The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-12
Tho Senate 10 Immutable.

Tho Senate 10 Immutable.
The proposed establishment Of professor
ships Of Journalism in American colleges
has always been regarded with amusement
by those who know how journalists are
made There is one thing. however. which
a~college faculty might do for under
graduates who are looking forward to news
paper work. They might prescribe for
them particularly thorough course of
study in American history. and subject
them to rigorous examination in the Con-
stitution Of the United States. and in the
Constitution Of tho State In which they
purpose to earn their living. That Is
. field Of knowledge in which some editors
Of American newspapers and magazines.
who assume to instruct the people in
political duties. are painfully deficient.
We have had occasion to point out de-
fciency of this kind In the editor Of the
Century Magazine and the editor Of the New
York World. In connection with their strange
suggestion that the competition OF the Fed
+ eral Senate might be changed by q consti-
tutional amendment. Now we have the
editor of the Churchman betraying similar
Ignorance, for In the last number Of his pa
per q leading article makes the following
an immense assembly in New York. were to
suggest that the time had come to abolish
the Senate. his speech might be unstates-
manlike and ill-timed. but it would not be
revolutionary: because the United States
Constitution is a written instrument. inter-
preted by duly authorized court and con-
tanning provisions for its own amendment"
This extraordinary statement means. IL it
means anything. that the Federal Senate
might be abolished by constitutional
amendment. The editor of the Churchman,
stitution. which. after defining the methods
by which its provisions might be amended.
expressly excerpts the Senate from the
operation Of these methods. That instru-
ment declares that no State can be deprived
of Its equal representation In the Senate
without Its own consent. AS that consent.
Of course would never be given. 1t Is plain
that change In the composition Of the
Senate can be effected. not by any constitu-
tional machinery. but only by a resort to
revolution. Will it be pretended that.
ha
authorize any change in the compost
tion OF the Senate. 1t does not In
terms prohibit the abolition of that body2
Manifestly the perpetuity OF the Senate Ia
assumed in the guarantee Of equal repre-
ssntation In 1t. The trainers OF the Con-
stitution would not have ventured to offer,
nor would the smaller States have accepted.
tho delusive boon OF equal representation
in an assembly which might against their
wishes be annihllated. The Supreme Court
Of the United States would not listen to
any other construction Of the clause In
question than this: that 1t shuts the door
Of the Senate chamber In the face of the
whole machinery for constitutional emenda-
ton. and says. In effect. Thus far shalt
thou go and no farther. 1t clothes the up
per House OF our Federal Congress with the
attributes OF perpetuity and mmutability.
Only that power before which all safe
guards and guarantees devisable by man
must crumble-the power OF successful
revolution-can abolish the Senate OF the
United States. or redlstribute its members
according to population.
While the Senate Is indestructible by any
constitutional process. 1t has. luckily for
the republic. as little to fear from revou-
ton. The secret Of our success In repre-
sentative and federal government is indis-
putably the nice balance maintained by our
Constitution between the powers Of our
central Government and the reserved rights
Of the States. or our reserved rights the
Senate Is the bulwark OF our local liberties
it is the palladium. So long as that body
remains intact-and nothing but revolu-
tlon can shatter 1.-THE marvellous cluster
Of cooperating yet self-governing common