Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-06

concurrence of three-fourtha of the
states, also provides that no state with
out its consent shall be deprived Of its
equal suffrage in the senate. It is thus
an indispensable element in the adjust
ment of power between the greater and
lesser states. Rhode Island, Delaware
and Nevada practically disappear in the
vortex of the house of representatives,
but in the senate they are not inferior to
Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York.
It is placed beyond the reach of popular
rancor, and is builded, like the presi-
dent, the supreme court and the house OF
representative, upon the solid rock and
foundation of the constitution.
The senate is in no sense analogous to
the English house Of lords, whose MEM
bers are hereditary peers, created by the
crown, and representing nothing but
precedent and prerogative.
It Is undoubted true that, from the
enormous expansion OF powers, due to
the small number of states and the pro-
digious aggregate of population, senator
ships have become the chief objects Of
desire to men of force and ambition.
The states themselves recognize the i'm
portance of able membership in that
body, where all the states have an equal
representation, so that their influence
depends upon character and ability
rather than upon number. Thus the
tenure of office becomes more secure,
and terms inevitably grow longer and
longer for those who render faithful and
efficient service.
Naturally enough, some men of for
tune, some who have achieved grea-
success in practical affairs elsewhere,
and are without special training or apis
itude as Legislators or publicist5, are
sent to the senate from states requiring
the service that such representatives can
most efficiently render, but the impress
sion that wealth has special influence
here is incorrect. The number OF mil
lionares in the senate has always been
relatively small. The great majority of
senator's are men of moderate estate and
many of them are dependent wholly
upon their salary for support.
A century ago seats in the senate were
regarded with Indifference; but there are
few men in any state OF the Union OF
whatever station, profession, occupation
or estate who would not now consider an
election to the body coveted distinction
and honor. It's dignity Will be constantly
augmented with the development of ma
IlOQ6l resources anu power. HIS IuuutHc6
will disproportionately increase with our
population, and there is no method by
which its power can be diminished or
curtailed
From the original design and purpose
of the constitution itself from the con-
ditions of membership, from environ
meut, and from other causes hitherto in
Dictated, the senate is distinctivelY con-
sentative in its functions; its laws are
those of courtesy and honor. It's course
is guided by the north star rather than
by the weathercock. Passionate and
emotional critics hurl vivid epIthets at
its gravity and cynics sheer at its gloomy
dizziness, but it keeps to the sucient
ways.
TO the student of our political system
the American senate is one of the most
interesting and significant inst itutions of
our government. It's members change,
vanish and disappear, but like the king,
it never dies. Amid the mutations and
vicissitudes of our national affairs, so far
as anything human can be immutable, it
continues stable and permanent. It has
no periods nor epochs. Administration
follows administration, congress sue
ceeds congress like fast ensuing waves,
but the senate flows onward in an I'M
broken current through our history like