The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-23

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rect vote OF the people we shall be brought
face TO face with the proposition TINT
the President and vlce-President shall
also be elected by the people; and
whenever the President and Vice-Presi-
dent arc chosen by popular elections. 1t
will be entirely possible for ono state. by
enormously swelling It's vote by fraudulent
methods. or by other unfair means not alb
solutely fraudulent. to wholly overcome
the exact and honest votes OF other States
What is the inevitable result? There Will
be OF necessity a national election law
which will not only fix the qualifications OF
the electors Of Representatives. Senators.
and President and Vice-Prcsident In the
several States. but pU also take complete
possession of the electoral machinery therein.
And our Representatives. Senators. Presi-
dent. and vice-President will be chosen at
elections called by Federal officials. with
tho voting lists made up by Federal officials.
and with the count and the declaration and
certificate OF election made by them"
How does this picture strise the imagi-
nation OF political disciples OF THOMAS JET
PERSON? Tho warning to tho party charged
by principle and tradition with uncompro-
missing resistance to the entertainments OF
Capitalization Is not the less valuable be-
cause it comes from this intensely Republic
can source. Nor Is Mr.. CHANDELIERS reason
ing less forcible because his remarks to
Democrats asleep, when thcy ought to DO
awake, arc impregnated with subtle sar-
casm. and full OF humorous appreciation
Of the strangeness OF his post as volun-
teer flapper to the slumbering or incom-
petent sentinels of Democracy.
Then Mr.. CHANDLER proceeds to point
out that the proposed Sixteenth Amend
mcnt would DO absolutely tho first funda-
mental change in tho framework OF the
Federal Government during tho hundred
years Of the Constitutions existence. The
first ten amendments. simultaneously rati-
fed In the years between 1889 and 1901, were
merely negative: IL they had been annexed
to the Constitution when it was originally
adopted. they would not have effected IN
iota Of change in tho form Of government.
or in the method OF government. The
Eleventh Amendment Is OF the same mega
tive character. The Twelfth makes slight
change by requiring that the vote for Presi-
dent shall be distinguished from the vote for
Vice-President. The Thirteenth abolishes
slavery. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth.
like the Thirteenth. recognize the results Of
the war. but do not change the framework
OF government. The first fundamental
change. as Mr.. CHANDLER argues. is in this
proposed Sixteenth Amendment:
"For hundred years We have gone forward In our
national career. and this Constitution, founded with
the most consummate wisdom with tho fathers. has
been found sufficient carry this people from their low
estate to tho grandeur which they have reached
II has proved Constitution which was adapted to the
wants OF 5000 600 people, and is ample for the necess
Ties Of 900 people, yot tho Senator'S profess to
have discovered that 1t Is now necessary begin the
work Of making fundamental ehanses"
Never innovate." says the New Hamp-
shire State-rights Republican. quoting
MACAULAY. except when some grievance Is
'elt; never innovate except so far as to
get rid Of the grievance" Then he turns
10 the Republican and Democratic advo- |
,ates Of the innovation and asks them what |
grievance there is. what injury results from
The present constitutional method OF elect |
ing Senators:
do the Senators pretend that II there had been |
Iystem OF popular elections Of Senators this body OF
which we have the honor 20 b msnbers would have |
contained more distingui ed men than have reached
t! Can there be found ID galaxy great men b.
onging to any nation brighter stars shan those which
ave illuminated the American armament from the
senate of the United States!
Declare, you can that II there had been system
Il elections by the people. there would have been
reater men. batter men. nober its members.
There is one exception to the general criticism
which have made Of the Senators who advocate this
amendment. When say that sney havo in
Heated injury. that they havo pointed
mt no grievance. although you may search their
peeches from one side to the other the most to be
pecisd. the exception that thoy do suggest 10 that
ndsr the present system OF elections rich men may
Improperly get into the Senate; and when they say
his take 1t for granted that they that wealthy
lot that the Senators are merely apprshensive that
Ve do not change tho Constitution these rich will
o reach the Senate; because II We have gone
undred years and no wealthy man has by objection
BILE means yet reached the Senate II will be safe for
Is to continue in the ways Of the fathers until some
has happened which proves that there real dan
er to tho country from the invasonof the Senate by
vealthy men. that must change tho Constitution
a order to prevent them from getting here"
And further. with consummate humor, on
he Same alleged danDr Of tho election Of
by the State Legislatures:
But M President do not believe that the people
tho United States have hitherto suffered because
ch men have forced their way into this body who |
'oud not have come here II Senators had been
ected BY the people. which 10 OF the issue now
,ade. Have no illionairss been elected Governors
statesi Have there been rich Senators elected
this body than have been elected Governorai The
ovsrnors are chosen by the people. They are chosen
reciseiy the three Senators say the United States
snators should be chosen: and yet do not think
omplaint has been made that millionaire have i'm.
roperly taken possession OF the Governorships and
hey have so taken possession OF tho Governorah,pn
Roy Just likely and Just to take posses
on Of senatorships under . system OF popular cleo.
ons as they are under = system where the Lesiss.
lres choose the ssnators"
II there is o real danger to the country In
he election OF millionaires to the Senate,
ontinues Mr.. CHANDLER. the way to deal
nth them Is directly and adequately. and
ot by any such cowardly and partial
1ethod. Rather than pass tho Sixteenth
as proposed by Mr.. MITCHELL
I'D Mr.. TURPlR. he would aim directly at
be plutocrats by suppressing plutocracy.
nd to that end he has drawn up q pro-
osed amendment "for the prevention OF
he excessive accumulation of wealth by In
ividuals and corporations" as follows: