The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-21

Il is nearly one hundl red and three years
since that constitution was formed and,
while as Fundamentally charter of govern
ment it stands unexceKed, it must not be
he changed condition (of things, the i'm
proved opinions of men upon the question
81 Political and PERSONAL rights of the
naases, and the altered conditions in the
mental, moral and social status of the
.ation and Of the people Of the several
,dvssable and important changes In the
fundamental Law. Already fifteen changes
ave been made; and who to-day will say
hoy were not we'll advised q Ten of them
ssft proposed BY the irs4 congress, two
st tse hs M IBIS oSaE
eoreseeing the necessity thlt would arise
FOR alterations in it, made provisi ON for
th4,p and prescribed th9 mode by which
thsY should be made.
II then, it be tc'the best interests of the
nation that the people Of the several states
sslSction Of United States senators, there is
no reaion Why the constitution should not
b % amended.
Members of the national house of repre-
Ssntatives and United States senators, as
also the president Of the United States. az e,
under onr system, recognized as elective
oncers a. contradistinguished from those
federal judges for example-that are ap-
pointed. In all elective officers each indi-
vidual voter has special interest which it
q peesumed he has right to represent at
thS.ballot box. That right. II is submitted,
which prevent its full, fair and effective ex-
efcise. What the citizen is permitted to do
indirectly and through the means of proxy
he should be permitted to do directly and
in his own right and in his own proper per-
con.
One great objection to the present system
Of electing senators by the legislatures of
the respective states is that the power and
right OF the individual voter are hedged
about and circumscribed, his will manacled,
his volition paralyzed. He can not vote
for his choice. He can not, in fact, vote di-
casting vote for members of the legisla-
ture who may or may not properly repre-
sent his wishes in the vote they cast for SEN
ator. The system is unrepublican, not dem
ocretic. and vicious in all respects. It car
fies with it. as have said upon the floor of
the senate, the implication that the people.
the qualified voters of state, are for some
reason unfit for the full exercise of the
elective franchise in the choice of high gov
ernment officials, except in qualified and
largely restricted sense. 1t is in practical
purpose and effect declaration that for
made manifest, it is unsafe and prejudicial
70 the public interests to commit the cleo
ton of senator's to vote of the people.
1t was a reflection upon either the honesty
or capacity, or BOTH of the voting class Of
the several states while its tendency to
wound the sensibilities of the voter in de-
privinR him of his right as q sovereign to
vote directly for his choice and thus in a
measure separate the people from the choice
OF the legislature, and mar the harmony
and unity of feeling which ought to exist
between the masses of the people and theil
representatives, whether Of the house OF
senate, Ia manifest to all.
No system can properly be termed free o.
republican which deprives the individual
voter of his right to cast his vote directl,
for the man of his choice, whether it be
state official. member of the national house
of Representatives, United States senator O
president. Thomas H. Benton once said:
The only effectual mode of preservin
our government from the corruptions whic
have undermined the liberty of 90 man
nations IL to con6de the election of on
chief magistrate to those who are III
taSthsst removed from the influence of b
patronage. that iss to the whole body {
AUegican citixens."
The Same = true as to the election .
oonato1s. In the case Of the president Il
bribery Of patron age may reach the elect,
II every state while il can not reach Il
0aaoea Of The voters. So in the case of
Gnnatos. ~ coEruptions Of wealthy a