Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-05-11
THE REFERENDUM.
Extract from GroMi,UdS "Co-operatirc
Commonwealth"

BY the referendum" is meant the
submitting of all bills of general nature
to the people they are intended to
affect, before they have the validity of
laws, as already eXempHtied for some
years past by Switzerland to some ex-
tent, both in national and cantonal af-
fairs.
We claim that this feature represents
exactly the function which the people
are fitted to perform, and which il is
every way expedient they should per
form.
They are peculiarly fitted to perform
this function of ratifying, or rather, of
rFtotlg measures with which our pres-
dent and governors are at present and
as we contended in the previous
chapter-improperly entrusted while
they are peculiarly untitled for the
function with which they are now con.
stitutionally invested: that of selecting
men of whose qualifications they can
know nothing for offices of the duties
of which they are ignorant.
The people should leave the framing
of laws to the wisest and most compe-
tent. But because should not attempt
to make my own shoes, since | am no
shoemaker, that is no reason why |
should not decline to buy certain pair
of shoes which the shoemaker has made
| need not be shoemaker to know
whether the shoe pinches me or not,
Exactly so with laws and institutions.
The people are amply qualified to say
that they do not lcdnt certain laws.
John s. Mill says in regard to repre-
sentative bodies, that their proper Office
is mot to make law but to see them
made by the right persons, and to give
or withhold its ratification of them"
Good sense and good intentions"
the only requisites for that function, we
must assume in the body of citizens, or
we must, indeed, despair Of the nation.
BY the way, it was Robespierre--for
whom, however, neither the writer of
this nor Socialists generally have any
great admiratlon-whO first proposed
the referendum, by advising the king to
say, MY people, here are the laws
them
The rcferend'um is expedient, because
the stability and goodness of all laws
and institutions depend upon their suit
ableness. We have compared political
institutions to coats that may or may
not fit the backs. The referendum will
insure that "the coat will fit the back
in other words, that the measures
adopted are commensurate with the de-
velopment of the people. If the coat
does not tit, If given measure does not
suit them, they will simply reject it.
1t is expedient because it and it alone
will arouse and keep alive in the people
the interest in public affairs.
1t is notorious fact that the voters
in our country and in all countries are
absolutely Indifferent to-we may say
truthfully that they look with a sort of
contempt on-the electoral franchise;
and the humbug of representation that
we adverted to in the preceding chap
ter is a sufficiently good reason. Vot-
er5 will naturally remain Indifferent as
long as a political campaign means but
a strife for candidates. Whenever they
do vote, they will continue to do 80
frCm the same reasons which solely in
tiuence them now, to wit: habit, or the
desire to advance friend or "herO,"
or the chance of getting drink.
But when the voters have measures
before them-not merely general and
therefore vague, constitutional prOvi-
sions, but dTect, special mPaaTes-to
discuss and then to ratify or reject, it
may fairly be expected that they will
take considerable and increasing inter-
est in public affairs. Then, also, they
will very likely come more and more to
appreciate the fact that Suffrage is not
a right at all if it were, votes would,
indeed, be things to be sold or given
away, at pleasure-but public trust
The referendum is expedient, because
bills will then be intelligently discussed
before they become laws. We shall then
no more witness the indecency that i'm
portant laws, the provisions of which
even often are unknown to the legis-
lators, are enacted in the hurry of the
last night OF session, under the spur
of the party whip. Then we shall no
longer see huge volumes of trash issu-
ing yearly from legislative halls, but
shall have few, and none but necessary,
laws.
''But this is all nonsense to propose to
get along without representatives. The
people of a large country like that of
ours cannot possibly pass upon all laws"
Yes, we know that once upon a time
somebody made remark of that kind,
and that it has been echoed and re-
echoed ever since. Humanity does
really resemble flock of sheep which
are known to he so conscientious that
if you hold a stick before the weather so
that he is forced to vault in bis passage,
the whole flock will do the like when the
stick is withdrawn.