The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-12-27
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
An Important Letter From p. M.
Ringdal of CrOOkStOn.
EDITOR REPRESENTATIVES,:

EDITOR REPRESENTATIVE:
One often hears the remark made,
"politics have become so corrupt
that no decent man can NEEDLE with
them and maintain his self-respect."
This sentiment has become so uni
versal as to merit the name of tru-
ism, nor need doubters penetrate far
into the realm of practical politics
to become convinced that there is
unfortunately only too much truth
underlying it. Many people then
jump to the conclusion that human
nature has become wholly depraved,
and especially that politicians have
become more corrupt than ever be-
fore. These conclusions however are
based mainly upon total misconcep-
tiOn of the causes which force this
dark side of human character into
prominent view.
When the founders of this republic
framed the constitution, giving
form and shape to the idea of free
dom through self-government, they
builded system as nearly perfect
as their want of actual experience
under, and PERSONAL observation of,
the workings of such system, to-
gether with the social, and indus
trial conditions of the time would
permit. That those men nObly &C.
quilted themselves of the task put
upon them, is amply proven by the
uninterrupted march of progress for
nearly century after the instru-
ment of their creation became the
rule of national life. They could not
however-being men-foresee the
changes which in the course of time
were destined to take place in the
industrial world. Nor the loopholes
which these changes would open up
to cupidity.
Two of the chief, perhaps the two
chief motives governing human con-
duct, have ever been, self-interest
and fear. Altruists may interpose
the objection that this ought not to
be SO, to which must be answered
that nature knew it's business as we'll
as it's critics can possible know it.,
and that, when man was endowed
with egoism and fear, they were to
serve useful purpose in his relations
to his environment.
The trainers of the constitution
while recognizing the power of these
attributes, aimed to direct them for
the benefit of the majority, and the
form of the political machine which
they adopted for that purpose was
the representative system of govern
ment. No sane person will contend,
that the constitution as was adopted
proved equal to all emergencies, for
the very fact that it has been found
necessary to amend it proves the
contrary, and the sta tistics based up
on it have been and are still more
subject to the same process of change
to meet constantly changing condi-
tions. But under it all, while the
wealth of the country remained
equitably distributed, so that vast
interests could not so successfully
concentrate against and assault the
weak spots of the representative sys-
tenn, legislation tended to maintain
just relations between men. For the
self-ihterest of the representative,
closely linked to that of his constitu-
encY, together with his fear of that
constituency, proved upon the whole
sufficient fertilization against the
assaults on his probity, by an
enemy as yet in it's infancy.
But within the last few years all
this has been changed. The prepon-
derence of self-interest of the repre-
sentative being made to lie on the
side of monopolies, on the one hand,
and the reduction or complete ami
hilation of fear of his constituency on
the other, has made him but plant
tool in the hands of organized
"wealth-force,' for the subjugation
of the numerically stronger, but or
ganically weaker, "man-force."
Under such conditions one could
expect no other result than this,
that self-government through repre-
sentatives should become nothing
but a glittering generality. The
weight being nearly all on one side,
the scale must by the law of gravity
incline more and toward the side
exercising the greatest pressure.
1t is futile to charge the evil aris-
ing from this state of things to any
party, or set of men. The average
moral character is no doubt about
the same in all parties, and the mere
change in the personnel of the rep
resentative body can therefore give
no permanent relief, so long as the
causes producing the evil remain I'M
disturbed. To be sure there are
few lofty, and incorruptible charac-
tiers connected with all reforms, but
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