The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-28
TUESDAY. MARCH Is, 1893.
.uoULD THE VOICE OF CONGRESS-
MEN BE IGNORED?

Mr.. Cleveand's policy Of refusing I'M
plicit credit to the representations Vi
members OF Congress in respect TO those
nersons 10 be app ointed to Office In their
districts is supported very earnestly by
some Democratic journals upon inc
ground that to make the congressman
masters absolutely. in the matter. is 10
foster a system that creates and per-
petuates the political boss. Not only does
q nroduce this result, but, these journals
argue It causes many misleading repre-
sensations to be made to the President.
for a member Of Congress indorses each
and every applicant in his district for the
Office which he seeks. and, as some have
been heard to say. they expect their gen
eral representations and Endorsements to
20 as matters Of course entitled to no
weight or consideration. The Baltimore
Sun is one of the journals which has pre-
scented this view " the matter with great
force.
To give the congressman anything like
full control over the matter does, I'M
doubtedly, tend to the development of the
political boss and does, undoubtedly. re-
suit in his making many perfunctory re-
concentrations which he hardly expects
to receive unqualified credit.
But there is safety in the representative
OF a district receiving great attention
from the President and there is danger
in his putting aside the statements of
the representative for those of other per-
soas coming from that district, although
the President may have what he thinks
good reasons for believing that the other
parties will give him certain and reliable
information. The President presides over
an immense country teeming with people.
1t Is, of course. impossible that he can
have an acquaintance with the people
that will guide him surely and correctly
in making selection Of neighborhood Of
ficers for neighborhood offices. He must
depend upon information secured some
where. The member OF Congress is put
forward by the neighborhood as the in
dividual whom it prefers to speak for it,
1t is then, essentially, part of the prin-
ciple of local government that the person
put forward by the neighborhood to speak
for IL should have full credit given to
what he says OF the needs OF that neigh
borhood.
When, therefore. the representative Is
listened to respecting what his district
desires. the principle Of local government
is left in full operation and force. But
when his representations are put on one
side and the voice Of the neighborhood is
heard through some other and unau-
thorized channel, the cherished and all
important principle OF local self-govern-
ment is ordered back 10 the rear, and the
beginning OF one central bossism in place
Of many local bosses comes to the front.
Whence comes the complaint that the
congressman is local boss? 1t comes
from fine gentlemen or lazy individuals
who are above the business or too inert
TO take an active part in choosing and
selecting the neighborhood's representa-
tive In Congress. While the active work
Is being done which results in the selec-
ton Of this Individual. either from pride
or inertia, they stand on one side and
see those who take an active interest in
the affair working zeaiously to achieve
q result desired by them, and then go
before the world to complain that they
are not represented by the man selected.
But their true course is 10 enter into the
struggle and secure a representative in
the person chosen of their views and
wishes. rather than 10 go before the
world with the baby act for their pleas
and their fingers In their mouths. One of
the favorite doctrines of our jurispru-
dence is expressed in the Latin maxim
f'vigiiantibus ct non dormicutibus jura
sabveniunt"-the law interests itself for
the protection of those who try to take
care OF themselves and not for the idle
and lazy who hope to lean for repose and
support upon Il. There is no principle in
sur law or tn the rule OF our life more
heary with age and veneration than this.
The time when the citizen should put In
his work is when the representative Is
being chosen. He must not stand 10 one
side while the interests involved are strug-
Cling for recognition and then come for
ward with complaints that the choice
wholly fails TO represent him. Where In
terests and views are so diverse and in
tricate. a representative can never rem.
resent ons interest and view only. He
must in the nature OF things be in some
1neaeure a representative Of all. The time
fcr the fine gentleman to Be heard il IN
ne struggles amongst the people while