Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1891-01-09
ELECTION OF SENATORS.


resentative from Virginia, has proposed in
the House an amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States providing for
the election Of United States Senators by
the people, under such regulations as Con-
gress may by law establish, provided, how
ever, that no elector shall be allowed to
vote for Senator, in any State, who can
not read and write the English language.
We cannot resist the temptation to call
the attention of the Wisconsin Democrats
to this outrageous trespass upon the rights
of free men by making the scholarly quail
fcation relate only to the English tongue.
Is not Mr.. Langston aware that a great
party which claims capacity and patriot
ism sufficient TO administer the affairs of
the American nation, has decided by its
Wisconsin council that to insist upon citi-
zens having the ability to read the laws IN
the language in which printed is an
invasion of constitutional liberty, and of
the guarantees of the American system, as
well as an assault upon the sacred right of
Wisconsin Democrats to grow up with
knowledge of the German and Polish
tongues only?
However, passing this pleasantly, let
the people think seriously upon this prop
osition to abandon the present method of
choosing Senators. The Farmers ALI
| ance, the Republican Convention of Indi-
ana and the Labor Party have made the
demand Mr.. Langston's bill reflects 1t
has, therefore, considerable organized
backing, and it is well known that there
is, besides, growing popular" demand
for the election of Senators by the direct
vote
If the change is made it will be retro
gressive. The present system was wisely
devised and the precedence of the fathers
who laid its foundations was something
divine. The Senators represent the States,
not the people as units, but in their ag-
gregate capacity as communities. Depart
ure from that idea will seriously impair
the American system. But it is needless to
go over the familiar reasons that led to
the adoption of the Senatorial plant is
sufficient to warn the people that election
by direct vote will place it within the
power of congested populations in each
State to name the United States Senators.
Rural populations will have only the poor
privilege Of voting for whoever the cities
choose to name.
We are free to admit that it is most de-
sirable that the selection of State legisla-
tors should be wholly disconnected from
the election Of United States Senators.
The evils of uniting the two are SO obyi-
Gus that it would insult intelligence to re-
count them. But there is plan by which
the desired separation can be effected, the
election of Senators directly by the people
secured, and still the character of the
office of Senator retain its original pur-
pose. It was the fortune of the RECORD
UNION 10 propose the plan about one year
ago. The more it is considered the
stronger hold it takes upon good judgment
This plan, which secures to all the peo-
pie due voice in the selection, and COM
pletely prevents centers of population
from dominating, calls for the establish
ment o. a Senatorial Electoral College in
each State. Once in three years the elect
ors of the several districts, counties or
other divisions, as may be agreed upon.
will send up representatives to college
based Upon ratios of population. This
college with choose the Senator. The
canvass by candidates would be conducted
preciselF as if they were to be voted for
directly by the people, but the virtue of
the plan would be, that every given group
OF the people would have potential voice
IN the choosing, and mere numbers in one
locality could not exercise an influence
greater than an equal force widely distrib-
uted. In short, we would choose Senators
as we do now, practically, with the in
volyemesit of selecting State Legislators,
and determining local issues, eliminated.