Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-21
SESSION 1859.
THE AMERICAN IDEA.

A most remarkable thing is presented in
this table. That is, the success attained
here in the American idea Of Democratic
Government. We have here represents
tive" Legislature to an extent little sus-
pected. Many of the professions are repre-
sented, and, in the class dubbed business
men," the writer has included almost as
many different kinds OF business as there
are individuals, and all ranks from the
laborer to the millionaire. The professional
politician has been placed in that class to
which his business education or interest be-
longs. Probably no industry Of the State
of any importance-coal, iron, lumber, tam
ming. petroleum, commerce, merchandising,
educational and professional interests-fails
to be represented at Harrisburg. Whatever
may be said of the "aristocratic privilege"
tendency Of Washington councils, such q
condition of things is not yet true Of the
Legislature of this Commonwealth.
THE COLLEGE MEN.
Whether or not the college graduate is
successfully represented here, is question.
About one-third of the Senate and about
one-sixth Of the House are college men. 1t
seems proper that the smaller branch, in its
nature, should demand larger number of
men of higher education. 1t is gratifying
to know that among these 48 eollegers. the
higher institutions Of our own State are SO
well honored. Yale has two men, Harvard
and Princeton and Cornell and West Point
each one, and with the exception Of two or
three small institutions from neighbonng
States, the remaining collegians come from
Allegheny College, MuhIenberg, Washing
ton, Westminster, University Of Pennsyl-
vania. the Western University, Washing
ton and Jefferson, Waynesburg. Hunting
don and Girard College and others in Penn
sylvania. Lafayette has four graduates,
Allegheny has three, Washington and JET
erson six. Pennsylvania has good reason
to be proud both of its higher institutions of
learning and of the men they turn out. In
this list of colleges, normal schools and pro-
fessional schools are not included.
LAW VERSUS BUSINESS.
While the lawyers are numerous in our
list, yet perhaps not so much as may be
popularly supposed. Fifty per centum Of
the Senate are lawyers as opposed to all
other classes; but in the House, where pop
ular questions are more apt to originate,
only 16 per centum are lawyers, and the
farmer and the business man have about SO
per cent. Considering the nature Of the
work the two Houses have to do, perhaps
the number of lawyers is not excessive,
and their apportionment may be very good
one.
David Dudley Field is quoted as saying
there are 1000 lawyers in this country, and
they are to great extent responsible foR
the gross wrongs committed in the name of
the law, because they make the laws and
then abuse them with technicalities.
Fields numerical fact may be true; but the
legal representation In our Legislature
hardly iusIifies his deductions
AS TO THE FOREIGNER
An eminent divine with lachrymal glands
suffered with sodium-chloride, and with the
voice Of jeremiah, the ancient kicker"
has been recently calling for time when
no foreign-born shall be elected to our leg
islative or executive halls. A1armIsts Of
this sort seem to have no knowledge of such
men as General Sheridan, A. T. Stewart,
DIR. William N. Taylor, or President Nc
Gosh, of Princeton, who was imported BY
our most conservative college to educate
American youth. Hearing these plants,
one might suppose the United States were
about to be dismembered and annexed to
Hungary, Italy, Ireland and China.
Let us examine the table to see if such a
condition of things is true of the Harrisburg
body. OF the 254 members, 3S were not
born in our own Commonwealth; and of
these 38 only IS were born outside the United
States, and of these IS the writer is under
the impression that everyone came to this
country in early youth and received here
his education and grew into American citi-
zenship Twenty Of the 38 were born in
States. OF the IS foreign-born,
there are 8 English, German, Irish, 3
Welsh and Canadian. And only one OF
them is in the Senate, the others being in the
House. 1t would seem that here is no cause
for alarm; merely foreign quality sufficient
10 retain the European elements that were
she origin OF our great nation.
OTHER INSTRUCTIVE POINTS.
1t is interesting to note that so many of
The men who saved the nation during the
war are still serving US in public way.
Over q per cent are soldiers. Corporal
Tanner may still be sure of the country's
safety. Outside of the law, professional
ministers and teachers are few in number,
although fifth have some time in life used
.eaching as stepping stone to some other
pursuit.
Considering the immense influence Of the
modern newspaper, it is somewhat note
worthy that so few journalists go to Harris
burg. The one clergyman in our list was
IN army chaplain; he finally abandoned his
bro iession and was elected as q farmer The
,lergy and the teachers are doing amore i'm
Dortant work in their spheres of usefulness
1t home.
To the International celebration of1S92the
Legislature presents q healthy
political growth. The foreigner is not in
nerous lawyer is not despoiling the dignity
If the State for personal gain, our laws are
lot enacted by q body OF political sharks
rho are indifferent Ia the interesta they