New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-03
TITO CONSTITUENCIES.


The pages of The Congressional Record
bear witness almost daily to morbid senSl-
tiveneSs on the part of members of the popular
House respecting the opinion of the local con
stituenccs represented by them. When meas
ures of National policy are under discussion
the question uppermost in many members
minds is the practicability of JuStlfying thcir
course before audiences at home IN the next
canvass The silver question comes up ana
the Representatives of the Far West unite III
advocating those extreme measures when thelr
constituents seem to demand \ proposal Is
made to equip the navy with battlc-ShpS' or
plans are formulated for developing the com
mercal marine by subsidies and bountieS and
some of the members from the interior States
at once show signs of uncertainty and distress
What will the farming population OF Indiana
Illinois and Kansas have to say to measures
which do not directly affect their interests?
I'm the seaboard States where there is a sense
of insecurity, and where there are shipyardS to
be cmployed and centres of foreign trade IN
tcrcScd in naval progress and the restoration
of the flag 10 the seas. such legislation may be
popular; but the Representatives OF the IN
terror hesitate to vote for a progressive polcy
which may not be understood and sanctioned
by their own constituencies.
Ii does not seem to occur to these timorouS
and closely calculating legislators that they
represent not one, but two constituencies
While they are sent TO Congress by the electors
of restricted district, III the broadeSt sense
they are commissioned To legiSlate for the
Nation The members of the present House
were chosen on the issues formulated by the
national conventions of their parties. Ma
tional issues had everything to do with de-
termininc their election. Local issues had
little if ANYTHING, to do with the result They
represent the Nation as well as the district;
aud when large measures OF pdbhc policy are
under consideration they are under As direct
moral obligation to respect the Will OF the
Nation as To justify their conduct Ill the eStlma-
ton of their local constituents. The Nation
i their broadest and best constituency, and
its welfare should be uppermost in their
thoughts.
Under the English political system IT is not
necessary for member OF Parliament 10 reside
in the district which he directly represents.
\ very large majority OF the members are non
residents. and owe their seats to pOlltlca avail
ability and the influence Of party leaders III
the districts Whenever the attempt Is made
as in the case of the late Mr.. Forster, 10 bring
the pressure of the local caucus 10 bear III IN
fuencng their judgment OF public affairs, II Is
stubbornly resisted by selfle>pectlng mem
bers of Parliament. They are conscious OF
their dignity as representatives OF the nation
and resent local Interference with their lcgiN-
latiyc functions We DO not consider the cleo
ton of non-residents Of the districts dcSir-
able from any point of view in the mted
states There are most positive advantages IN
the system of direct representation by resi-
dents The House of Representatives Is more
trustworthy and efficient body of Legislators
for the Nation from the operation OF the re-
quirement Of residence in the local district
than il would be if elected on the English plan.
But il is none the less a branch Of the National
Legislature, and every meGIber OF it should be
Jealous of hi, dignity Is a representative OF the
Nation. His main constituency is the Nation.
Its welfare should he the highest end of his
political aspirations. When measures % high
National policy, ike silver coinage the tariff.
the building of Ucl-equpped navy, the
restoration Of the commercial marine, and the
development OF the export trade, are under
debate the patriotic and conscientious Repre-
sentative should rise above the low levels Of
parochial politics He stands for the Nation
As the member of the Commons stands for
Great Britain. and he should be equally ScnSi-
tive and alert in reSenting any attempt 10 de
grade his supreme functions as an American
legislator.