches at va
rance in political faith, cannot at all times
quickly pass much needed legislation. But
have not these two last designated evils
their brighter, their conservative, their
sound and substantial warrant for exist
enoe? They stand out as prominent bull
warks against rash resolution in thought
and purpose; they are mighty anchor to
the windward, holding the ship of state
against any lid clamor for an unexplored
rash and foolish attempt at something
sound reason has not said what. Weigh
against such objections as he has brought
forward the sturdy facts of our nations
history, and answer if he has not far over
shot the mark in radical changes he clam
ors for.C He asserts our Constitution 10
unbending, but it has with wonderful sup
pleness adapted itself to the marvellous
growth of century. handful of people
have grown to nearly seventy millions; a
narrow strip of country along the Atlantic
has stretched from ocean to ocean. AL
most every type of the human family,
every class of feeling, thought and ambi-
ton have been transplauted to our shores
and yet with wonderful unity and cohe-
sion have we grown up together and the
grand old Constitution has continued to
rock us in liberty, to protect us in law.
Unqu ssi ionably there is throughout the
union a growing disgust for the
evil, the hydra headed monster, the
spoils System, and there has also been
much unrest as to the unsatisfactory re-
suits in presidential elections. But will
any of the reforms he mentions materially
effect the spoils systemH Will they create
the healthy public sentiment and that re-
Spouse to it which alone will down that
evilH The day may ccme when the people
may elect their president by direct vote
but we do not wish to see the time of NO
state or national senate, and if such a
time should ever be then a presidential
veto would be more essential to the PEG
Plies safety than ever before. Mr.. o. j.
Smith has blszed way that will not be
followed for many, very many, years to
come.