The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-06-13

HN I'll Cu6 H(GQ o.
January, 1892. 1t is to be noticed that
although the initiation is made To
only to constitutional amendments r.
line of distinction between statute To-
and common law is so loosely dr11r
in Switzerland that the people Will
able to initiate proposals for IegisIafo
upon almost any subject.
Now, the Initiative is the npcaooa.
corollary of the Referendum. bv moar
of which laws framed by the reprpeon
tatives must be submitted to the NJ.
pie for final acceptance or reiectios
Both institutions are nedi-pomt, ~.
referendum is a passive force: if srn
plies the progressive element, the N.Y.
cess Of legislation, while the Referer
dunn acts as a critical, controlling cbocL
upon the adoption of laws.
Taken together these two institution,
form the most perfect continuance -
far devised by a free people for tbs
conduct of self government Tbpr
create a sort of political pendulum
which oscillates in a groove stricrr
marked by the constitution. Tber
produce a steady see saw of Legislation
a continual to-and fro movement
which carries certain expressions n
the public will from the people to tho
legislature, and back again to the peo.
for their verdict. Take any question
in the United States in which q bo1r
of voters is interested, but which ba,
not yet entered into practical politics
as we say. Under present circum.
stances how can such a question ba
brought into the channels of IegisIa.
ton? The most obvious method is bv
electing a representative who is pledged
to lay a bill before the house, i~ncorpor
ating the desired reform. But this is
no easy matter, even with the backing
of many voters, for our electoral S..
tenn is so contrived that great numbers
Of voters are practically d~isfranchised
at every election. In fact, until some
form Of proportional representation is
adopted which shall make every vote
count for something, and destroy every
attempt at gerrymandering, thu vari
Gus groups of earnest reformer8 can
hardly hope to be directly Represented.
But suppose, for an instance, that
representative could be elected on such
an issue, there is no certainty that this
bill would be even noticed, much less
discussed, or that, if it was discussed,
it would be promptly tabled as soon as
the real merits became apparent.
Two other courses lie open in this
CONTEMPLATION and bribery. Of the
second need only say that, though it
may seem a perfectly natural method
to the agents of great corporations, it
is not likely to commend itself to those
who r striving for clean government
The expedient of a petition is often
resorted. It is at all events harmless.
But the signatures of the sovereign
people are rarely treated seriously by
politicians, when attached merely to
requests for favors and Unaccompanied
by a direct command.
Nor must this privilege of petition
be COMPOUNDED with the right of the in,
itiative, although the latter is some,
times described as an initiative peti
ton for purposes of illustration. The
ordinary right of petition is enjoyed
by the inhabitants of every State which
makes any pretentions whatever to pO-
litical liberty. 1t is merely a request,
addressed to the authorities in power,
by a number of more or less irrespOn-
sible persons; the authorities may Or
may not take it into consideration, as
they see fit. But the Initiative is a
demand made upon the government
by a body of voters to discuss a certain
project, and to return it to the people
for final approval or disapproval. The
authorities r obliged to take into con.
sideration, or to draw up a bill of their
own Incorporating the same principle.
In Switzerland, therefore, the intro,
duction into practical politics Of any
question which has attracted public
is accomplished in a simple and
direct manner ~. d. McCrdcken, in
the Arena for April.
~ ~