Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-06
CHOOSING SENATORS AND THE PRES.
IDEET,

We have had occasion to commend mach
of the platform of the Farmers Alliance.
One of the planks demands that United
| States Senators, the President and Vice
President shall be elected by the direct
vote Of the people. The question is we'll
defined one, and by no means new.
The RECoRD-UNIoN some months ago,
when the question was prominent in the
public mind, expressed grave doubts of the
policy proposed, and suggested a plan for
| selecting Senators it still deems infinitely
superior to the direct vote. The plan is to
wholly free the election of members of the
Legislature from any and all relation to
the choosing of Senators, by establishing a
State Electoral College The idea put
forth is to have counties or districts select
Electors for such College, and in it to bal
lot for United States Senators. 1t would
avoid the objection to the direct vote that
congested populations would hold too great
power in the matter, and would preserve
the representative character of the Sen
atorship.
The intention of the fathers of the Re-
public was, unquestionably, to separate the
choosing of Senators from the election of
other officials. But only in part has this
scheme succeeded, and for obvious reasons.
Nevertheless, the Senate is check-rein in
the scheme of government, and prevents
what would be ill results, were the whole
legislative body of the Federal Union
liable to be broken up every few years by
public upheavals such as the country re-
Gently experienced.
The popular branch of the national
legislature is subject to very sudden
changes, but if they extended to the upper
house, we should be in infinite danger of
such radical upturning Of policies as to
| involve the peace of the country and I'M
settle, very seriously, the commercial in
terests, while there would always be such
degree of uncertainty concerning ma
tional policies as to make trade and in
dustry liable to unrest, and exceedingly
timorous, and hence there would be but
slow progress along their lines.
A contemporary has said that even a
bad governmental policy, steadily adhered
to, would be better for the nation than
| frequent and radical changes. The wis
| dom of that utterarce cannot be ques-
| toned. We are, therefore, to hesitate
| long before we undo she plan of the
founders of the Government, whose mar
vellous prescience is more and more made
manifest as the Republic advances in
years. They had in view stability of the
Federal power, and foresaw the dangers Of
radical changes, and of elections Wy which
great centers of population might rule the
nation.
The uncertainty of existence in admin.
istrative policies in some of the Latin
States of Spanish America, which are
often undergoing revolutionary upheavals
ought to teach us lesson emphasizing the
value of having but one house of Congress,
chosen by direct vote, and of conserving
the stability of the Senate and Admins
tration.
1t is replied that the length of the Sena
torial term is sufficient guarantee of sta
bility, calmness, conservative legislation
and ability to ascertain the cooler desires
of the people. If, however, there is 81
radical change effected in the system o
choosing Senators as the Alliance pro
poses, it will serve as an entering wedge
for further radical notifications and ever
the tenure of Senatorship would be placed
in possible danger.
| Where two great political parties are 81