West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-11-20

i members are so burdended with la
bors not belonging TO the reproson-
iative offices, but which no member
can, or dare refuse to perform, that
but n small part of their time and
thought can be given TO their duties
as law makers. So true is all this,
that it may be said, | believe with
justice, that there is no great legis-
latiYe chamber in the world to-day
whore there is SO much blind voting
rs in our House of Representatives.
Such are the difficulties with which
the House is struggling to-day.
How shall we remove them ? As
usual there arc those Which point
ont the ever-ready short cut from
the open, and at times boisterous
sea OF freedom TO The haven OF ar
bitrary power. We are told by
those controlling the present House
Of Representatives, that It must alb
dcate its traditional function as u
deliberatiSe body, and content t.
self with being hereafter mere en-.
acting council. This means the
substitution OF aCommittee of Rules
Tor system Of rules. This means
that tho SpealIcro of the House, with
two party associates chosen by him
self. should decide what measures
shall be considered, what amend
ments shall be offered to them, and
what debate shall be had upon thonh
Such a degradation OF the House
would be confession OF the failure
of representative government in
its most important branch the law
making power.
1t is OF the definition Of free gov
ernment that n people make their
own representatives after free, ode
quatc and open discussion; other
wise those laws De mere legislative
decrccs. (, / need not say that tlis
is not the Democratic iden OF re-
lief. We arc. trained TO prefer even
stormy liberty to sluggish despot-
ism. Forus the duty OF gsateman
ship is to reform, not IL destroy, to
establish and widen liberty. not to
marrow aud undermine il. Oar
2laa would not be retreat but an
advance.
Let Congress keep within the un-
questioned field Of its constitution
d Legislation, reserYing to The
states unimpoired control over those
matters Of domestic concern with
which alone they nave Che right and
competency Go deaf. Moreover, lci
as never forget thcre ere barriers
which no government has the right
to invade. and which free govern
ment especially exists to preserve
lad defead. 'fhis would be the
Democratic method Of retrieving
lho eiliciency,of the house OF Rep
resentatiycs in our consti utiona.
system. i would save the repre-
sentatiyes Of the people from sory
ing master, place law and not
man in the Speaker chair, aad in.
sure better laws by insariug moro
slime and care in their enactment.
This is reform, aud not revolution.
progress toward the goal of free
government, not ignominious re-
treat beneath the shelter Of arbi-
trary power.
Free government, let us renem.
Der, is not made 20 order by char
ters or declarations. II cannot be
by laws or constitutions,
written or unwritten. Ofall things
human growth is slowest, for it
comes ouly by most thorough sue
cessivo generations into The very
stamp OF evil, the great truths out
Of which liberty is preserved and
transmitted.
Let US always remember tho trnc
foundation Of our Democratic faith,
chat freedom docs not have its
abiding placoin any form Of gov
crnment, but only ia the breasts Of
people themselves. a free poo-
pie anywhere will make free gov.
erument. No more Of government
can anywhere make free people.
Some Of the troops of San Saliva.
dor have a fantastic uniform as