New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-12

reform IN these thNSS.
.----.---------s------~.
1yr PEOPLE AND THEIR SERTINTS.
II is the old old story. People IND lanlt
with the Executive because bad laws. ehacteu
by unwiSe representatives Of the people work
harm to the peoples interests. There ought
70 he better sense. but there never has been
since the old fisherman turned against the
President for whom he had voted because
there were no GELS in the eel-pot next year
The President cannot make laws ii the
peoples representatives enact that there snail
he only silver notes and not coins or legal
tenders or bank notes for use in some parts OF
the comfy. the President canno; dsobey the
law and issue different sort or amount OF cur
Iency If they enact that there shall De az
sudly inadequate protection for tins or lnau
important branch Of industry. the PfeSiuehO
cannot save American producers from the
crushing effect of foreign competition ne
most and best he can do is TO interpret the law
when it is actually doubtful III the interests oil
Americans instead of foreigners. 80 Oh every
other branch Of the public service; 1t Is not III
the power Of the Executive to change the laws
which affect the public welfare; he can only
interpret, obey and enforce them II the laws
are wrong the people must look to their own
representatives in Congress.
If ii we've not thing 50 very iamhar one
might find il hard 10 believe that sell govern
ing people trained for a century III making
their own laws and holding their own fuiefS
10 account, could mistake OF ignore 50 complete
~ the difference between the powers OF the
lavmaker and the powers of those who admin
lister the law. Nor can ID be said in eXtenua-
ton that most of the people have not been long
trained that millions Of immigrants share the
governing power, though they nave not Deeh
LONG in this country. ard millions Of former
slaves as well. who have but recently been
emapcipated and enfianchised. The foreign
born voters may be perhaps Il seventh oil lho
whole number and in this particular matter
do not show more ignorance than nost vi inc
uatiye-bon. The coloIed voters form "A >liil
smaller fraction, and a great proportion o.
them have now been voting or trying 10 V"'o
for twenty-four years or more, ana they Sho"
at least Is much unde standing OF Tree govern
mont rs the educated whites who meet them
with the shotgun policy
The real difficulty lies deeper II would be
well if the people could put aside for time
their optimistic faith in their own Supelhuman
wisdom and comprehend that they do III fact
vote for men who are not fit to make laws ana
who make bad laws. and that they nevertheless
blame the Executive because, with bad laws
he cannot give the country good government.
There are too many intelligent, educated ana
well-to-do voters of this sort, for whose lgho-
rance in that respect there is no excuse what
ever.
Sef-eovcinment must be regarded as still
an trial. with the result still more or less III
doubt. 50 long rs the majority Of voters lack Inc
KNOWLEDGE to trace an evil 10 It's cauSe-tO the
law when the law is in fault. and to nialadlhln-
i,t,ation when the Executive is in fault. but
he mus, be an ootimst indeed, who thinks that
the majority of the people do now correctly
trace their evils TO the right cause, and DIS
eliminate Justly between executive ana legis'
lative powers. The distinction is not AWAY
one easy to make but no one can account MN
self fully competent 10 share in the govern
ment Of a great nation who does not uhuef-
stand il. and habtually strive to make 1t Win
ont error IN his Judgment of public servants.