The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-04
THE PEOPLE RULE.

THE PEOPLE RULE.
The Belgian revolution is an eVl-
dence of the fact that the people IN
tend to have their own way. In BEL
GUM, monarchy, The people had
concluded that they wanted unlVer'
sal outrage and they rose IN the
majesty OF their power and got II
through bloodless revolution. Inat
was monarchy where apathy OF me
people might have been expected. 10
a republic there Is not so much SEEM
ing apathy, but even in republic
there is enough apathy often 10 III
duce legislative bodies to do as lhey
please, forgetful OF the fact that the
people rule. 1t is dangerous OK
periment for members OF legislative
body to presume upon the lhdlner
ence of the people and neglect or treat
indlfferently the measures the people
elected them to accomplish. 100
much Indifference il often exhibited
nv legislative bodies to the will of the
people in the neglect of duties by their
members The memters console
themselves on the ground that
their constituents do not care
ANYTHING about it or II they
do that when they get nome
they can easily explain away TINS
neglect by saddling it on the whole
legislative .bo1y. They Will ma
themselves mistaken. The people
fully understand what their repre-
sentatives ought to do, and il they do
not they are generally Informed OF
these omissions of duty by the local
press, and il Is rare thing that the
peorle fail to call theirrepresentatiVes
to an account of their stewardship.
The people may not understand the
vote OF their member upon the
amendments to certain law, but
there are certain prom inent lhlpgs
upon which the actions OF their men,
bers are tested by the rules OF com
mon sense, and the people Will not
take as an excuse technical pleas in
extenuation Of the failure Of the legis-
lator. The people 70 not under
stand technical pleas and are
lot satisfied with them. There
are often great questions arising to
the solution of which the people apply
common sense and thaC is the only
standard by which they measure the
action Of their representative.
The member of the Legislature who
zhirk7 his duty or permits himself TO
be satisfied in ne discharge of ii by
technical argument, will meet the
condemnation of his people when he
returns home, and is just AS certain to
receive the penalty OF neglect by them
hereafter AZ that he neglected, upon
paltry grounds, TO discharge his whole
duty to his people and 10 the state.
In This country the people are gen.
eralv right and invariably rule.
Their rule too, is as stern and uncom-
prom is ny as that of monarchy, and
an infringement or neglect OF
their lights will be as swiftly
and condignly punished. The people
demand more from their Legislature
than tire amendment and enactment
of laws. The integrity and the honor
of their state they have placed in the
hands OF the legislature, and they de-
maud that the honor OF the state shall
be strictly maintained unsullled, and
the integrity of its officials be held
above suspicion. They will be salts
fled with nothing short of this and if
a state official is charged either with
incompetency or corruption they de-
mand IA fair and impartial investiga-
ton without resort to substertuge or
technicality. II their officials are
unjustly charged with ncompetency
or corrupt practices the people
want them vindlcated and the honor
of tho state sustained by fair and
lluIdilldl lHNSstiSu'lou VI viz Nh"i SVc,
but if they are gailty they want to
see the state relieved of their banetul
influence upon its integrity and pros.
perity. 1t Is well for men who hold
delegated trusts from the people
sometimes to consider the manner in
which the people desire these trusts
to be executed, and if they do reflect
upon this subject they will conclude
that the people rule and that it is
tGeir uuty 10 satisfy the just demands
OF the people and that all their actions
ara measured by the standard of COM
mon sense.
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OUR LEGISLATIVE LNACTION.