The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-10-28


great harm. This great old Common
wealth can safely endure the present
Constitution q few more years II We
fail TO adopt needed reforms the fault
viii not be in our organic law, but in
ourselves
Il is the misfortune Of our political
system tia; mere politicians can seize
upon popular forms and pervert them TO
their own advancement Desirable as
the Australian system in its best form
mag be, there is more demagogaeisiH
than craftsmanship in the willingness
Of many of its advocates TO risk the over
throw of the present Constitution merely
TO do away with numbered ballots, when
the same result can be reached by an
amendment expressed in dozen words
There are times in the life Of every ma
ton when il is simpler TO overthrow an
existing order OF things and 10 frame
new form Of government than to sttsmPt
by amendment and reform TO patch up
the old. The apid development OF our
country and the enormous advancement
in political, social and practical sciences
call for frequent changes in our laws But
surely thepresent Constitution Is not 80
bad as TO be incapable Of amendment
to meet all these requirements ! think
the fatal error Of the past thirty years has
been 10 make Constitutions q comPendi-
uun of statutory laws instead Of a mere
declaration Of fundamental principles to
secure stability OF government, TO pre-
serve the liberties of the people, and TO
confiue and restrain within safe limits
the general powers Of Legislatures All
this has been done on the plea that the
legislative bodies cannot safely be trust
ed with power. The answer is plain
The members of the Legislature are cleo
ted by the same people who elect dele
gates to Constitutional Conventions, and
if, through carelessness, they see it TO
elect incompetent men 1t is their own
fault, and not the fault Of the government
under which they live. Indeed, | think
that many Of the constitutional hmita-
tions on legislative power are reflections
on the whole system Of free government;
and tend to embarrass legitimate devel-
opment, as well as to encourage electors
10 disregard their obligation as citizens
10 see that only worthy men are sent to
the legislature. Every time a great re-
form Is proposed we are called upon to
amend the Constitution, to give It trial
A Constitution Of great people should
be Is sacred as the sacred books Of the
law" It's provisions. when once aseer-
tanned and defined by judicial decision,
should never be changed, unless from
some overruling necessity. Tie people
should be taught TO revere 1t, and to look
with mistrust upon every effort to de-
stroy, evade or change it, In the past
history Of this country constitutions were
regarded with great reverence, but lat
terly, there has been 80 much constitu-
tionsl tinkering that they are no longer
the peoples talismans, and be who now
raises constitutional questions Is locked
upon as an enemy TO the advancement of
society.
five are 70 have q new Constitution
every twenty years in the State Of Penn
sylvanis, with all the uncertainty and
confusion which its adjustment 70 exist
ing laws viii create, We may well apply
Judge Blacks Language and declare that
a A French constitution, or South Amer
lean republic, or a Mexican administra-
ton, would be an immortal thing in COM
parisor with the short-ived principles Of
Pennsylvania law. The rule Of property,
which ought to be as steadfast as the
hills, will become as unstable as the
waves"
The present Constitution as a whole is
3 most admirable one, The error Of its
trainers was in incorporating many things
which at the time seemed good; but
which had not stood the test Of practical
application, and were, therefore, cnly
tentative, and fit subjects for legislative
experiment The experience Of seven
teen years has developed its defects Il
needs amendment, particularly, think,
in three subjects; viz: The suffrage and
election articles, 10 enable Us 70 expert
ment with the Australian ballot the ju-
dietary article, to repeal the foolish pro
vision that whenever a county shall
have 1000 inhabitants it shall constitute
8 separate judicial district" and the pro
visions relating 10 cities and counties
must be remodeled TO overcome the mud
die about classification, and to permit
fuller local autonomy, without reOpening
the doors 10 the vicious system Of special
legislation which existed prior to 1874.
When the people are fully aroused to
the necessity for these changes, they can
all be brought about by amendments sub
mittsd in the ordinary way under the
Amendment clause of the Constitution.
The amendments required viii present
single subjects in clear and concise Ian
guage, 50 tESt any man Of ordinary intel
ligence can comprehend their meaning
and vote intelligently.
Let the politicians and over jealous re-
formers sprinkle cool patience on
their skipping spirits" and wait the
consunnation in an orderly way Of tie
reforms they have 50 much a. heart
Csc F. BAER.